Messiah University

www.messiah.edu

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2023 Undergraduate Tuition

$39,700

2.98% growth from 2022

2023 Average Net Price

$29,882

After Financial Aid

2021 Default Rate

on Student Loans

2023 Acceptance Rate

78.5%

2,375 Applicants

2023 Enrolled Students

3,344

75.7% Full-Time

2023 Graduation Rate

78.5%

522 Graduates

About

Messiah University is a higher education institution located in Cumberland County, PA. In 2023, the most popular Masters Degree concentrations at Messiah University were Other Health Professions & Related Clinical Sciences (77 degrees awarded), General Music Performance (36 degrees), and Occupational Therapy (32 degrees).

In 2023, 909 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at Messiah University. 62.4% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 37.6% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was white (726 degrees), 14.2 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (51 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at Messiah University is $39,700, which is $10,420 more than the national average for Baccalaureate Colleges ($29,280).

In 2021 the default rate for borrower's at Messiah University was 0%, corresponding to 0 out of the 809 total borrowers.

Baccalaureate Colleges: Diverse Fields Baccalaureate Colleges

Costs

In 2023, the median undergraduate tuition at Messiah University is $39,700, which is $10,420 more than the national average for Baccalaureate Colleges ($29,280).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $29,882.

In 2023, 94% of undergraduate students attending Messiah University received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 58% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

Tuition Costs

$39,700

2023 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2023, the cost of tuition at Messiah University was $39,700. The cost of tuition at Messiah University is $10,420 more than than the overall (public and private) national average for Baccalaureate Colleges ($29,280).

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

Average Net Price

$29,882

2023 Value

23.9%

1 Year Growth

In 2023 Messiah University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $29,882. Between 2022 and 2023, the average net price of Messiah University grew by 23.9%.

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

$11,560

Room and Board

$1,350

Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at Messiah University was of $11,560 in 2023. The cost of room and board increased by 3.03% between 2022 and 2023.

During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $1,350. The cost of books and supplies increased by 7.14% 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

94%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

58%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

94% of undergraduate students at Messiah University received financial aid through grants or loans in 2023. This represents a decline of 1.05% with respect to 2022, when 95% 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.

2021 Default Rate

Number of Defaults

In 2021 the default rate for borrower's at Messiah University was 0%, which represents 0 out of the 809 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 2,375 undergraduate applications in 2023, which represents a 2.58% annual growth. Out of those 2,375 applicants, 1,864 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 78.5% acceptance rate.

There were 3,344 students enrolled at Messiah University in 2023. 56% of first-time enrollees submitted SAT scores with their applications.

Messiah University has an overall enrollment yield of 32%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.

Acceptance Rate

78.5%

Acceptance Rate in 2023

1,864

Accepted Out of 2,375

In 2023, the undergraduate acceptance rate of Messiah University was 78.5% (1,864 admissions from 2,375 applications). This is lower than the acceptance rate of 2022, which was 79.4%. Between 2022 and 2023, the number of applicants declined by 2.58%, while admissions declined by 3.72%.

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

56%

Submission Percentage (2023)

334

Scores Submitted (2023)

56% of enrolled first-time students at Messiah University in 2023 submitted SAT scores with their applications.

The following chart shows the average SAT scores for the 25th, 50th, and 75th percentile of applicants for each section of the test that they are evaluated on.

Enrollment

Messiah University had a total enrollment of 3,344 students in 2023. The full-time enrollment at Messiah University is 2,532 students and the part-time enrollment is 812. This means that 75.7% of students enrolled at Messiah University are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at Messiah University, both undergraduate and graduate, is 76.3% White, 8.07% Hispanic or Latino, 4.58% Black or African American, 3.83% Asian, 3.53% Two or More Races, 0.12% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders, and 0.0598% American Indian or Alaska Native.

Students enrolled at Messiah University in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly White Female (45.3%), followed by White Male (31.6%) and Hispanic or Latino Female (5.32%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are most commonly White Female (59.2%), followed by White Male (19.6%) and Hispanic or Latino Female (5.12%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

75.7%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Messiah University in 2023, both undergraduate and graduate, is 3,344 students. The full-time enrollment at Messiah University is 2,532 and the part-time enrollment is 812. This means that 75.7% of students enrolled at Messiah University are enrolled full-time compared with 78.8% 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%

2023 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 (74%), 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 (2023)

White
2,550 enrolled students
Hispanic or Latino
270 enrolled students
Black or African American
153 enrolled students

The enrolled student population at Messiah University is 76.3% White, 8.07% Hispanic or Latino, 4.58% Black or African American, 3.83% Asian, 3.53% Two or More Races, 0.12% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders, and 0.0598% 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 53.2% White, 14.1% Hispanic or Latino, and 12.9% Black or African American.

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, 37 students (1.11%) did not report their race.

Graduates

In 2023, 225 more women than men received degrees from Messiah University. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients at Messiah University is white (726 degrees awarded). There were 14.2 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (51 degrees).

The most common Masters Degree concentration at Messiah University is Other Health Professions & Related Clinical Sciences (77 degrees awarded), followed by General Music Performance (36 degrees) and Occupational Therapy (32 degrees).

In 2023, 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 Visual & Performing Arts (78 degrees awarded), Education (135 degrees), and Theology (11 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 (1,611,024 people), Secondary school teachers (541,674 people), Education administrators (312,043 people), Other managers (287,538 people), and Special education teachers (216,922 people).

The most specialized majors at Messiah University in 2023 are Visual & Performing Arts (78 degrees awarded), Education (135 degrees), Theology (11 degrees), Human Sciences (21 degrees), and Communications (34 degrees) (as of 2023).

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, Cardiovascular technologists and technicians, Tool & die makers, Securities, commodities, & financial services sales agents, and Physicians

The most specialized majors at Messiah University are Visual & Performing Arts (78 degrees awarded), Education (135 degrees), Theology (11 degrees), Human Sciences (21 degrees), and Communications (34 degrees) (as of 2023).

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 (3,023,415 people), uninformed (743,671 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (454,998 people), Computer Systems Design (229,408 people), and General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals (226,869 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 (2023)

Registered Nursing
45 degrees awarded
General Business Administration & Management
41 degrees awarded
General Health Services
40 degrees awarded

In 2023, the most common bachelors degree concentration at Messiah University was Registered Nursing with 45 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

342

Degrees Awarded to Men

in 2023

567

Degrees Awarded to Women

in 2023

In 2023, 342 degrees were awarded to men at Messiah University, which is 0.603 times less than the number of degrees awarded to females (567).

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

Most Common Male Majors

In 2023, 33 degrees were awarded to men at Messiah University in General Business Administration & Management, which is 1.22 times more than the 27 female recipients with that same degree.

Most Common Female Majors

In 2023, 69 degrees were awarded to men at Messiah University in Other Health Professions & Related Clinical Sciences, which is 3.83 times more than the 18 male recipients with that same degree.

Time to Complete

73%

100% Completion Time

77%

150% Completion Time

In 2023, 73% of students graduating from Messiah University completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 77% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 77% 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 (84.6%)

The student demographic with the highest graduation rate in 2023 at Messiah University is Female and Two or More Races (84.6% graduation rate). Across all Baccalaureate Colleges, Asian Female students have the highest graduation rate (74.3%).

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, 0.766% of graduates (4 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity (2023)

White
726 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino
51 degrees awarded
Black or African American
38 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at Messiah University is white (726 degrees awarded). There were 14.2 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (51 degrees).

0.33% of degree recipients (3 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Sex

Most Common Sex Demographic (2023)

White Female
456 degrees awarded
White Male
270 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino Female
33 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at Messiah University is white female (456 degrees awarded). There were 1.69 times more white female recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white male (270 degrees).

Operations

Messiah University has an endowment valued at nearly $126M, as of the end of the 2023 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of 6.2M (4.91%) compared to the 4.79% average return (2.46M on 51.4M) across all Baccalaureate Colleges.

In 2023, Messiah University had a total salary expenditure of 104M. Messiah University employs 71 Professors, 51 Associate professors and 43 Assistant professors. Most academics at Messiah University are Male Professor (47), Female Assistant professor (28), and Male Associate professor (27).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at Messiah University are: Service, with 104 employees, Office and Administrative Support, with 75 employees, and Community, Social Service, Legal, Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media with 57 employees.

Endowment

$126M

2023 Endowment

0.635%

decline from 2022

Messiah University has an endowment valued at about $126M, as of the end of the 2023 fiscal year. The endowment of Messiah University declined 0.635% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $74.9M 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.

Salary Expenditure

$41.5M

2023 Salaries

3.68%

growth from 2022

In 2023, Messiah University paid a median of $41.5M in salaries, which represents 40% of their overall expenditure ($104M) and a 3.68% growth from the previous year. This is compared to a 1.75% growth between 2021 and 2022, and a 2.53% decline between 2020 and 2021.

Instructional Salaries

$14.7M

Instructional Salaries

175

Number of Employees

In 2023, Messiah University paid a total of $14.7M to 175 employees working as instructors, which represents 35.5% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $552k (3.27%) for similar Baccalaureate Colleges.

Occupations by Share

Professor

Most Common Instructor

71 Employees

Service

Most Common Non-Instructional Employee

104 Employees

In 2023, the most common positions for instructional staff at Messiah University were Professor with 71 employees, Associate professor with 51 employees, and Assistant professor with 43 employees.

In 2023, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at Messiah University were Service with 104 employees, Office and Administrative Support with 75 employees, and Community, Social Service, Legal, Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media with 57 employees.

Instructors by Academic Rank and Sex

Most Common Demographic (2023)

Male Professor
Female Assistant professor
Male Associate professor

In 2023, the most common demographic for instructional staff at Messiah University was Male Professor with 47 employees, Female Assistant professor with 28 employees, and Male Associate professor with 27 employees.

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

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