What is the acceptance rate at Messiah University?

Messiah University's acceptance rate is approximately 79% (Mechanicsburg, PA), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.

What SAT score do you need for Messiah University?

Admitted students at Messiah University typically score 1110–1350 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.

How much does Messiah University cost?

At Messiah University, the average net price (after aid) is about $26,502 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.

How many undergraduates attend Messiah University?

Messiah University enrolls approximately 2,259 undergraduate students.

Where is Messiah University located?

Messiah University is located in Mechanicsburg, PA.

Messiah University: Acceptance Rate, SAT & Cost — QuantAdmit

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Messiah University

Mechanicsburg, PAprivate nonprofitwww.messiah.edu/

Acceptance

79%

SAT 25–75

1110–1350

Avg net price

$26,502

Earnings (10 yr)

$54,064

Graduation rate

75%

Admit rate has ranged 76%–79% over the last 5 years. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.

Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.

Messiah University is a private Christian liberal arts school in Pennsylvania that punches above its weight with a 78% graduation rate and a distinctive blend of faith integration and career-focused programs. Known for its lush, tight-knit campus where 85% of students live on-site, Messiah delivers a high-touch education with strong outcomes in fields like physical therapy (95% recent graduate employment) and engineering—all while maintaining a notably unpretentious 79% acceptance rate.

Admission requirements

Test-optional — scores considered if submitted

Required

High school transcript
Grade point average
College-prep program
TOEFL (non-native English)

Considered (not required)

Class rank
Letters of recommendation
Test scores (SAT/ACT)

Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.

More details

Undergrad enrollment: 2,259
In-state tuition: $42,240
Out-of-state tuition: $42,240
Location: Mechanicsburg, PA
Acceptance Rate: 79%
6-Year Grad Rate: 78%
On-Campus Housing: 85%
Total Annual Cost: $58,770
Student-Faculty Ratio: 14:1

Outcomes & value

Median earnings (10 yr): $54,064
Value (earnings ÷ net price): 2.0×
Median debt at graduation: $25,621
Graduation rate: 75%
First-year retention: 89%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr): 83%
Pell (lower-income) share: 34%
First-generation share: 18%
Endowment / student

Financial health

2.3 / 3.0Meets the federal financial-responsibility standard

U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.

Top-earning majors

Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$62,546
Engineering, General$60,623
Accounting and Related Services$53,608
Computer Science$51,273
Business Administration, Management and Operations$49,214
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods

Campus & location

Campus safety

On-campus violent crimes (2024): 4
Per 1,000 students: 1.77

On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.

Climate

Pleasant days / yr: 88
Summer high: 85°F
Winter low: 28°F
Annual rain: 42.9"
Annual snow: 18.7"
Natural-hazard risk: Relatively Moderate

Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.

Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility

Research output

Institutional h-index: 64
Scholarly works: 1,046

Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.

Quick answers

What is the acceptance rate at Messiah University?: Messiah University's acceptance rate is approximately 79% (Mechanicsburg, PA), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for Messiah University?: Admitted students at Messiah University typically score 1110–1350 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does Messiah University cost?: At Messiah University, the average net price (after aid) is about $26,502 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Messiah University?: Messiah University enrolls approximately 2,259 undergraduate students.
Where is Messiah University located?: Messiah University is located in Mechanicsburg, PA.

Admissions

Messiah University maintains an accessible admissions process with a 79% , welcoming students with mid-range test scores (SAT 1120–1330, ACT 23–30) and offering applications since 2022. The school enrolled 2,618 undergraduates in 2023, with nearly all students receiving merit-based scholarships regardless of test submission. Notably, 97.9% of students are U.S. citizens—well above the national average—reflecting the school's domestic focus.

bigfuture.collegeboard.org prepscholar.com collegeraptor.com petersons.com datausa.io messiah.edu

Academics

With over 80 majors across four schools, Messiah (which transitioned from 'college' to 'university' status in 2020) blends liberal arts rigor with Christian worldview integration. Standout programs include:

Compare Messiah University

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Messiah University

Admission requirements

Outcomes & value

Financial health

Top-earning majors

Campus safety

Climate

Research output

Quick answers

Admissions

Academics

Compare Messiah University

Sources

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Outcomes

Cost & Aid

Why It Stands Out

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