Messiah University

School Overview: Acceptance Rate, Tuition, and More

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About Messiah University

School Type: Private

Religious Affiliation: Interdenominational

Status: Non-profit

Military Friendly: Yes

Accreditation: regional

Messiah University is a small private university located on a suburban campus in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 2,495, and admissions are selective, with an acceptance rate of 77%. The university offers 81 bachelor's degrees, has an average graduation rate of 77%, and a student-faculty ratio of 12:1. Tuition and fees for students are $37,430.

Mechanicsburg, PA

$37,430

Avg tuition

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Rankings

Learn more about how this school compares to other schools with rankings by BestColleges.

Admissions Breakdown

77%

Acceptance Rate Insight

77% of students were accepted during the 2021-2022 school year. Sometimes schools with midrange acceptance rates have higher standards of entry but are still accessible to many students who apply.

85%

Retention Rate Insight

85% of full-time students stayed to continue their studies the following academic year. These students started in Fall 2020 and returned in Fall 2021.

77%

Graduation Rate Insight

77% of students graduated out of all full-time, first-time students who began their studies in Fall 2015. Keep in mind many students who enroll are not typically first-time students, as most are adult learners. Therefore, the number of first-time students is traditionally low.

Application Considerations

Test scoresConsidered (not required)

High school transcriptRequired

High school rankRecommended

Letter of recommendationRecommended

High school GPARequired

Open admissionNo

Completion of college prep programRecommended

Test of English as a foreign language (TOEFL)Required

Transfer Credit Policy

Dual enrollmentYes

Credit for qualified life experience*Yes

Advance placement (AP) creditsYes

*This can include previous jobs, trainings, licenses/credentials, or seminars. You may need to complete an exam or provide a portfolio to earn credit.

SAT & ACT

ACT 25th-75th Percentile23-31

SAT 25th-75th Percentile1100-1340

Learning Environment

Student Body Stats

4k

Students enrolled

25%

Online student enrollment

12:1

Student to faculty ratio

Ways Students Can Learn

OnlineCheck Bold
On-campusCheck Bold
HybridCheck Bold
InternationalCheck Bold

Demographics

White

79%

Unknown

1%

Black

5%

Hispanic

6%

Two or more races

4%

Non-U.S. Citizen

3%

Asian

3%

American Indian/Alaska Native

0%

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

%

Socio-economic diversity

21% of students received an income-based Federal Pell Grant intended for low-income students.

21%

Online Programs

Offers Online Programs

Yes

Online Programs

25

Total Online Enrollment

817

Student Location Breakout

Percent of Programs Online

81% On-campus

19% Online

Types of Online Programs Offered

CertificatesCheck Bold25% online

AssociateX BoldNot offered

Bachelor'sCheck Bold2% online

Graduate CertificateCheck Bold42% online

Master'sCheck Bold58% online

DoctorateCheck Bold50% online

Student Charges

Tuition and Required Fees

Student LevelIn-stateOut-of-state
Undergraduate$59,784$59,784
Graduate$54,672$54,672

Cost of Undergraduate Attendance

Costs based on full-time, first-time degree or certificate-seeking undergraduates for the 2021–2022 academic year.

Costs to ConsiderPrice
Books and supplies$1,200
On-campus room and board$17,758
On-campus other expenses$2,600
Off-campus (not with family) room and boardCurrently unavailable
Off-campus (not with family) other expensesCurrently unavailable
Off-campus (with family) other expensesCurrently unavailable

Total Undergraduate Cost

Total cost by categoryIn-stateOut-of-state
On-campus$81,342$81,342
Off-campus without family$60,984$60,984
Off-campus with family$60,984$60,984

Financial Breakdown

Students Receiving Aid

Federal Grant Aid

32%

State Grant Aid

28%

Institution Grant Aid

100%

Pell Grant

21%

Average Aid Awarded

Federal Grant Aid$5,043
State Grant Aid$3,575
Institution Grant Aid$24,015
Pell Grant Aid$4,384

Financial Outlook

$26k

Average student debtafter graduation

$38k

Average salary 6 years after starting school

Varsity Athletic Teams

No information available for this school.

Degrees Awarded by Program

Degrees given for the 2021-2022 academic year.

#ProgramsBAMADoc
1Area, Ethnic, Cultural, And Gender Studies.
2Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, And Group Studies.
3Biological And Biomedical Sciences.
4Business, Management, Marketing, And Related Support Services.
5Communication, Journalism, And Related Programs.
6Communications Technologies/Technicians And Support Services.
7Computer And Information Sciences And Support Services.
8Education.
9Engineering.
10English Language And Literature/Letters.
11Family And Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences.
12Foreign Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics.
13Health Professions And Related Clinical Sciences.
14Health Professions And Related Programs.
15History
16History.
17Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting And Related Protective Services.
18Mathematics And Statistics.
19Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies.
20Natural Resources And Conservation.
21Parks, Recreation, Leisure, And Fitness Studies.
22Parks, Recreation, Leisure, Fitness, And Kinesiology.
23Philosophy And Religious Studies.
24Physical Sciences.
25Psychology.
26Public Administration And Social Service Professions.
27Security And Protective Services.
28Social Sciences.
29Theology And Religious Vocations.
30Visual And Performing Arts.

Data collected from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), [2021-2022]. In the absence of IPED data, information was collected directly from the school and is accurate as of the date of collection. Contact the school directly for the most current and complete information.