Messiah University

www.messiah.edu/

Add Comparison

2020 Undergraduate Tuition

$36,340

3% growth from 2019

2020 Average Net Price

$27,641

After Financial Aid

2020 Acceptance Rate

77.5%

2,549 Applicants

2020 Enrolled Students

3,370

80.5% Full-Time

2020 Graduation Rate

78.7%

547 Graduates

About

Messiah University is a higher education institution located in Cumberland County, PA. In 2020, the most popular Bachelor's Degree concentrations at Messiah University were General Engineering (61 degrees awarded), Registered Nursing (50 degrees), and General Psychology (30 degrees).

In 2020, 941 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at Messiah University. 67.3% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 32.7% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was white (774 degrees), 16.5 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (47 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at Messiah University is $36,340, which is $7,940 more than the national average for Baccalaureate Colleges ($28,400).

Costs

The median undergraduate tuition at Messiah University is $36,340, which is $7,940 more than the national average for Baccalaureate Colleges ($28,400).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $27,641.

In 2020, 96% of undergraduate students attending Messiah University received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 63% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

Tuition Costs

$36,340

2020 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2020, the cost of tuition at Messiah University was $36,340. The cost of tuition at Messiah University is $7,940 more than than the overall (public and private) national average for Baccalaureate Colleges ($28,400).

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

Average Net Price

$27,641

2020 Value

4.25%

1 Year Growth

In 2020 Messiah University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $27,641. Between 2019 and 2020, the average net price of Messiah University grew by 4.25%.

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

$10,580

Room and Board

$1,280

Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at Messiah University was of $10,580 in 2020. During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $1,280. The cost of room and board increased by 0.57% between 2019 and 2020. The cost of books and supplies did not change 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

96%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

63%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

96% of undergraduate students at Messiah University received financial aid through grants or loans in 2020. This represents a growth of 0% with respect to 2019, 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.

Admissions

Messiah University received 2,549 undergraduate applications in 2020, which represents a 3.45% annual decline. Out of those 2,549 applicants, 1,976 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 77.5% acceptance rate.

There were 3,370 students enrolled at Messiah University in 2020, and 92% of first-time enrollees submitted SAT scores with their applications.

Messiah University has an overall enrollment yield of 31.1%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.

Acceptance Rate

77.5%

Acceptance Rate in 2020

1,976

Accepted Out of 2,549

In 2020, the undergraduate acceptance rate of Messiah University was 77.5% (1,976 admissions from 2,549 applications). This is higher than the acceptance rate of 2019, which was 75.9%. Between 2019 and 2020, the number of applicants declined by −3.45%, while admissions declined by −1.35%.

This chart compares the acceptance rate of Messiah University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

SAT Scores

92%

Submission Percentage

564

Scores Submitted

92% of enrolled first-time students at Messiah University in 2020 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 has a total enrollment of 3,370 students. The full-time enrollment at Messiah University is 2,714 students and the part-time enrollment is 656. This means that 80.5% of students enrolled at Messiah University are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at Messiah University, both undergraduate and graduate, is 80.4% White, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 4.15% Black or African American, 3.2% Two or More Races, 3.06% Asian, 0.089% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.0297% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders.

Students enrolled at Messiah University in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly White Female (48.8%), followed by White Male (32.2%) and Hispanic or Latino Female (3.22%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are most commonly White Female (57.2%), followed by White Male (19.7%) and Asian Female (5.52%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

80.5%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Messiah University, both undergraduate and graduate, is 3,370 students. The full-time enrollment at Messiah University is 2,714 and the part-time enrollment is 656. This means that 80.5% of students enrolled at Messiah University are enrolled full-time compared with 80.1% 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

86%

2020 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 86%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Baccalaureate Colleges (73%), 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

White
2,710
Hispanic or Latino
192
Black or African American
140

The enrolled student population at Messiah University is 80.4% White, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 4.15% Black or African American, 3.2% Two or More Races, 3.06% Asian, 0.089% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.0297% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders. This includes both full-time and part-time students as well as graduate and undergraduates. By comparison, enrollment for all Baccalaureate Colleges is 54.8% White, 13.8% 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, 19 students (0.564%) did not report their race.

Graduates

In 2020, 325 more women than men received degrees from Messiah University. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients at Messiah University is white (774 degrees awarded). There were 16.5 times more white graduates than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (47 degrees).

The most common Bachelor's Degree concentration at Messiah University is General Engineering (61 degrees awarded), followed by Registered Nursing (50 degrees) and General Psychology (30 degrees).

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 (17 degrees awarded), Visual & Performing Arts (92 degrees), and Education (160 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 (1,860,995 people), Secondary school teachers (458,998 people), Education administrators (296,791 people), Postsecondary teachers (232,822 people), and Other managers (197,997 people).

The most specialized majors at Messiah University are Theology (17 degrees awarded), Visual & Performing Arts (92 degrees), Education (160 degrees), Language & Linguistics (17 degrees), and English (22 degrees).

Highest Paying Jobs by Major

Surgeons

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 Surgeons, Physicians, Sales engineers, Podiatrists, and Nurse anesthetists

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 (3,030,841 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (470,428 people), General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals (187,968 people), Religious organizations (166,961 people), and Computer Systems Design (149,173 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

General Engineering
61 degree-majorss awarded
Registered Nursing
50 degree-majorss awarded
General Psychology
30 degree-majorss awarded

In 2020, the most common bachelors degree concentration at Messiah University was General Engineering with 61 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

308

Degrees Awarded to Men

in 2020

633

Degrees Awarded to Women

in 2020

In 2020, 308 degrees were awarded to men at Messiah University, which is 0.487 times less than the number of degrees awarded to females (633).

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

Most Common Male Majors

In 2020, 49 degrees were awarded to men at Messiah University in General Engineering, which is 4.08 times more than the 12 female recipients with that same degree.

Most Common Female Majors

In 2020, 65 degrees were awarded to women at Messiah University in Other Health Professions & Related Clinical Sciences, which is 7.22 times more than the 9 male recipients with that same degree.

Time to Complete

74%

100% Completion Time

78%

150% Completion Time

In 2020, 74% of students graduating from Messiah University completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 78% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 78% 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.

Hispanic or Latino Male

Highest Graduation Rate (83.3%)

The student demographic with the highest graduation rate at Messiah University is Male and Hispanic or Latino (83.3% graduation rate). Across all Baccalaureate Colleges, Asian Female students have the highest graduation rate (72.4%).

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, 0.366% of graduates (2 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity

White
774 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino
47 degrees awarded
Black or African American
29 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at Messiah University is white (774 degrees awarded). There were 16.5 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (47 degrees).

0.425% of degree recipients (4 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Sex

Most Common Sex Demographic

White Female
526 degrees awarded
White Male
248 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino Female
33 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at Messiah University is white female (526 degrees awarded). There were 2.12 times more white female recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white male (248 degrees).

Operations

Messiah University has an endowment valued at nearly $130M, as of the end of the 2020 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of $−NaNM (−0.829%), compared to the 2.06% average return ($820k on $39.8M) across all Baccalaureate Colleges.

In 2020, Messiah University had a total salary expenditure of $99.5M. Messiah University employs 74 Professors, 51 Assistant professors, and 50 Associate professors. Most academics at Messiah University are Male Professors (55), Female Assistant professors(30), and Male Associate professors (25).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at Messiah University are: Service, with 98 employees, Office and Administrative Support, with 71 employees, and Management with 52 employees.

Endowment

$130M

2020 Endowment

5.81%

decline from 2019

Messiah University has an endowment valued at about $130M, as of the end of the 2020 fiscal year. The endowment of Messiah University declined 5.81% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $90.1M 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

$1.99M - Federal
$465k - State
$0 - Local

As of 2020, Messiah University received $1.99M in grants and contracts from the federal government, $465k from state grants and contracts, and $0 from local grants and contracts.

Salary Expenditure

$40.4M

2020 Salaries

4.79%

decline from 2019

In 2020, Messiah University paid a median of $40.4M in salaries, which represents 40.6% of their overall expenditure ($99.5M) and a 4.79% decline from the previous year. This is compared to a 1.73% growth from 2018 and a 2.52% growth from 2017.

The median for similar Baccalaureate Colleges is 15.4M (40.8% of overall expenditures).

Instructional Salaries

$15.1M

Instructional Salaries

195

Number of Employees

In 2020, Messiah University paid a total of $15.1M to 195 employees working as instructors, which represents 37.4% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $4.78M (31%) for similar Baccalaureate Colleges.

Occupations by Share

Professor

Most Common Instructor

74 Employees

Service

Most Common Non-Instructional Employee

98 Employees

In 2020, the most common positions for instructional staff at Messiah University were Professor with 74 employees; Assistant professor with 51 employees; and Assistant professor with 50 employees.

In 2020, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at Messiah University were Service with 98 employees; Office and Administrative Support with 71 employees; and Management with 52 employees.

Instructors by Academic Rank and Sex

Most Common Demographic

Male Professor
Female Assistant professor
Male Associate professor

In 2020, the most common demographic for instructional staff at Messiah University was Male Professor with 55 employees, Female Assistant professor with 30 employees, and Male Associate professor with 25 employees.

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