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Mechanicsburg , PA
Messiah University, located in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, is a comprehensive Christian institution known for its academic excellence and commitment to faith integration. Founded in 1909 by the Brethren in Christ Church, the university offers over 150 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in various fields such as business, engineering, education, humanities, sciences, and social sciences. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 12:1, Messiah University provides a personalized learning experience, fostering meaningful connections between students and professors.
At Messiah University, faith is at the heart of everything they do. The university's Christian identity permeates its educational philosophy, encouraging students to explore the integration of faith and learning. Students have the opportunity to attend chapel services, participate in faith-based clubs and organizations, and engage in service projects that embody the university's commitment to service and peacemaking. The campus community is vibrant and inclusive, embracing diversity and welcoming students from various backgrounds.
Beyond academics and faith integration, Messiah University offers a wide range of extracurricular activities and athletic programs. Students can join over 80 clubs and organizations, including academic, cultural, recreational, and spiritual groups. The university's athletic teams, known as the Falcons, compete in NCAA Division III. Sports facilities on campus are of high quality, catering to recreational and competitive athletes alike.
Overall, Messiah University offers a holistic and transformational educational experience that combines rigorous academic programs with a strong Christian foundation. With a supportive community, hands-on learning opportunities, and a commitment to spiritual growth, Messiah University prepares students to make a positive impact in their professions, communities, and the world.
Located in Mechanicsburg, PA, Messiah University is a private university. This institution follows a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 78%. The freshman retention rate at Messiah University is 88.6% and the six-year graduation rate is 75%.
Explore this school's profile to find out all the essential things about Messiah University.
Quick Facts
2,618
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
$42,540
Tuition
12:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
75%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
You need to learn as much as you can about the entrance requirements of the institution in order to maximize your chances of being accepted. Here are the most vital information you need to know about admission at Messiah University.
According to the most recent information reported, this institution uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 1,941 in 2025. Messiah University has an official test-optional admission policy but takes into consideration standardized test scores in cases when they are submitted by the applicant. Looking at entrance difficulty level for all or most incoming freshmen, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is moderately difficult to get into.
Test Scores
51.77% of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students submitted their SAT scores for admission, and 5.85% submitted ACT scores, out of the total number of those who submitted test scores. 13.36% of the first-year students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 46.92% between 1,200 and 1,399, 32.88% between 1,000 and 1,199, 6.51% between 800 and 999, and 0.34% of the students between 600 and 799. The percent of first-year students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 30.3, 54.55 between 24-29, 12.12 in the range between 18-23, and 3.03 between 12-17.
The average ACT score for all the admitted students in 2025 was 27 while the average GPA was 3.84. That means you'll most likely need an above-average GPA to get accepted as well as an above-average ACT score.
The SAT Critical Reading average score was 619 for the newly enrolled students, while the average SAT Math score was 606.
Retention Rate
The percentage of freshmen at a college or university who stay on for their second year is known as the freshman retention rate. When creating your list of possible schools to attend, don't forget to consider the freshmen retention rate.
As reported in 2025, the freshman retention rate for Messiah University was 88.6%, a reflection of the high standards and excellent educational experience at this school.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. This rate shows how many students complete their degrees in a certain number of years. At this academic institution, the proportion of students graduating in six years is 75%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
Figuring out which school is the right fit for you is not a task you should take lightly. You can have a better understanding of the school's culture and way of life by learning more about the student body.
Main Student Body
In 2025, the school enrolled 3,373 students.
That year, the institution had 34% of students coming from another state. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the institution was 2,618, 52 of which were foreign students. The number of transfer students at this school was 78.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 1,085 male and 1,697 female full-time students in 2025, which is indicative of the importance this institution places on gender equality.
Student Population Diversity
When it comes to improving a sense of inclusion and belonging among students, there is no denying the importance of student diversity. An inclusive student body brings together individuals from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Discover more about the many ethnic communities that go to this school.
This school had 85 Asian students and 90 Afro-American students in 2025. 213 undergrads at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 95 identified with more than one race. The school also had 2 students who identified as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and 2 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 24 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Before you submit an application to any college or university, you should take into account the financial component. Here are some details you should know about the expenses at Messiah University that the majority of students face.
Tuition and Fees
If you were wondering how much the tuition cost for Messiah University is, here are some recent data that will come in handy.
Tuition in 2025 was $42,540 for full-time domestic students. Messiah University is a private institution, so tuition is the same for all the accepted students. Fees per academic year required of full-time students amounted to $1,040 in 2025.
Books and Supplies
When you try to estimate the cost of attendance for a college or university, you need to think about the cost of books and supplies you're going to need. Most students have to allocate about $1,330 for books and supplies during their time at Messiah University.
Boarding
The cost of dorm rooms and meals in the school's cafeteria is for sure something to take into consideration. What do schools typically charge for accommodation and meals?
In 2025, room and board cost at Messiah University amounted to $12,765 a year. The cost of a dorm room only at this school in 2025 stood at $6,790 for one academic year. The estimated expense of room-only (on campus) for commuters not living at home was $7,350.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 42,540 |
| Room and Board | $ 12,765 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,330 |
| Total Expense | $ 56,635 |
Financial Aid
There are different types of financial aid: grants, loans, scholarships, and work-study programs. If you are interested in finding out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at Messiah University, here are some recent data you should consider.
The most recent figures show that financial help was given to 411 freshmen. Students of this school received an average of $35,856 in financial help.
Need-based
Need-based aid is financial aid that a student can receive if they are determened to have financial need and meet other eligibility criteria.
There were 1,491 students who acquired need-based financial aid of any kind. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at Messiah University is available to international students. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was estimated to be 1,501. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution reached $4,406,753, and state $2,860,279. The students of Messiah University received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $33,685,107, and external in the amount of $1,453,197.
$17,831
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Any financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid is considered non-need-based aid. Most students get non-need-based financial aid as Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the TEACH Grant.
Institutional non-need-based scholarships or grants were given to 281 students overall (including freshmen) at Messiah University in 2025. Institutional help in the form of non-need-based scholarships or grants was given to 104 full-time freshmen. The total dollar amount of federal non-need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the studens at this school was $4,406,753 while the state aid is $651,720. The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need was $14,094,337. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $887,452 USD.
Majors
Faculty
12:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty ratio can tell you a lot about the teaching resources a school provides for its students.
In 2025, this ratio at Messiah University was 12:1. That means that there were 12 times more students than teachers at this school. The total number of faculty teaching at the institution is 376. This number included 169 male and 207 female faculty members. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school speaks volumes for gender equality at Messiah University.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Not everything at Messiah University is about learning and grades: campus life is an essential part of your educational experience. Check out some details about social life at Messiah University.
It has a campus size of 485 acres.
Student Organizations
A student organization is run by students at a university or a college institution, whose membership typically consists only of current students and/or alumni.
This school has 70 open-membership student organizations you can participate in. The student organization that attracts the greatest number of students is Multicultural Council, followed by Student Government Association and Student Activities Board. Other popular organizations among the students at Messiah University are Small Group Participation (Student Ministries) and Outreach Teams (Agape Center).
For those interested in acting, there is a drama club you can become part of. For students interested in media and communication, Messiah University publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
At Messiah University, there are many amenities that make life on campus comfortable and safe.
There are 24-hour emergency phone and alarm devices. There are electronically operated dormitory entrances. There is a 24-hour security patrol. The after-hours transportation/escort service is available.
This school has a health clinic with personal/psychological counseling. All in all, campus life at Messiah University is rich and vibrant and provides everything most students need.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Messiah University.
Career Counselling
At Messiah University, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. The school has campus employer recruitment for all the students. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
FAQ
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Messiah University is located in Mechanicsburg, PA.
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Messiah University offers need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
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According to the latest information, the tuition for Messiah University is 42,540 USD a year.
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This school has an official test-optional admission policy but makes use of SAT, SAT Subject Tests, ACT, or other standardized test scores in admission decisions for the candidates who choose to submit them.
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The most recent data indicate that the acceptance rate for Messiah University is 78%.
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The most recent reported freshman retention rate for Messiah University is 88.6%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.