Gettysburg College vs Franklin and Marshall College: which has better ROI?
Franklin and Marshall College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $145,700 in 5.2 years versus 5.4 years at Gettysburg College, on median earnings of $76,124 vs $71,517 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Gettysburg College | Franklin and Marshall College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $31,490 | $36,425 |
| Total net cost | $125,960 | $145,700 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $71,517 | $76,124 |
| Median debt | $26,999 | $19,000 |
| Payback | 5.4 yrs | 5.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $337,180 | $409,580 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Gettysburg College or Franklin and Marshall College?
Gettysburg College, at $31,490 a year after aid versus $36,425 — a gap of $4,935 a year, or $19,740 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Gettysburg College or Franklin and Marshall College graduates earn more?
Franklin and Marshall College graduates report a median $76,124 ten years after entry, $4,607 more than the $71,517 at Gettysburg College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, Gettysburg College or Franklin and Marshall College?
Franklin and Marshall College: its completers carry a median $19,000 in federal loans versus $26,999 at Gettysburg College, a difference of $7,999. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
84% of students finish at Franklin and Marshall College, against 83% at Gettysburg College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.