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Messiah University

Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania · Private nonprofit · 4-year · Suburb

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At a glance

Average net price
$26,502What students typically pay per year after grants and scholarships.
Acceptance rate
79%
Graduation rate
77%Share of students who finish within 150% of the normal time.
Undergraduates
2,259
In-state tuition
$42,240Published price before aid.
Out-of-state tuition
$42,240
SAT midpoint
1,220
Median earnings, 10 yrs
$54,064Median earnings of former students ten years after they first enrolled.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Data year: 2022-23 academic year. Updated September 2026. Figures are averages across all students and will differ from what any individual pays.

How it compares to similar colleges

Each rating covers one measure against private nonprofit 4-year colleges nationally. Five stars means the top fifth on that measure. There is no overall score, because which of these matters is your call.

Affordability

$26,502

Better than 33% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1092 compared).

Completion

77%

Better than 85% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1063 compared).

Earnings

$54,064

Better than 49% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1087 compared).

Debt at graduation

$25,621

Better than 36% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1020 compared).

What these ratings are based on
Affordability
Based on average net price: what students receiving federal aid actually paid, after grants and scholarships. Your own cost depends on your family's finances.
Completion
Based on the share of first-time, full-time students who graduate within 150% of normal time. It excludes transfer and part-time students, which understates colleges serving many of them.
Earnings
Based on median earnings ten years after students first enrolled. It reflects the subjects a college teaches and the region it sits in as much as its teaching.
Debt at graduation
Based on median federal loan debt among students who completed. Private and parent loans are not included, so real totals are often higher.
Why there is no rating for selectivity
A lower acceptance rate is selectivity, not quality. Awarding stars for it would be us inventing a value judgement and hiding it behind a number.

What it actually costs

Published cost

$55,875

The sticker price: tuition, fees, housing, food and books for one academic year, before any aid.

Average net price

$26,502

What students receiving federal aid actually paid on average, after grants and scholarships. This is the more useful number, though your own figure depends on your family’s finances.

What would this cost me?
Use this college’s official net price calculator

Outcomes

Graduation, retention, debt and earnings for Messiah University
Graduation rateWithin 150% of normal time77%
Retention rateFirst-year students who return89%
Median debt at graduationFederal loans only, students who completed$25,621
Median earnings, 10 years after entryFormer students, working and not enrolled$54,064

What graduates of each major earn

Median earnings one year after finishing, for people who took that subject here. This is the figure a college-wide median hides: the spread between subjects at one college is usually far wider than the spread between colleges.

Bachelor’s programs at Messiah University by graduate earnings
MajorEarnings, 1 yrDegrees awarded
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$73,78845
Engineering, General$64,8714
Accounting and Related Services$59,83317
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas$50,82533
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods$50,38930
Computer Science$49,20518
Marketing$45,74812
Communication and Media Studies$45,02110
Business Administration, Management and Operations$43,02941
Social Work$34,81811
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services$32,94321
Psychology, General$31,13125
Religious Education$28,88511
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General$28,27540
English Language and Literature, General$22,62111
Biology, GeneralNot reported17
Finance and Financial Management ServicesNot reported17
Mechanical EngineeringNot reported15
Fine and Studio ArtsNot reported14
Special Education and TeachingNot reported12
Radio, Television, and Digital CommunicationNot reported12
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied CommunicationNot reported12
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular BiologyNot reported11
Biomedical/Medical EngineeringNot reported11
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications EngineeringNot reported11
Computer/Information Technology Administration and ManagementNot reported9
Civil EngineeringNot reported7
Natural Resources Conservation and ResearchNot reported6
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition ServicesNot reported6
HistoryNot reported5
BiopsychologyNot reported5
EconomicsNot reported5
MusicNot reported5
Political Science and GovernmentNot reported5
DanceNot reported5
Drama/Theatre Arts and StagecraftNot reported4
SociologyNot reported4
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/FitnessNot reported4
International BusinessNot reported4
Film/Video and Photographic ArtsNot reported4
Communications Technologies/TechniciansNot reported3
ChemistryNot reported3
Design and Applied ArtsNot reported3
MathematicsNot reported3
PhilosophyNot reported3
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, OtherNot reported2
Criminal Justice and CorrectionsNot reported2
Management Sciences and Quantitative MethodsNot reported2
Peace Studies and Conflict ResolutionNot reported2
Romance Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reported2
PhysicsNot reported2
Arts, Entertainment, and Media ManagementNot reported1
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure StudiesNot reported1
Sustainability StudiesNot reported1
Germanic Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reportedNot reported
Bible/Biblical StudiesNot reportedNot reported
JournalismNot reportedNot reported
Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automation EngineeringNot reportedNot reported
East Asian Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reportedNot reported
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment ProfessionsNot reportedNot reported
Health/Medical Preparatory ProgramsNot reportedNot reported
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, OtherNot reportedNot reported

All 62 bachelor’s programs this college reported.

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