Messenger College
Bedford, TX 76021
About Messenger College
Messenger College is a private university in Bedford, Texas, enrolling about 24 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 37.50% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $29,463 among students who received federal aid.
Key findings
- Messenger College charges about 0.4× the national private non-profit median tuition ($11,620).
- Versus the Texas median, sticker tuition is 17% above.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 100.00%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $29,463.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Messenger College | $11,620 | $26,433 | 1 |
| Private Non-profit (national median) | $29,325 | — | 1,444 |
| Texas (state median) | $9,940 | $8,031 | 184 |
| Rural (locale median) | $14,160 | $18,700 | 1,649 |
| United States (national median) | $11,900 | $17,156 | — |
Compares this campus to school-type, state, and locale medians plus a U.S. national median (College Scorecard–derived). Locale groups campuses by NCES locale type; state tuition is the median published tuition among campuses in that state.
How expensive is Messenger College really?
Key findings
- Messenger College charges about 0.4× the national private non-profit median tuition ($11,620).
- Versus the Texas median, sticker tuition is 17% above.
Messenger College tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $11,620
Finding Messenger College charges about 0.4× the national private non-profit median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $11,620. That is about 0.4× the national private non-profit median ($29,325). Versus the Texas median ($9,940), sticker tuition is 17% above. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is 2% below.
Method Sticker tuition compared with Scorecard-derived medians by ownership, state, locale, and national rollups when available.
Interpretation Published tuition measures sticker price relative to private non-profit and geographic peers; it does not equal what undergraduates typically pay after aid.
Limitation Sticker comparisons omit room, board, and institutional aid; average net price and income-band net prices are the stronger signals of typical family cost.
Evidence: published tuition at Messenger College versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at Messenger College versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at Messenger College is $26,433.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $26,433 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $18,402 above the Texas median net price. Versus rural campuses, net price runs $7,733 above the locale median.
Method Average net price from College Scorecard; compared with state, locale, and U.S. medians from EDsmart aggregates.
Interpretation Average net price is a stronger institutional cost signal than published tuition because it incorporates grant aid.
Limitation The campus average masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average.
Key takeaway At Messenger College, average net price exceeds published tuition alone because net price uses a fuller cost-of-attendance base.
Messenger College: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for Messenger College—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
The combination of completion and 10-year earnings is a multidimensional outcomes signal; it does not measure educational quality by itself.
Financial profile
Annual tuition
$11,620
Avg. net price
$26,433
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $30,001–$48,000 | $28,494 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $24,551 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $24,903 |
| $110,001+ | $29,756 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $46,480. See cost investigation.
Student outcomes
Share of first-year students returning the following fall.
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What Messenger College is known for
Top program completions
- Christian Studies1
- Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries, Other1
See earnings & programs for more.
Admissions landscape
- Selective — about half of applicants (or fewer) are admitted.
- Yield: 100% of admitted students enrolled.
See Admissions for the full funnel.
Is Messenger College a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
Messenger College is a good school for those looking for strong completion alongside solid mid-career earnings.
EDsmart Data does not assign an opinion score; this framing summarizes the strongest Scorecard signals for this campus.
More from the data
Location, control, enrollment, and aid context for Messenger College.
Campus
Location
Bedford, TX
City / state
- ZIP
- 76021
- NCES locale
- Rural fringe
Compared with Rural campuses nationally, net price is 41% above the median for Rural campuses ($18,700 median).
Control
Institution type
Private Non-profit
Control
- Region
- Southwest
- Carnegie
- Special Focus Four-Year: Other Health Professions Schools
Size
Enrollment
24
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 25
- Full-time share
- 96%
Student aid
Debt & aid
- Pell grant share
- 81.48%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for Messenger College.
Financial Aid by Income Level
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Messenger College was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Messenger College in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $8,006 | $8,006 | $13,565 |
| 2014 | $8,756 | $8,756 | $18,120 |
| 2015 | $8,756 | $8,756 | $17,753 |
| 2016 | $9,120 | $9,120 | $17,261 |
| 2017 | $9,120 | $9,120 | $16,824 |
| 2018 | $9,180 | $9,180 | $17,190 |
| 2019 | $9,180 | $9,180 | $17,349 |
| 2020 | $9,180 | $9,180 | $18,764 |
| 2021 | $9,780 | $9,780 | $18,015 |
| 2022 | $11,040 | $11,040 | $18,363 |
| 2023 | $11,200 | $11,200 | $18,541 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
This institution is selective, accepting about half of all applicants.
Applicants → admits → first-time enrollment from College Scorecard / IPEDS. Bar widths are scaled for readability at highly selective schools.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Score distribution is not available for this institution.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA range is not available for this institution.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Messenger College reported total enrollment of about 24 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 33% male and 67% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (58.3%), Hispanic or Latino (12.5%), and Two or More Races (12.5%). About 81.48% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
95.8% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Messenger College in 2024 is 24 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 25 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
57.1%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
Largest share of total enrollment in our College Scorecard extract.
College Scorecard student demographics (total enrollment shares).
Do students complete their programs?
Time to Complete
85.71% 100% Completion Time
100.00% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 85.71% of students graduating from Messenger College completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Christian Studies: 0% male / 100% female
- Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries, Other: 100% male / 0% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
Messenger College graduates earn a median of $29,463 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of Messenger College.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $29,463. Average net price used in cost models: $26,433.
Method College Scorecard median earnings (10-year), median debt, and EDsmart ROI / payback models using campus net price.
Interpretation Institution-wide ROI and debt ratios summarize campus averages; program choice still drives individual outcomes.
Limitation Salary reflects median earnings ten years after entry; ROI is not program-specific.
Key takeaway Messenger College graduates report median earnings of $29,463 ten years after entry—an institution-wide outcomes signal, not a program guarantee.
Return on Investment
Debt and 4-year net cost vs. cumulative 10-year median earnings for Messenger College.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 2 programs by IPEDS completions (3 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at Messenger College.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for Messenger College graduates.
How financially powerful is this institution?
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for Messenger College—endowment assets (fiscal year 2023), instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Institutional endowment
$837,406
End-of-year assets · Fiscal year 2023
- Texas median 0.02× the median ($35.8M)
- Southwest median 0.04× the median ($23.2M)
- U.S. median 0.03× the median ($26.4M)
- Texas median 3.2× the median ($13,085)
- Southwest median 4.1× the median ($10,113)
- U.S. median 3.5× the median ($12,100)
Instructional Resources
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $2,230
- Texas median 0.31× the median ($7,150)
- Southwest median 0.32× the median ($7,078)
- U.S. median 0.29× the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $3,909
- Texas median 0.77× the median ($5,060)
- Southwest median 0.69× the median ($5,699)
- U.S. median 0.54× the median ($7,288)
Instructional metrics from College Scorecard. Peer medians are campus-level; see the institutional financials deep dive. Detailed non-instructional staff counts are not included here.
Messenger College at a glance
Messenger College
Messenger College is a private non-profit institution in Bedford, TX, classified as Special Focus Four-Year: Other Health Professions Schools.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Christian StudiesPastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries, Other
- Largest enrollment groups
- White or Caucasian58.3%Hispanic or Latino12.5%Two or More Races12.5%
Schools near Messenger College
Other campuses in Bedford, TX when available, plus nearby institutions in Texas.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade C) within Texas, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Messenger College located?
Messenger College is located in Bedford, TX.
What is Messenger College's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Messenger College is 37.5% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 14 applicants and 7 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
What is Messenger College's tuition?
Messenger College tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $11,620 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $26,433 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does Messenger College cost?
Reported tuition is $11,620 and average net price is $26,433 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $13,305 annually.
What explains Messenger College's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($26,433), completion (100.0% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($29,463). High completion and strong mid-career earnings relative to net cost raise modeled ROI; the estimate is institution-wide and not program-specific. Debt-to-earnings ratios, when available, further contextualize borrowing pressure. Limitations include suppressed fields, program mix, and labor-market variation over time.
What is the student body demographics at Messenger College?
Messenger College reports undergraduate enrollment of about 25 students, White (58.3%), Hispanic or Latino (12.5%) in federal College Scorecard data.
What do graduates of Messenger College earn?
Median earnings are $29,135 six years after entry and $29,463 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Messenger College?
The 150%-time completion rate is 100.0% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
Is Messenger College public or private?
Messenger College is a private nonprofit institution located in Bedford, TX.
Is Messenger College an HBCU?
No. Messenger College is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Messenger College a tribal college?
No. Messenger College is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is Messenger College a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
Using a 25% Hispanic enrollment threshold on College Scorecard demographics, Messenger College does not meet that proxy (reported share 12.5%).
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology & Data Scope
This profile uses institution-level fields from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, merged with IPEDS directory attributes where needed for locale, ownership, and program completions.
Benchmark rows compare this campus to NCES locale-type medians (for example Suburban) from our processed location extract. Implied U.S. medians are derived from locale-vs-national percentage fields in that extract—not a separate national Scorecard table.