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Messiah University

Messiah University is a private campus in suburban Mechanicsburg, PA. The school reports a Interdenominational affiliation in its federal filings.

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What could it cost?

Start with net price after grants, then read the published costs. Each chart names its academic year and the students it covers.

Net price by family income

key chart

Average annual cost after grants for each family-income band. These group averages are not personal price quotes.

IPEDS Income brackets, 2022–23

family-income band

$23,234

family income
under $30k

$23,515

$30–48k

$22,689

$48–75k

$27,326

$75–110k

$31,609

over $110k

These figures don't always rise with income — aid formulas can make a higher bracket cheaper.

Average net price

$26,5022023–24Skip to data table

Average annual attendance cost after grants for the reported student group. Your own aid offer and costs may differ.

Average net price at Messiah University rose from $23,340 (2008) to $26,502 (2023).

Average net price — data
Year	Net price
2008	$23,340
2009	$23,034
2010	$24,123
2011	$24,672
2012	$24,947
2013	$25,455
2014	$25,822
2015	$26,096
2016	$27,200
2017	$26,919
2018	$28,141
2019	$26,864
2020	$23,560
2021	$23,623
2022	$27,686
2023	$26,502

IPEDS 16 federal reports, 2008–2023

Total cost of attendance

$55,8752024–25Skip to data table

Estimated annual attendance budget before grants, including tuition, fees, housing, food and books. Not every expense is billed by the school.

Total cost at Messiah University rose from $36,070 (2009) to $55,875 (2024).

Total cost of attendance — data
Year	Cost
2009	$36,070
2010	$37,530
2011	$38,710
2012	$39,986
2013	$41,341
2014	$42,624
2015	$43,798
2016	$44,824
2017	$45,919
2018	$47,337
2019	$48,786
2020	$49,864
2021	$50,939
2022	$52,125
2023	$53,939
2024	$55,875

IPEDS Academic-year cost 2009–2024

Tuition & fees

Skip to data table

Published tuition and fees before grants. Housing, food, books and other attendance costs are separate.

Tuition & fees — data
Year	Tuition & fees
2000	$16,130
2001	$17,210
2002	$18,136
2003	$19,550
2004	$20,790
2005	$21,420
2006	$23,290
2007	$24,420
2008	$25,670
2013	$30,470
2014	$31,340
2015	$32,240
2016	$33,180
2017	$34,160
2018	$35,160
2019	$36,120
2020	$37,180
2021	$38,370
2022	$39,490
2023	$40,640

IPEDS Published price 2000–01 to 2023–24 (not adjusted for inflation)

Cost, size & completion summary

Cost, size & completion

Messiah University reports published tuition of $42,240 in this record. Messiah University's $42,240 tuition excludes other attendance costs; aid can reduce the bill. Scorecard snapshot: 2026-06-10; historical charts show their own years.

Messiah University reports 2,259 undergraduate students. Enrollment is a headcount, not a measure of teaching access.

75% of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants completed at Messiah University within six years (2026-06-10 release). This measure excludes other student groups.

Do students finish — and what comes after?

Graduation, debt and earnings cover different groups. Read each chart's entering class or fiscal period; they are not one group's journey.

Six-year graduation rate

key chart

75%entered Fall 2018Skip to data table

The share of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants who completed at this institution within six years. Other students are not included.

The six-year graduation rate at Messiah University has held near 75% from Fall 1991 to Fall 2018 entering cohorts.

A six-year rate can only describe a class that entered six or more years ago — by definition the last point on the line is that old.

Six-year graduation rate — data
Year	Graduated within 6 yrs
1991 cohort	70.4%
1992 cohort	71.1%
1993 cohort	73.4%
1994 cohort	72.8%
1995 cohort	71.1%
1996 cohort	74.1%
1997 cohort	71.4%
1998 cohort	77.5%
1999 cohort	75.7%
2000 cohort	72.3%
2001 cohort	73.2%
2002 cohort	77.3%
2003 cohort	78.1%
2004 cohort	75.4%
2005 cohort	74.1%
2006 cohort	76.3%
2007 cohort	75.8%
2008 cohort	79.7%
2009 cohort	77%
2010 cohort	76.3%
2011 cohort	80.5%
2012 cohort	77.8%
2013 cohort	79.3%
2014 cohort	78.7%
2015 cohort	77%
2016 cohort	78.3%
2017 cohort	78.5%
2018 cohort	75%

IPEDS Entering cohorts 1991–2018

Median debt at exit (completers vs non-completers)

Historical student groups

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Skip to data table

Median federal student loan debt when students left school, shown separately for those who completed and those who did not.

CompletedLeft without degree

Each point combines two years. Neighboring points share one year, so changes should be read with that overlap in mind.

These two-year windows closed before today's students borrowed — they describe past cohorts, not the current price of a degree.

Median debt at exit — data
Year	Completed	Left without degree
Left school in fiscal years 1997 and 1998 (FY1997/98)	$16,000	$2,700
Left school in fiscal years 1998 and 1999 (FY1998/99)	$17,125	$2,625
Left school in fiscal years 1999 and 2000 (FY1999/00)	$17,125	$2,750
Left school in fiscal years 2000 and 2001 (FY2000/01)	$17,125	$2,688
Left school in fiscal years 2001 and 2002 (FY2001/02)	$17,125	$2,625
Left school in fiscal years 2002 and 2003 (FY2002/03)	$17,125	$2,665
Left school in fiscal years 2003 and 2004 (FY2003/04)	$17,125	$3,500
Left school in fiscal years 2004 and 2005 (FY2004/05)	$17,125	$4,250
Left school in fiscal years 2005 and 2006 (FY2005/06)	$17,125	$3,500
Left school in fiscal years 2006 and 2007 (FY2006/07)	$17,125	$4,089
Left school in fiscal years 2007 and 2008 (FY2007/08)	$17,125	$4,500
Left school in fiscal years 2008 and 2009 (FY2008/09)	$17,125	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2009 and 2010 (FY2009/10)	$18,675	$6,375
Left school in fiscal years 2010 and 2011 (FY2010/11)	$21,250	$5,979
Left school in fiscal years 2011 and 2012 (FY2011/12)	$23,500	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2012 and 2013 (FY2012/13)	$25,000	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2013 and 2014 (FY2013/14)	$26,200	$6,500
Left school in fiscal years 2014 and 2015 (FY2014/15)	$25,875	$7,375
Left school in fiscal years 2015 and 2016 (FY2015/16)	$25,813	$6,500
Left school in fiscal years 2016 and 2017 (FY2016/17)	$25,000	$6,500
Left school in fiscal years 2017 and 2018 (FY2017/18)	$25,000	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2018 and 2019 (FY2018/19)	$26,000	$6,250
Left school in fiscal years 2019 and 2020 (FY2019/20)	$26,000	$8,660
Left school in fiscal years 2020 and 2021 (FY2020/21)	$25,621	$8,724

NSLDS GRAD_DEBT_MDN / WDRAW_DEBT_MDN, merged FY periods · via College Scorecard

Earnings after entry

Historical student groups

Median annual earnings after entering college, for federally aided students who were working and not enrolled when measured.

Entered: academic years 2013–14 or 2014–15

$50,192

6 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2011–12 or 2012–13

$50,641

8 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2009–10 or 2010–11

$54,064

10 years after entry

Each figure covers a different group of students who entered college in the stated years. Earnings were measured in the same two years; these are not one group followed over time.

Measured in 2020–21, adjusted for inflation to 2022 dollars. Each figure pools two entering academic years.

Treasury Pooled entering cohorts · Scorecard 2020–21 historical file

What does the admissions record show?

Rates and score ranges describe a past admissions cycle. Submitted scores are not cutoffs or a prediction of admission.

Admissions snapshot & test policies

Messiah University admitted 1,941 of 2,458 applicants in Fall 2024. The 79% rate describes that application pool.

79%

acceptance rate · Fall 2024 admissions cycle

rate trend $40,640 tuition · 2023–24 2,259 undergraduates · Fall 2024

Test-optional (considered) · Fall 2024

400SAT range (section 25th/75th sums): 1110–13501600

Not sure where you stand? Estimate your GPA →

Admissions

Messiah University reported scores as considered but not required for the Fall 2024 admissions cycle. For Messiah University’s enrolled SAT submitters, Reading and Writing was 570–680 and Math was 540–670 (25th–75th percentiles). The section-percentile sums 1110–1350 are not composite-score percentiles. These are not admission cutoffs.

Check current requirements with admissions.

Score	25th	50th	75th
SAT Reading & Writing	570	620	680
SAT Math	540	610	670
ACT Composite	26	27	31

25th / 75th: a quarter of enrolled submitters scored below the first number, a quarter above the second. These are not cutoffs.

Only students who submitted scores are counted — at test-optional schools, many enrolled students aren't in this table.

Percentiles are among enrolled students who submitted scores (Fall 2024 admissions cycle).

In the Fall 2024 cycle, Messiah University received 2,458 applications and admitted 1,941 (79%), with 564 enrolling.

Acceptance rate

79%Fall 2024Skip to data table

The share of applicants offered a spot — lower means more selective; read it alongside the score ranges below.

Acceptance rate — data
Year	Acceptance rate
Fall 2001	78.1%
Fall 2002	77.4%
Fall 2003	79.5%
Fall 2004	83.2%
Fall 2005	74.6%
Fall 2006	75.7%
Fall 2007	78.3%
Fall 2008	70.6%
Fall 2009	67.8%
Fall 2010	67.4%
Fall 2011	64.3%
Fall 2012	64.2%
Fall 2013	65.9%
Fall 2014	80%
Fall 2015	79%
Fall 2016	79.5%
Fall 2017	77%
Fall 2018	78.9%
Fall 2019	75.9%
Fall 2020	77.5%
Fall 2021	77.4%
Fall 2022	79.4%
Fall 2023	78.5%
Fall 2024	79%

IPEDS Fall cycles 2001–2024

SAT range (section sums, 25th–75th)

1110–1350Fall 2024 · submittersSkip to data table

Sums of the reading/writing and math percentiles among enrolled submitters — not percentiles of total SAT scores or admission cutoffs.

SAT range (section sums) — data
Year	25th	75th
Fall 2001	1080	1300
Fall 2002	1070	1280
Fall 2003	1100	1300
Fall 2004	1080	1310
Fall 2005	1090	1310
Fall 2006	1040	1280
Fall 2007	1040	1280
Fall 2008	1030	1270
Fall 2009	1020	1260
Fall 2010	1030	1270
Fall 2011	1040	1270
Fall 2012	1020	1250
Fall 2013	1030	1260
Fall 2014	1010	1240
Fall 2015	1010	1250
Fall 2016	1020	1270
Fall 2017	1100	1310
Fall 2018	1080	1310
Fall 2019	1090	1310
Fall 2020	1080	1310
Fall 2021	1100	1340
Fall 2022	1090	1340
Fall 2023	1100	1340
Fall 2024	1110	1350

IPEDS Fall 2001–2024, submitters only

ACT middle 50%

26–31Fall 2024 · submittersSkip to data table

The middle half of enrolled ACT submitters, using published composite-score percentiles — not admission cutoffs.

ACT middle 50% — data
Year	25th	75th
Fall 2001	23	28
Fall 2002	23	28
Fall 2003	23	29
Fall 2004	23	28
Fall 2005	23	28
Fall 2006	22	28
Fall 2007	22	27
Fall 2008	22	27
Fall 2009	23	28
Fall 2010	23	29
Fall 2011	22	29
Fall 2012	21	28
Fall 2013	23	29
Fall 2014	22	27
Fall 2015	21	28
Fall 2016	22	29
Fall 2017	22	29
Fall 2018	23	29
Fall 2019	23	30
Fall 2020	23	29
Fall 2021	23	31
Fall 2022	25	30
Fall 2023	22	30
Fall 2024	26	31

IPEDS Fall 2001–2024, submitters only

What is the campus like?

Enrollment counts a campus population; retention follows first-years returning. Their dates and populations are shown separately.

Undergraduate enrollment

2,259Fall 2024Skip to data table

Reported undergraduate enrollment. This count does not measure class size or teaching access.

Undergraduate enrollment at Messiah University fell from 2,863 (Fall 2002) to 2,259 (Fall 2024).

Undergraduate enrollment — data
Year	Undergraduates
Fall 2002	2,863
Fall 2003	2,922
Fall 2004	2,887
Fall 2005	2,889
Fall 2006	2,815
Fall 2007	2,799
Fall 2008	2,763
Fall 2009	2,728
Fall 2010	2,757
Fall 2011	2,751
Fall 2012	2,754
Fall 2013	2,739
Fall 2014	2,713
Fall 2015	2,723
Fall 2016	2,690
Fall 2017	2,670
Fall 2018	2,633
Fall 2019	2,579
Fall 2020	2,473
Fall 2021	2,350
Fall 2022	2,327
Fall 2023	2,318
Fall 2024	2,259

IPEDS Fall headcounts 2002–2024

First-year retention (full-time)

89%Fall 2023 cohortSkip to data table

The share of the reported first-time student group who returned the following year. This rate does not explain why others left.

First-year retention at Messiah University has held near 89% from Fall 2002 to Fall 2023.

First-year retention — data
Year	Retention
Fall 2002 cohort	86%
Fall 2003 cohort	88%
Fall 2004 cohort	85%
Fall 2005 cohort	84%
Fall 2006 cohort	86%
Fall 2007 cohort	83%
Fall 2008 cohort	87%
Fall 2009 cohort	85%
Fall 2010 cohort	83%
Fall 2011 cohort	86%
Fall 2012 cohort	87%
Fall 2013 cohort	88%
Fall 2014 cohort	88%
Fall 2015 cohort	85%
Fall 2016 cohort	88%
Fall 2017 cohort	87%
Fall 2018 cohort	89%
Fall 2019 cohort	86%
Fall 2020 cohort	85%
Fall 2021 cohort	86%
Fall 2022 cohort	85%
Fall 2023 cohort	89%

IPEDS Full-time cohorts 2002–2023

More about Messiah University

Faculty pay at Messiah University averages $110,148 a year, annualized from reported monthly pay. Carnegie classes Messiah University as a primarily residential campus of 2,259 undergraduates — and 88.6% of the reported first-time, full-time student group returned for a second year.

Messiah University's SAT section-percentile sums are 1110–1350 — their midpoint is above the PA four-year benchmark. These are not total-score percentiles. Put your own practice estimate on Messiah University's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.

Why some charts are marked “key chart”

key chart

Start with three useful questions: what costs were reported for families in your income band, how many first-time full-time students finished, and what federal debt borrowers held when leaving.

How Messiah University compares

State and national medians cover active bachelor-primary institutions, mixing public and private schools. Tuition uses in-state rates at public schools. These are broad reference points, not a ranking of similar schools or your likely bill.

Scorecard dates identify the release snapshot, not a shared measurement year. Earnings describe federally aided students who were working and not enrolled ten years after entry; cohorts and populations differ from the admissions and tuition figures.

Acceptance rate

Fall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS

Messiah University79%

Pennsylvania median81.7%

National median76.8%

Tuition

Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid

Messiah University$42,240

Pennsylvania median$33,730

National median$19,591

Median earnings (10 yr)

Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot

Messiah University's snapshot: calendar years and dollar basis unverified.

Messiah University$54,064

Pennsylvania median$62,101

National median$53,781

View comparison data & dates

Messiah University, Pennsylvania and national reference values
Metric & basis	Messiah University	Pennsylvania median	National median
Acceptance rateFall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS	79%	81.7%	76.8%
TuitionScorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid	$42,240	$33,730	$19,591
Median earnings (10 yr)Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot	$54,064	$62,101	$53,781

Published earnings by bachelor's field of study

For Messiah University, these are federal subject groups (CIP), not departments. Median is the middle annual income.

Messiah University federal-aid recipients · graduated 2017–18 or 2018–19 · income measured 2022 or 2023 · inflation-adjusted to 2024 dollars. Definitions and limits.

View 15 fields & earnings

Bachelor's field of study (CIP category)	Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion
Engineering, General	$84,927
Accounting and Related Services	$81,907
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing	$77,824
Computer Science	$74,941
Marketing	$67,900
Business Administration, Management and Operations	$66,222
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions	$56,005
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General	$54,256
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas	$54,115
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods	$53,052
Social Work	$52,511
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services	$46,813
Psychology, General	$45,982
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication	$45,522
Fine and Studio Arts	$41,649

These 15 fields listed for Messiah University measure earnings after completion. The $54,064 institution-level snapshot above measures earnings after entry; it is not the same cohort or a total for these fields. 47 additional Messiah University fields have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.

Frequently asked questions

What test-score data does Messiah University report?

Messiah University's enrolled submitters had SAT section-percentile sums of 1110–1350 in Fall 2024. These are not total-score percentiles or a GPA requirement.

What is Messiah University's acceptance rate?

79% in the Fall 2024 cycle — 1,941 admitted from 2,458 applicants.

How much does Messiah University cost?

At Messiah University, tuition is $42,240. Tuition is not the total cost of attendance; aid can reduce your bill.

What earnings data does Messiah University report?

Median earnings ten years after entry: $54,064. Major figures measure four years after completion. Source and date limits.

Similar colleges in Pennsylvania

Mercyhurst University — 81% admitted
Misericordia University — 70.9% admitted
Vet Tech Institute — 77.6% admitted
Marywood University — 60.6% admitted

Run your own numbers

Data: IPEDS ADM2024 (Fall 2024 admissions, provisional) · IPEDS HD2024/IC2024 directory · College Scorecard 2026-06-10 release (institution and field-of-study files; earnings from Treasury records). Retrieved 2026-09-01. Chart dates follow this institution's available observations; the release date is not an academic year or an earnings year. Some records end earlier than others. Field-of-study cohort dates are shown with the table. Read the date and population definitions.