Muhlenberg College (MC)

Muhlenberg College is a liberal arts institution with an undergraduate enrollment of nearly 2,000 students located in Allentown, Pennsylvania, about 55 miles north of Philadelphia. Muhlenberg challenges and supports students as they journey from exploration to experience to expertise. The College's innovative curriculum integrates a liberal arts education with the skills and capacities necessary to make an impact in our increasingly complex world.

The core of a Muhlenberg education is built on content areas that span disciplines, allowing students' curiosity and creativity to take the lead. Muhlenberg offers 41 majors and 38 minors, including a range of career-oriented majors such as accounting, business administration, media & communication, public health and more. The College is known for its strong preprofessional programs in prehealth, predental and prelaw. Academic partnerships with institutions like the University of Pennsylvania, American University and Boston University provide pathways to advanced degrees in medical professions, law, business and public health.

Each first-year student has a personalized coaching team — a college life coach, a career coach and a faculty advisor — to provide guidance and foster a sense of belonging as they adjust to life at Muhlenberg.

Guiding students along their journey is the Muhlenberg Action Plan (MAP), a program that helps students explore their passions and find their post-graduate path. It serves as a roadmap for students beginning in their first year and continuing until graduation.

Muhlenberg has a student population of nearly 2,000 from across the country and the world. On Muhlenberg's residential campus, students develop new and enduring friendships. A dedicated team of residential professional and student staff coach students as they build resilience and connections away from home and find a sense of belonging.

Muhlenberg offers a diverse, dynamic community: 22 percent of the Muhlenberg Class of 2028 are first-generation students, and about 33 percent of the class identify as students of color.

Muhlenberg's residential campus offers everything you'd expect from a top-tier college: 120+ student clubs and organizations (including thriving Greek organizations and affinity groups), 23 NCAA Division III varsity teams, countless student leadership positions and a vibrant performing arts scene. From advocacy to performance, from academic groups to special interest clubs, Muhlenberg offers a community for each student — and the support to create new groups to explore untapped passions.

Students at Muhlenberg College are described as extremely "hardworking" and "friendly." A French and education double-major explains, "Most people are involved with many different aspects of campus life, and these aspects tend not to be 'cliquey' because of the crossover. For example, there are many football players who are members of a cappella groups or who take dance." Importantly, we're also told that "being nice is kind of important" at Muhlenberg. An English major somewhat sarcastically qualifies, "If someone doesn't hold the door open for the person behind them, they're basically made to wear a scarlet letter and deemed a pariah." The overall demographics have been changing over the last two years, but some students still describe a number of their peers as "white, uppermiddle class, [and] from New Jersey." That said, students agree that there's no one fixed type; in fact: "There is a place for everyone on campus. We have a huge theater program, yet almost 30 percent of our school participates in athletics, so you can see there are all extremes and everything in between."

It's quite easy to lead a full and fulfilling life at Muhlenberg. To begin with, the "school offers tons of free activities over the weekends, from movie showings to Stuff-A-Plush." Undergrads here also love the college's strong performing arts scene. Indeed, "a cappella groups are very popular at Muhlenberg." Additionally, given "the large theater department," it's virtually guaranteed that "there's always a show in production." Sports are equally popular: "football and basketball games have good attendance records." While there's a modest amount of drinking, the college doesn't have a crazy party scene. As a biology major shares, "There's a few bars and clubs in the area that offer college nights on Thursdays, which is fun. From time to time, the school hosts theme parties "like flapperera zombies or a speakeasy (with a live jazz band!)" as well. Lastly, undergrads enjoy Allentown's public parks which provide "great areas to hike, explore, bird-watch, read or take a jog." And they periodically capitalize on Muhlenberg's relatively close proximity to both Philadelphia and New York.

PayScale.com reports that 43 percent of Muhlenberg graduates would describe their careers as helping to improve society and earn a median starting salary of $50,000. Popular careers for graduates include web project manager, high school teacher, and software developer. The Muhlenberg website offers two helpful services to students looking to gain traction in the work world: Collegefeed.com, where students upload a profile and the site “connect[s] [students] directly to hiring managers and founders at 500+ great companies;” and Interviewstream.com, a “virtual interviewing system” where students can “record an unlimited amount of practice interviews before seeking employment” and view “video clips on interviewing with tips from experts.” A French and Business double major says that “Muhlenberg is very strong in academics and I feel that I will be well prepared for whatever career I [choose].”