Messiah University

www.messiah.edu/

Add Comparison

2021 Undergraduate Tuition

$37,430

3% growth from 2020

2021 Average Net Price

$23,895

After Financial Aid

2019 Student Loan

0.663%

Default Rate

2021 Acceptance Rate

77.4%

2,458 Applicants

2021 Enrolled Students

3,276

79% Full-Time

2021 Graduation Rate

77%

531 Graduates

About

Messiah University is a higher education institution located in Cumberland County, PA. In 2021, the most popular Masters Degree concentrations at Messiah University were Other Health Professions & Related Clinical Sciences (70 degrees awarded), Occupational Therapy (46 degrees), and General Music Performance (42 degrees).

In 2021, 959 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at Messiah University. 65.7% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 34.3% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was white (784 degrees), 14.5 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (54 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at Messiah University is $37,430, which is $8,925 more than the national average for Baccalaureate Colleges ($28,505).

Baccalaureate Colleges: Diverse Fields Baccalaureate Colleges

Costs

In 2021, the median undergraduate tuition at Messiah University is $37,430, which is $8,925 more than the national average for Baccalaureate Colleges ($28,505).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $23,895.

In 2021, 97% of undergraduate students attending Messiah University received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 61% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

Tuition Costs

$37,430

2021 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2021, the cost of tuition at Messiah University was $37,430. The cost of tuition at Messiah University is $8,925 more than than the overall (public and private) national average for Baccalaureate Colleges ($28,505).

This chart compares the tuition costs of Messiah University (in red) with those of other similar universities.

Average Net Price

$23,895

2021 Value

13.6%

1 Year Growth

In 2021 Messiah University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $23,895. Between 2020 and 2021, the average net price of Messiah University grew by 13.6%.

This chart compares the average net price of Messiah University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

Average net price is calculated from full-time beginning undergraduate students who were awarded a grant or scholarship from federal, state or local governments, or the institution.

Other Student Expenses

$10,900

Room and Board

$1,240

Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at Messiah University was of $10,900 in 2021. The cost of room and board increased by 3.02% between 2020 and 2021.

During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $1,240. The cost of books and supplies decreased by 3.13% during the same period.

This chart compares the average student costs at Messiah University (in red) with that of similar universities.

Financial Aid by Income Level

97%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

61%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

97% of undergraduate students at Messiah University received financial aid through grants or loans in 2021. This represents a growth of 1.04% with respect to 2020, when 96% of undergraduate students received financial aid.

This chart compares the average award discount at Messiah University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

The average award discount is the ratio between the average grant or scholarship value, and the cost, which is the sum of out-of-state tuition, room, board, book, supplies, and other expenses.

Student Loan Default Rate

Cohort default rates only account for borrowers who default in the first three years, and some schools only have a small proportion of borrowers entering repayment. These rates should be interpreted with caution, as they may not be reflective of the entire school population.

0.663%

2019 Default Rate

Number of Defaults

In 2019 the default rate for borrower's at Messiah University was 0.663%, which represents 5 out of the 754 total borrowers.

A cohort default rate is the percentage of a school's borrowers who enter repayment on certain Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program or William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program loans during a particular federal fiscal year (FY), October 1 to September 30, and default or meet other specified conditions prior to the end of the second following fiscal year.

Admissions

Messiah University received 2,458 undergraduate applications in 2021, which represents a 3.57% annual growth. Out of those 2,458 applicants, 1,902 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 77.4% acceptance rate.

There were 3,276 students enrolled at Messiah University in 2021. 57% of first-time enrollees submitted SAT scores with their applications.

Messiah University has an overall enrollment yield of 29%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.

Acceptance Rate

77.4%

Acceptance Rate in 2021

1,902

Accepted Out of 2,458

In 2021, the undergraduate acceptance rate of Messiah University was 77.4% (1,902 admissions from 2,458 applications). This is lower than the acceptance rate of 2020, which was 77.5%. Between 2020 and 2021, the number of applicants grew by 3.57%, while admissions declined by −3.74%..

This chart compares the acceptance rate of Messiah University (in red) with that of other similar universities, and the chart below shows the acceptance rate by gender.

SAT Scores

57%

Submission Percentage (2021)

311

Scores Submitted (2021)

57% of enrolled first-time students at Messiah University in 2021 submitted SAT scores with their applications.

This chart shows the SAT scores for the 25th and 75th percentile of applicants broken out into each section of the test that their are evaluated on.

Enrollment

Messiah University had a total enrollment of 3,276 students in 2021. The full-time enrollment at Messiah University is 2,588 students and the part-time enrollment is 688. This means that 79% of students enrolled at Messiah University are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at Messiah University, both undergraduate and graduate, is 78.7% White, 6.29% Hispanic or Latino, 4.55% Black or African American, 3.75% Two or More Races, 3.33% Asian, and 0.0916% American Indian or Alaska Native.

Students enrolled at Messiah University in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly White Female (47.4%), followed by White Male (31.1%) and Hispanic or Latino Female (3.95%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are most commonly White Female (60.6%), followed by White Male (17.6%) and Black or African American Female (5.28%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

79%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Messiah University in 2021, both undergraduate and graduate, is 3,276 students. The full-time enrollment at Messiah University is 2,588 and the part-time enrollment is 688. This means that 79% of students enrolled at Messiah University are enrolled full-time compared with 79.9% at similar Baccalaureate Colleges.

This chart shows the full-time vs part-time enrollment status at Messiah University (in red) compares to similar universities.

Retention Rate over Time

85%

2021 Retention Rate

Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall. The retention rate for full-time undergraduates at Messiah University was 85%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Baccalaureate Colleges (72%), Messiah University had a retention rate higher than its peers.

This chart shows the retention rate over time at Messiah University (highlighted in red) compares to similar universities.

Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

Most Common Race or Ethnicity (2021)

White
2,578 enrolled students
Hispanic or Latino
206 enrolled students
Black or African American
149 enrolled students

The enrolled student population at Messiah University is 78.7% White, 6.29% Hispanic or Latino, 4.55% Black or African American, 3.75% Two or More Races, 3.33% Asian, and 0.0916% American Indian or Alaska Native. This includes both full-time and part-time students as well as graduate and undergraduates. By comparison, enrollment for all Baccalaureate Colleges is 55% White, 13.5% Black or African American, and 13.4% Hispanic or Latino.

Any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis is categorized as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the share of those students are shown in the chart below. Additionally, 18 students (0.549%) did not report their race.

Graduates

In 2021, 301 more women than men received degrees from Messiah University. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients at Messiah University is white (784 degrees awarded). There were 14.5 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (54 degrees).

The most common Masters Degree concentration at Messiah University is Other Health Professions & Related Clinical Sciences (70 degrees awarded), followed by Occupational Therapy (46 degrees) and General Music Performance (42 degrees).

In 2021, the most specialized majors across all degree types at Messiah University, meaning they have significantly more degrees awarded in that concentration than the national average across all institutions, are THEOLOGY AND RELIGIOUS VOCATIONS. (20 degrees awarded), Visual & Performing Arts (93 degrees), and Human Sciences (34 degrees).

Common Jobs by Major

Elementary & middle school teachers

Most Common Job

The most common jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Messiah University are Elementary & middle school teachers (1,753,629 people), Secondary school teachers (458,217 people), Education administrators (301,325 people), Other managers (256,660 people), and Special education teachers (183,852 people).

The most specialized majors at Messiah University in 2021 are THEOLOGY AND RELIGIOUS VOCATIONS. (20 degrees awarded), Visual & Performing Arts (93 degrees), Human Sciences (34 degrees), EDUCATION. (131 degrees), and Communications (37 degrees) (as of 2021).

Highest Paying Jobs by Major

Nuclear medicine technologists and medical dosimetrists

Highest Paying Job

The highest paying jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Messiah University are Nuclear medicine technologists and medical dosimetrists, Surgeons, Cardiovascular technologists and technicians, Physicians, and Securities, commodities, & financial services sales agents

The most specialized majors at Messiah University are THEOLOGY AND RELIGIOUS VOCATIONS. (20 degrees awarded), Visual & Performing Arts (93 degrees), Human Sciences (34 degrees), EDUCATION. (131 degrees), and Communications (37 degrees) (as of 2021).

Common Industries by Major

Elementary & secondary schools

Most Common Industry

The most common industries for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Messiah University are Elementary & secondary schools (2,986,005 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (432,309 people), General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals (212,792 people), Computer Systems Design (192,887 people), and Religious organizations (172,033 people).

Majors Awarded

IPEDS uses the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) standard, so the categories may not match the exact concentrations offered by Messiah University.

Most Common (2021)

General Engineering
55 degree-majors awarded
General Health Services
49 degree-majors awarded
Registered Nursing
37 degree-majors awarded

In 2021, the most common bachelors degree concentration at Messiah University was General Engineering with 55 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of degree-majors recipients from bachelors degree programs at Messiah University according to their major.

Sex Breakdown for Common Majors

329

Degrees Awarded to Men

in 2021

630

Degrees Awarded to Women

in 2021

In 2021, 329 degrees were awarded to men at Messiah University, which is 0.522 times less than the number of degrees awarded to females (630).

This chart displays the sex disparity between the top 5 majors at Messiah University by degrees awarded.

Most Common Male Majors

In 2021, 46 degrees were awarded to men at Messiah University in General Engineering, which is 5.11 times more than the 9 female recipients with that same degree.

Most Common Female Majors

In 2021, 71 degrees were awarded to men at Messiah University in Other Health Professions & Related Clinical Sciences, which is 5.46 times more than the 13 male recipients with that same degree.

Time to Complete

75%

100% Completion Time

79%

150% Completion Time

In 2021, 75% of students graduating from Messiah University completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 79% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 80% within 200%.

The following chart shows these completion rates over time compared to the average for the Baccalaureate Colleges Carnegie Classification group.

Graduation rate is defined as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within a specific percentage of "normal time" to completion for their program.

Graduation Rate by Race and Sex

Showing demographic groups with ≥ 5 graduating students.

Two or More Races Female

Highest Graduation Rate (92.9%)

The student demographic with the highest graduation rate in 2021 at Messiah University is Female and Two or More Races (92.9% graduation rate). Across all Baccalaureate Colleges, Asian Female students have the highest graduation rate (72.9%).

The department of education defines graduation rate as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within 150% of "normal time" to completion.

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) categorizes any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the graduation rate of those students is shown in the chart below. Additionally, 1.51% of graduates (8 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity (2021)

White
784 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino
54 degrees awarded
Asian
31 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at Messiah University is white (784 degrees awarded). There were 14.5 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (54 degrees).

0.521% of degree recipients (5 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Sex

Most Common Sex Demographic (2021)

White Female
529 degrees awarded
White Male
255 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino Female
32 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at Messiah University is white female (529 degrees awarded). There were 2.07 times more white female recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white male (255 degrees).

Operations

Messiah University has an endowment valued at nearly $140M, as of the end of the 2021 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of 19.1M (13.6%) compared to the 17.4% average return (9.13M on 52.4M) across all Baccalaureate Colleges.

In 2021, Messiah University had a total salary expenditure of 98.6M. Messiah University employs 63 Professors, 55 Associate professors and 41 Assistant professors. Most academics at Messiah University are Male Professor (45), Male Associate professor (30), and Female Assistant professor (29).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at Messiah University are: Service, with 99 employees, Office and Administrative Support, with 70 employees, and Community, Social Service, Legal, Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media with 55 employees.

Endowment

$140M

2021 Endowment

7.9%

growth from 2020

Messiah University has an endowment valued at about $140M, as of the end of the 2021 fiscal year. The endowment of Messiah University grew 7.9% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $87.8M higher than than the median endowment of Baccalaureate Colleges according to the Carnegie Classification grouping.

This line chart shows how the endowment at Messiah University (in red) compares to that of some similar universities.

The small bar chart below shows the endowment quintiles for all universities in the Baccalaureate Colleges: Diverse Fields Carnegie Classification grouping.

Government Grants and Contracts

Grants & Contracts

$3.13M - Federal
$626k - State
$300k - Local

As of 2021, Messiah University received $3.13M in grants and contracts from the federal government, $626k from state grants and contracts, and $300k from local grants and contracts.

Salary Expenditure

$39.3M

2021 Salaries

2.53%

decline from 2020

In 2021, Messiah University paid a median of $39.3M in salaries, which represents 39.9% of their overall expenditure ($98.6M) and a 2.53% decline from the previous year.

The median for similar Baccalaureate Colleges is 15.1M (38.9% of overall expenditures).

Instructional Salaries

$13.8M

Instructional Salaries

172

Number of Employees

In 2021, Messiah University paid a total of $13.8M to 172 employees working as instructors, which represents 35.2% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $4.92M (32.5%) for similar Baccalaureate Colleges.

Occupations by Share

Professor

Most Common Instructor

63 Employees

Service

Most Common Non-Instructional Employee

99 Employees

In 2021, the most common positions for instructional staff at Messiah University were Professor with 63 employees, Associate professor with 55 employees, and Assistant professor with 41 employees.

In 2021, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at Messiah University were Service with 99 employees, Office and Administrative Support with 70 employees, and Community, Social Service, Legal, Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media with 55 employees.

Instructors by Academic Rank and Sex

Most Common Demographic (2021)

Male Professor
Male Associate professor
Female Assistant professor

In 2021, the most common demographic for instructional staff at Messiah University was Male Professor with 45 employees, Male Associate professor with 30 employees, and Female Assistant professor with 29 employees.

This chart shows the sex split between each academic rank present at Messiah University.