Messiah University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. It enrolls 2,259 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.
AccreditorMiddle States Commission on Higher Education
Academic CalendarSemester
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
64/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes83
Value22
Affordability21
Selectivity58
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 79%, Messiah University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
79%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1110 – 1350
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
26 – 31
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized 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 Messiah University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↑
2.6 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Messiah University 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 $26,502 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$26,502
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
20%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
54%
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
$42,240
Room & Board (on-campus)
$13,098
Room & Board (off-campus)
$13,258
Books & Supplies
$1,290
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$2,850
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,210
Total Cost of Attendance
$55,875
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
$19,393
$30,001 – $48,000
$20,317
$48,001 – $75,000
$20,916
$75,001 – $110,000
$23,574
Over $110,000
$31,847
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.
$5,50010%percentile
$11,00025%percentile
$25,621Medianpercentile
$27,00075%percentile
$31,00090%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 $24,188
↓ $1,433
No Pell $20,500
↓ $5,121
Dependent students $22,037
↓ $3,584
Independent students $17,500
↓ $8,121
Female students $22,500
↓ $3,121
Male students $20,726
↓ $4,895
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,724, less than completers ($25,621), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
77% of full-time students who enrolled at Messiah University graduate within six years, and 87% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
77%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
87%
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 Messiah University earn a median of $54,064 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$54,064
Earning > $25K
83%
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
$44,800
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$59,400
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$51,500
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$44,800
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$53,000
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $14,600, about 25% 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 ↑
9.6 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 96% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Messiah University is home to 2,259 students, a mid-sized community.
Total Enrolled
2,259
Part-Time
2%
First-Generation
18%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 75.1%1,696
Hispanic 9.4%213
Other 4.4%99
Black 4.0%90
Asian 3.8%85
International 2.3%52
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Messiah University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large SuburbMechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
Housing
Strongly residential2,403 beds for 2,259 students
Adult Learners
2%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Messiah University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
73 distinct programs across
24 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.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Messiah University is 12:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
12:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$223M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$81,188
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
175 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
71
41%
$94,441
Associate Professors
51
29%
$76,781
Assistant Professors
43
25%
$68,662
Lecturers
10
6%
$63,425
Pros & Cons of Messiah University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Messiah University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Strong six-year graduation rate
Strong first-year retention
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Above-average net price
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Best for:
Based on the data, Messiah University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about Messiah University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Messiah University.
Is Messiah University hard to get into?
Messiah University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 79%.
What is the acceptance rate at Messiah University?
Messiah University has an acceptance rate of 79%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Messiah University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Messiah University scored between 1110 and 1350 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 Messiah University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Messiah University scored between 26 and 31 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Messiah University cost?
The average net price after aid at Messiah University is $26,502 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Messiah University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $54,064 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $26,502 per year. That's roughly 2.0x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Messiah University known for?
Messiah University is best known for its programs in Health Professions, Nursing, Business Administration. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Messiah University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Messiah University are $54,064, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Messiah University accredited?
Yes. Messiah University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
How many students attend Messiah University?
Messiah University enrolls 2,259 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Messiah University?
Messiah University graduates 77% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Messiah University a public or private college?
Messiah University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Messiah University located?
Messiah University is located in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania.
What programs does Messiah University offer?
Messiah University offers 73 distinct programs. The most popular include Health Professions, Nursing, Business Administration.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Messiah University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Messiah University is 12:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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