Messiah University
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055
About Messiah University
Messiah University is a private research university in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, enrolling about 2,259 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 78.97% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $54,064 among students who received federal aid.
Key findings
- Messiah University charges 44% above the national private non-profit median tuition ($42,240).
- Versus the Pennsylvania median, sticker tuition is about 2.2×.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 74.96%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $54,064.
Research findings
Finding
Modeled return on investment at Messiah University is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 410% using Scorecard cost and 10-year earnings fields in this extract.
Interpretation: On this institution-wide model, typical graduate earnings over a decade substantially exceed estimated net education cost.
Limitation: ROI is institution-wide and not program-specific; individual outcomes vary by major, aid package, and labor market.
Finding
Messiah University awards credentials across a wide program mix.
IPEDS completions cover more than 88 distinct degree programs at this campus.
Interpretation: Institutional averages blend very different fields; program-level completions and earnings matter more than the campus mean alone.
Limitation: Completions counts are not enrollment demand and do not measure program quality.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Messiah University | $42,240 | $26,502 | 1 |
| Private Non-profit (national median) | $29,325 | — | 1,444 |
| Pennsylvania (state median) | $19,450 | $17,754 | 181 |
| 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.
Average net price is 37% below published tuition at Messiah University
Key findings
- Messiah University's average net price ($26,502) is 37% below published tuition ($42,240).
- Messiah University charges 44% above the national private non-profit median tuition ($42,240).
- Versus the Pennsylvania median, sticker tuition is about 2.2×.
Messiah University tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $42,240
Finding Messiah University charges 44% above the national private non-profit median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $42,240. That is 44% above the national private non-profit median ($29,325). Versus the Pennsylvania median ($19,450), sticker tuition is about 2.2×. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is about 3.5×.
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 Messiah University versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at Messiah University versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at Messiah University is $26,502.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $26,502 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $8,748 above the Pennsylvania median net price. Versus rural campuses, net price runs $7,802 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 Messiah University’s published tuition substantially overstates typical undergraduate cost: average net price is about 37% lower after grants and scholarships.
Messiah University: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for Messiah University—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
$42,240
Avg. net price
$26,502
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $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. 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 Messiah University is known for
Top program completions
- Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other97
- Health Professions and Related Programs51
- Business Administration and Management, General46
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse43
- Music Performance, General40
See earnings & programs for more.
Admissions landscape
- Broad access — most applicants are admitted.
- Yield: 32% of admitted students enrolled.
- Average SAT: 1236
- Midpoint ACT: 27
See Admissions for the full funnel.
Is Messiah University a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
Messiah University 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 Messiah University.
Campus
Location
Mechanicsburg, PA
City / state
- ZIP
- 17055
- NCES locale
- Rural fringe
Compared with Rural campuses nationally, net price is 42% above the median for Rural campuses ($18,700 median).
Control
Institution type
Private Non-profit
Control
- Region
- Mid East
- Carnegie
- Master's Colleges and Universities: Medium Programs
Size
Enrollment
2,259
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 2,799
- Graduate
- 755
- Full-time share
- 98%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$25,621
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 19.64%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for Messiah University.
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 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.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Applicants → admits → first-time enrollment from College Scorecard / IPEDS. Bar widths are scaled for readability at highly selective schools.
Test Scores
Average 1236 (middle 50% not reported)
Midpoint 27 (middle 50% not reported)
Scores for enrollees who submitted tests (College Scorecard).
Academic Requirements
Estimated from admission selectivity and test scores. Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
Estimated range · median 3.40
Estimated GPA band from selectivity and test scores — not an official requirement.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Messiah University reported total enrollment of about 2,259 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 43% male and 57% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (75.1%), Hispanic or Latino (9.4%), and Two or More Races (4.2%). About 19.64% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 18.2% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
97.9% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Messiah University in 2024 is 2,259 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 2,799 students. Graduate enrollment is about 755 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.
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
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.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other: 10% male / 90% female
- Health Professions and Related Programs: 33% male / 67% female
- Business Administration and Management, General: 46% male / 54% 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.
Messiah University graduates earn a median of $54,064 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of Messiah University.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $54,064. Median federal loan debt: $25,621. Average net price used in cost models: $26,502.
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 Messiah University graduates report median earnings of $54,064 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 Messiah University.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 10 programs by IPEDS completions (88 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at Messiah University.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for Messiah University graduates.
How financially powerful is this institution?
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for Messiah University—endowment assets (fiscal year 2023), instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Institutional endowment
$126.4M
End-of-year assets · Fiscal year 2023
- Pennsylvania median 2.6× the median ($47.9M)
- Mid East median 3.0× the median ($42.6M)
- U.S. median 4.8× the median ($26.4M)
- Pennsylvania median 1.6× the median ($24,897)
- Mid East median 2.4× the median ($16,427)
- U.S. median 3.2× the median ($12,100)
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 46.7%
- Pennsylvania median 16.4 pp below median (63.1%)
- Mid East median 10.2 pp below median (56.9%)
- U.S. median 11.2 pp below median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $9,179
- Pennsylvania median 1.1× the median ($8,003)
- Mid East median 1.1× the median ($8,119)
- U.S. median 1.2× the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $10,324
- Pennsylvania median 1.2× the median ($8,615)
- Mid East median 1.1× the median ($9,164)
- U.S. median 1.4× 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.
Messiah University at a glance
Messiah University
Messiah University is a private non-profit institution in Mechanicsburg, PA, classified as Master's Colleges and Universities: Medium Programs.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, OtherHealth Professions and Related ProgramsBusiness Administration and Management, General
- Largest enrollment groups
- White or Caucasian75.1%Hispanic or Latino9.4%Two or More Races4.2%
Schools near Messiah University
Other campuses in Mechanicsburg, PA when available, plus nearby institutions in Pennsylvania.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade B) within Pennsylvania, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Messiah University located?
Messiah University is located in Mechanicsburg, PA.
What is Messiah University's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Messiah University is 79.0% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 2,375 applicants and 1,864 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
What is Messiah University's tuition?
Messiah University tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $42,240 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $26,502 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does Messiah University cost?
Reported tuition is $42,240 and average net price is $26,502 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $13,098 annually.
Why is Messiah University's net price so much lower than tuition?
At Messiah University, published tuition is $42,240 while average net price is $26,502—about 37% lower. Average net price subtracts grant and scholarship aid from cost of attendance for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid (College Scorecard). Institutional aid therefore compresses sticker price into a lower typical undergraduate cost signal. The campus average still masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average. EDsmart Data treats the sticker–net gap as an analytical finding, not advice about individual aid offers.
What explains Messiah University's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($26,502), completion (75.0% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($54,064). 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 Messiah University?
Messiah University reports undergraduate enrollment of about 2,799 students, White (75.1%), Hispanic or Latino (9.4%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Messiah University?
About 18.2% of students at Messiah University are first-generation college students.
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.
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.