
Elizabethtown College is a private college founded in 1899 in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, by members of the Church of the Brethren. Its beginnings in a religious community help explain the college's continuing emphasis on service, peace, and concern for others, although students are not required to belong to that denomination.
The institution developed from a small Brethren college into one offering undergraduate degrees and graduate and adult-learning programs. Its history matters to applicants chiefly because its religious roots remain visible in its stated values, while its academic programs and admissions are open to students from varied backgrounds.
Elizabethtown College offers undergraduate study across the liberal arts, sciences, business, engineering, education, and health-related fields, along with graduate and professional programs. Its School of Graduate and Professional Studies serves students seeking formats designed for graduate or adult education.
Examples of undergraduate fields include biology, psychology, communication, business administration, accounting, engineering, education, and occupational therapy-related study. Applicants should compare the requirements for a particular major rather than assuming that admission to the college automatically grants entry to every professional pathway. Clinical placements, teacher certification, and accelerated or combined-degree options can have separate academic and progression rules.
The reported student-to-faculty ratio is 14 to 1. That institution-wide measure describes enrollment relative to instructional faculty; it does not predict the size of every lecture, laboratory, or clinical section.
Elizabethtown College is in the borough of Elizabethtown in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Its campus offers a small-town setting rather than the experience of a large urban university.
Elizabethtown has an Amtrak station, which can be useful for travel toward Harrisburg, Lancaster, and other Northeast Corridor connections. Harrisburg International Airport is another regional travel option. Students considering a commute or an off-campus job should check actual train schedules and local transportation options: access to an intercity station does not necessarily make every destination convenient without a car.
Elizabethtown College describes its educational purpose in terms of academic learning, personal development, service, and social responsibility. Its Church of the Brethren heritage informs an institutional emphasis on peace and concern for others.
These are statements of institutional purpose, not measurements of every student's experience. Prospective students can look for their practical expression in the curriculum, service opportunities, campus programming, and policies affecting people of different beliefs. The college's religious heritage should not be confused with a requirement that applicants share a particular faith.
Name of the institution
Elizabethtown CollegeLevel of institution
Four or more yearsControl of institution
PrivateSetting type
Suburb: LargeInstitutional Category
Degree - granting, primarily baccalaureate or aboveInstitution size category
1,000 - 4,999School type
Comprehensive higher education institutionMain student body
CoeducationalCalendar system
SemestersFoundation year
1899Elizabethtown College is institutionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation confirms that the school meets quality standards and is required for students to receive federal financial aid.
Certificate of less than 1 year
Associate's degree
Bachelor's degree
Postbaccalaureate certificate
Master's degree
Doctor's degree - professional practiceData last updated on November 5, 2026
Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026
Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.