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Muhlenberg College

Private Nonprofit Graduate Good 70/100

Muhlenberg College

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Allentown, Pennsylvania

About Muhlenberg College

Muhlenberg College is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Allentown, Pennsylvania. It enrolls 1,727 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.

Official website: muhlenberg.edu

Acceptance: 72%
Graduation: 77.5%
Net Price: $28,905
Median Earnings (10yr): $69,107
Enrollment: 1,727
Student : Faculty: 8:1

Accreditor Middle States Commission on Higher Education

Academic Calendar Semester

How It Measures Up

US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.

Good

70/100

UCD Score · 4-Year Selective

Outcomes 89

Value 37

Affordability 19

Selectivity 72

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

With an acceptance rate of 72%, Muhlenberg College is moderately selective.

Acceptance Rate

72%

Moderate

SAT Range (25th–75th)

1250 – 1410

Reading + Math combined

ACT Range (25th–75th)

29 – 33

Cumulative composite

Test Policy Not Considered Standardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.

5-Year Admission Trend

Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Muhlenberg College is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.

Stable ↓ 2.2 pts since 2019

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending Muhlenberg College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $28,905 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.

Average Net Price

$28,905

Per year, after typical aid

Receive Pell Grants

21%

Need-based federal aid

Receive Federal Loans

53%

Borrowing to attend

Full Cost Breakdown

Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.

Tuition & Fees: $62,805
Room & Board (on-campus): $14,548
Room & Board (off-campus): $14,548
Books & Supplies: $1,500
Other Expenses (on-campus): $2,150
Other Expenses (off-campus): $2,150
Total Cost of Attendance: $77,270

Application fee: $50 (one-time, due at submission)

Net Price by Family Income

Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.

Under $30,000

$12,302
$30,001 – $48,000

$16,629
$48,001 – $75,000

$19,717
$75,001 – $110,000

$25,452
Over $110,000

$37,603

Debt at Graduation

Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.

$5,500

10% percentile

$12,500

25% percentile

$25,455

Median percentile

$27,000

75% percentile

$29,000

90% percentile

Median Debt by Student Type

Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.

GroupDebtvs Median

Pell recipients $23,025 ↓ $2,430

No Pell $21,625 ↓ $3,830

Dependent students $22,950 ↓ $2,505

Independent students $19,667 ↓ $5,788

Female students $21,500 ↓ $3,955

Male students $23,250 ↓ $2,205

Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $6,755, less than completers ($25,455), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

78% of full-time students who enrolled at Muhlenberg College graduate within six years, and 89% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate

78%

Of students who graduate within six years

First-Year Retention

89%

Returning for their second year

What this means: Strong completion signals. Most students who start, finish.

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Muhlenberg College earn a median of $69,107 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)

$69,107

Earning > $25K

85%

10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

Earnings by Demographic

Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.

By Gender

Female graduates

$56,500

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates

$78,300

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $21,800, about 28% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.

Loan Repayment Progression

Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.

Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑ 6.1 pts across 6 years

What this signals: Excellent. 94% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.

Who Studies Here

Muhlenberg College is home to 1,727 students, a mid-sized community.

Total Enrolled

1,727

Part-Time

First-Generation

16%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents

White 68.2% 1,177

Hispanic 12.9% 222

Black 7.1% 123

Other 4.1% 70

Asian 3.8% 66

International 1.1% 19

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Muhlenberg College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting

Midsize City Allentown, Pennsylvania

Housing

Strongly residential 1,641 beds for 1,727 students

Adult Learners

3% of students are 25 or older

Athletics

NCAA athletic-conference member

Academic Calendar

Semester scheduling structure

Designation

Religiously affiliated

What You Can Study

Muhlenberg College offers a varied set of programs: 37 distinct programs across 17 majors. Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings. Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.

5 Programs

Visual & Performing Arts

Drama & Theatre $40K ($25K–$55K)
Dance $40K ($25K–$57K)
Music $43K ($26K–$59K)

6 Programs

Business

Business Administration $68K ($48K–$94K)
Finance $83K ($61K–$112K)
Accounting $76K ($56K–$97K)

3 Programs

Biology

Biology $57K ($39K–$79K)
Neurobiology $62K ($41K–$89K)
Biochemistry & Biophysics $65K ($45K–$88K)

1 Program

Communication

Communication & Media $56K ($40K–$76K)

1 Program

History

History $51K ($36K–$67K)

2 Programs

Mathematics

Mathematics $70K ($49K–$97K)
Mathematics $70K ($49K–$97K)

1 Program

Health

Public Health $59K ($42K–$79K)

View all majors View all programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at Muhlenberg College is 8:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).

Student : Faculty

8:1

Students per instructional faculty member

Endowment

$470M

Solid financial position

Avg Faculty Salary

$81,697

9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

170 instructional faculty across 4 ranks. The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.

Rank	Faculty Count	Share	Avg Salary
Full Professors	60	35%	$96,588
Associate Professors	45	26%	$82,410
Assistant Professors	43	25%	$70,090
Lecturers	22	13%	$62,314

Pros & Cons of Muhlenberg College

A quick at-a-glance summary of how Muhlenberg College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS

Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Strong six-year graduation rate
Strong first-year retention
Above-average post-graduation earnings

CONS

Above-average net price
Very high published cost of attendance (full-pay families pay much more than the net-price average)
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families

Best for: Based on the data, Muhlenberg College is a fit for students prioritizing post-graduation earnings.

Frequently Asked Questions about Muhlenberg College

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Muhlenberg College.

Is Muhlenberg College hard to get into?

Admissions at Muhlenberg College are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 72%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.

What is the acceptance rate at Muhlenberg College?

Muhlenberg College has an acceptance rate of 72%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.

What SAT score do you need for Muhlenberg College?

The middle 50% of admitted students at Muhlenberg College scored between 1250 and 1410 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.

What ACT score do you need for Muhlenberg College?

The middle 50% of admitted students at Muhlenberg College scored between 29 and 33 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.

How much does Muhlenberg College cost?

The average net price after aid at Muhlenberg College is $28,905 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.

Is Muhlenberg College worth it?

Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $69,107 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $28,905 per year. That's roughly 2.4x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.

What is Muhlenberg College known for?

Muhlenberg College is best known for its programs in Drama & Theatre, Business Administration, Communication & Media. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

What do Muhlenberg College graduates earn?

Median earnings 10 years after entering Muhlenberg College are $69,107, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.

Is Muhlenberg College accredited?

Yes. Muhlenberg College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

How many students attend Muhlenberg College?

Muhlenberg College enrolls 1,727 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.

What is the graduation rate at Muhlenberg College?

Muhlenberg College graduates 78% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

Is Muhlenberg College a public or private college?

Muhlenberg College is a Private Nonprofit institution.

Where is Muhlenberg College located?

Muhlenberg College is located in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

What programs does Muhlenberg College offer?

Muhlenberg College offers 37 distinct programs. The most popular include Drama & Theatre, Business Administration, Communication & Media.

What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Muhlenberg College?

The student-to-faculty ratio at Muhlenberg College is 8:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.