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Messiah University
Most applicants get into Messiah University — 79% were admitted — so the real questions are cost, fit and outcomes, covered below.
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Messiah University occupies suburban Mechanicsburg, PA — a private campus quieter than a downtown one, closer to one than a rural seat. The school maintains its Interdenominational affiliation, which threads through campus life to a degree that varies by program.
Its highest-earning path is Engineering, General, where graduates median $84,927 four years out. Faculty pay averages $110,148 a year here — a rough proxy for what the school spends on the teaching itself. With 2,259 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 88.6% of first-years come back for a second year.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 1100 and 1340 — above the PA middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on Messiah University's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
Messiah University is test-optional: scores are considered when submitted but not required. The 1100–1340 range below describes admitted students who chose to submit — typically Messiah University's stronger testers — so treat it as the higher end of what gets in.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 560 | 610 | 670 |
| SAT Math | 540 | 600 | 670 |
| ACT Composite | 22 | 26 | 30 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
In the Fall 2023 cycle, Messiah University received 2,375 applications and admitted 1,864 (78.5%), with 596 enrolling.
How Messiah University compares
| Messiah University | Pennsylvania median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 79% | 82% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $42,240 | $33,730 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $54,064 | $62,101 | $53,781 |
Ten years out, Messiah University's median earnings are $54,064 — below the Pennsylvania benchmark of $62,101. Weigh that against the $42,240 price above; the by-major table shows majors drive much of this gap.
Cost, size & completion
Messiah University lists tuition at $42,240 for everyone — private schools don't do residency pricing. Messiah University's sticker and net price can differ sharply after aid; treat $42,240 as the ceiling, not the bill.
Messiah University enrolls 2,259 undergraduates — mid-sized, with the trade-offs Messiah University's scale implies: more programs than a small college, more anonymity too.
75% of Messiah University students finish a bachelor's within six years — 20.1 points above the national 54.9% — and the single best predictor that the $42,240 price above buys a degree, not just enrollment.
Top majors by earnings at Messiah University
| Bachelor's program | 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 |
Median earnings for these 15 Messiah University programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $54,064 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 47 additional Messiah University programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for Messiah University?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 1100–1340 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 79% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is Messiah University's acceptance rate?
78.5% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 1,864 admitted from 2,375 applicants.
How much does Messiah University cost?
At Messiah University, published tuition is $42,240 — net price after aid usually comes in lower. That number is Messiah University's ceiling, not a quote.
What do Messiah University graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $54,064 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Pennsylvania
- Mercyhurst University — 81% admitted
- Misericordia University — 70.9% admitted
- Vet Tech Institute — 77.5% admitted
- Marywood University — 60.6% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.