Messiah University — acceptance rate 78%, tuition $39,700Messiah University campus, Mechanicsburg, PA. Photo: Krishardy83, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
Outcomes
A
85/100
Affordability
F
15/100
Resources
C+
60/100
Experience
B+
81/100
Prestige
C
42/100
Two ratings: the overall grade compares colleges the conventional way (outcomes, cost, resources, experience, reputation). The Outcome Rating asks what students earn: 60% wage-adjusted earnings 10 years after enrolling, 25% graduation, 15% retention. Methodology
Quick Stats
3,344
Total Enrollment
78%
Graduation Rate
85%
Retention Rate
12.0:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
78%
Acceptance Rate
N/A
Avg Net Price
Earnings, Debt & Completion
What happens to students who enroll at Messiah University, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
$54,064
Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$50,192
Median earnings 6 yrs after entry
$25,621
Median debt at graduation
75%
Completion rate (within 150% of normal time)
1,236
Average SAT
27
Median ACT
19.6%
Students receiving Pell grants
Typical debt at graduation equals about 47% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.
Earnings rank: 49th percentile among bachelor’s-degree-focused colleges after a partial adjustment for local wage levels (PA wage index 0.97). This drives the Outcome Rating.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved Oct 2026. Earnings are for federally aided students who enrolled, whether or not they graduated.
Earnings by Major at Messiah University
Median pay of bachelor's degree graduates by field of study, and how each program ranks against every college reporting that major — by raw pay and adjusted for state wage levels. Same school, very different paychecks.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working; small programs are not reported.
For parents & investors
The Messiah University Town Property Report
Avg home value near campus: $364,145
Avg rent near campus: $1,726/mo — vs ~$704/mo campus room rate
Top nearby ZIP by cap rate: 17102 (5.0% cap, Harrisburg)
Get the free 1-page report: rent-vs-dorm math, the 3 best nearby ZIPs by yield,
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🏆 Where Messiah University Ranks
Rankings based on Repit College Grade among schools offering each program.
What is the acceptance rate at Messiah University?
Messiah University has an acceptance rate of 78%.
This indicates a less selective admissions process with good chances for qualified applicants.
How much does it cost to attend Messiah University?
Tuition at Messiah University is
$39,700 for in-state students
and $39,700 for out-of-state students
.
What is the graduation rate at Messiah University?
The graduation rate at Messiah University is 78%.
This is a solid graduation rate, showing that most students who enroll successfully complete their degrees.
Is Messiah University a good school?
Messiah University has a Repit College Score of 57/100 (Grade: C+).
Our rating evaluates five key factors:
Outcomes (A): Graduation and retention rates
Affordability (F): Net cost and financial aid access
Resources (C+): Class sizes and selectivity
Experience (B+): Campus life and learning format
Prestige (C): Reputation and recognition
How many students attend Messiah University?
Messiah University has a total enrollment of 3,344 students.
Most students (88%) are traditional college-age (18-24).
Deciding between a dorm and buying near campus? Run the numbers for Messiah University — four years of dorm costs vs. owning, including what you’d recover at resale. Buy vs Dorm calculator →
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