Messiah University
Messiah University is a private research university in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, enrolling about 2,259 students. Admission is moderately selective, with an acceptance rate of about 78.97% in federal reporting data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $54,064 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $42,240
- 2024 Average Net Price: $26,502 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 78.97% Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 2,259 97.9% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 74.96%
- Average SAT Score: 1236
Messiah University: what the data shows
Common questions about Messiah University, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Messiah University?
Messiah University is located in Mechanicsburg, PA (ZIP 17055).
NCES locale classification: Rural fringe.
Is Messiah University public or private?
Messiah University is a Private Non-profit institution.
How much does Messiah University cost?
Published tuition: $42,240.
Average net price after aid: $26,502.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $19,393 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $20,317 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $20,916 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $23,574 |
| $110,001+ | $31,847 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $168,960.
How hard is it to get into Messiah University?
Admission rate: 78.97%.
Among enrollees who submitted scores: average SAT 1236 and midpoint ACT 27.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is Messiah University?
Total enrollment: 2,259 students.
About 98% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Messiah University?
150%-time completion rate: 74.96%.
First-year retention: 88.6%.
What do graduates of Messiah University earn?
Median earnings: $50,192 six years after entry; $54,064 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $25,621.
19.64% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Messiah University known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Other/Unknown Programs (915 completions)
- CIP 519999 (97 completions)
- Health Professions and Related Programs (51 completions)
- CIP 520201 (46 completions)
- Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, & Nursing Research (43 completions)
- CIP 500903 (40 completions)
- General Psychology (38 completions)
- CIP 512306 (36 completions)
- CIP 512308 (26 completions)
- Mechanical Engineering (21 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Messiah University a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 78.97%; completion rate 74.96%; median earnings $54,064 at 10 years; net price $26,502. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Costs
Tuition Costs
$42,240
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Messiah University was $42,240.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$26,502
2024 Value
In 2024 Messiah University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $26,502.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$106,008 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$26,502 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$168,960 4-Year Tuition
Costs include tuition and fees. Room & board, books, and other expenses are additional.
4-year total cost breakdown for Messiah University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
19.64% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
54.14% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Messiah University 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 Messiah University 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 | $30,470 | $30,470 | $24,947 |
| 2014 | $31,340 | $31,340 | $25,455 |
| 2015 | $32,240 | $32,240 | $25,822 |
| 2016 | $33,180 | $33,180 | $26,096 |
| 2017 | $34,160 | $34,160 | $27,200 |
| 2018 | $35,160 | $35,160 | $26,919 |
| 2019 | $36,120 | $36,120 | $28,141 |
| 2020 | $37,180 | $37,180 | $26,864 |
| 2021 | $38,370 | $38,370 | $23,560 |
| 2022 | $39,490 | $39,490 | $23,623 |
| 2023 | $40,640 | $40,640 | $27,686 |
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.
Admissions
Acceptance Rate
78.97% Acceptance Rate
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
SAT Average: 1236
ACT Average: 27
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
Estimated GPA Range: 3.3 - 3.5
Estimated Median GPA: 3.40
Note: GPA requirements are estimated based on admission selectivity and test scores. Actual requirements may vary.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
97.9% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Messiah University in 2024 is 2,259 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
88.6%
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.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
70.48% 100% Completion Time
74.96% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 70.48% of students graduating from Messiah University completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Messiah University.
Return on Investment
$25,621 Median Student Debt
$54,064 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
47.39% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
410.00% Return on Investment
4.7 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Messiah University.
Top Programs by Completions
10 Programs Reporting Data
CIP 51.9999: 97 completions
Health Professions and Related Programs: 51 completions
CIP 52.0201: 46 completions
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, & Nursing Research: 43 completions
CIP 50.0903: 40 completions
General Psychology: 38 completions
CIP 51.2306: 36 completions
CIP 51.2308: 26 completions
Mechanical Engineering: 21 completions
Other/Unknown Programs: 915 completions
Most popular programs at Messiah University.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Messiah University graduates.
About
Messiah University is a private non-profit institution located in Mechanicsburg, PA, offering 88 distinct degree programs across various academic disciplines. The institution enrolls approximately 2,259 students. The admission rate is 78.97%. Average SAT scores for admitted students are 1236. The institution maintains a 74.96% graduation rate. Approximately 19.64% of students receive Pell Grants.
Institution Type
Private Non-profit
Location
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055
Region: Mid East
Insights and Analysis
Diverse Program Offerings: With over 88 distinct degree programs, Messiah University provides students with a wide range of academic options. This diversity allows students to explore various fields and find programs that align with their interests and career goals.
FAQ
How much does Messiah University cost?
Reported in-state tuition is $42,240 and average net price is $26,502 in the latest College Scorecard data.
How hard is it to get into Messiah University?
The admission rate is 79.0% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data.
What test scores do students need for Messiah University?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Messiah University reports midpoint SAT about 1236 and midpoint ACT about 27.
What do graduates of Messiah University earn?
Median earnings are $50,192 six years after entry and $54,064 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Messiah University?
The 150%-time completion rate is 75.0% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Messiah University students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $25,621.
How big is Messiah University?
Total enrollment is about 2,259 students in the latest reporting year.
Is Messiah University public or private?
Messiah University is a private nonprofit institution located in Mechanicsburg, PA.
Is Messiah University an HBCU?
No. Messiah University is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Messiah University a tribal college?
No. Messiah University is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is Messiah University a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
Using a 25% Hispanic enrollment threshold on College Scorecard demographics, Messiah University does not meet that proxy (reported share 9.4%).
Is Messiah University religiously affiliated?
Yes. IPEDS reports a religious affiliation for Messiah University: Interdenominational.
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 for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.