Payback
EarningsPlus
Economic score
Messiah University is a private regional university located in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. Messiah University is very inclusive in their admissions.
Return on educational investment at Messiah University is in the bottom 50% of all ranked schools. The median student earns $48,883 10 years after enrolling, 62nd in Pennsylvania, and in the top 50% nationally. When adjusted for earning differences by major, Messiah University bachelor students earn 5% less than the national average. Messiah University is ranked 67th in Pennsylvania.
Messiah University’s median net annual cost of $26,864 and average years to graduate of 4.1 are reported only at the school level. We assume these same costs and graduation time for all programs.
The top 6 programs at Messiah University sorted by number of graduates - Engineering, Education, Registered Nursing, Human Development & Family, Education (subject specific), Business Administration - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Annual net cost
$26,864
Average years to graduate
4.1
Accounting
Rank: #275
Economic score: 2.68
Marketing
Rank: #310
Economic score: 5.74
Computer Science
Rank: #273
Economic score: 7.55
English Language & Lit
Rank: #269
Economic score: 9.23
Fine & Studio Arts
Rank: #156
Economic score: 11.13
Comms & Media Studies
Rank: #432
Economic score: 12.71
Psychology
Rank: #664
Economic score: 16.64
Biology
Rank: #610
Economic score: 31.72
Broadcast & Digital Comms
Rank: #98
Economic score: 38.99
Religious Education
Rank: #7
Economic score: 50.64
EarningPlus compares the three-year post graduate earnings to the median earnings of the same graduating class, with the same graduate degree. These 2 metrics, debt-to-earnings and EarningsPlus, are combined into an economic score. The lower the economic score the better.
The most popular 4 graduate programs at Messiah University - Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other, Music, Education, Educ. Administration - are shown below.
The average full-time graduate completes their degree in 4.1 years. 77% of all students graduate within 8 years including part-time students. The graduation rate at Messiah University is 10% higher than the state average, and 19% above the average for all regional universities in the country.
At Messiah University, Pell Grant recipients represent 20% of the measured graduating class, 15% lower than the national average of 35%. The average Pell Grant recipient at Messiah University graduates within 4.2 years.
Messiah University is in the bottom 25% of schools for graduating Pell recipients.
We calculate this performance by adjusting the graduation rate of Pell students by their percentage of the student body. This adjustment is made to prevent schools with large numbers of Pell students from underperforming in comparison to schools with few Pell students but high graduation rates.
Messiah University’s economic mobility score of 9.07 is calculated by adjusting the 4.05 economic score of lower-income students by the 20% pell grant recipients within the student body. Messiah University’s EMS of 9.07 ranks in the bottom 25% nationally.false
Economic Mobility
To calculate economic mobility of low-income (household earnings below $30,000) students, we adjust each institution’s economic score by their percentage of Pell Grant students. The logic of this Pell-adjusted calculation is derived from Third Way’s Economic Mobility Index (EMI).
Bottom 25%
The average Title IV recipient at Messiah University pays $26,864 a year, $24,806 less than the $51,670 advertised. See below the cost breakdown for students who receive Title IV grants, broken down by income level.
Average net price
The average net price shown by income level for all students that receive Title IV aid. Calculated by deducting the average grant and scholarship aid from tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Limited to first-time, full-time students. Public institution figures are calculated using in-state tuition figures.
Median net price $26,864
Much of the gap between net price and sticker price is filled by institutional and government grants. At Messiah University, 100% of students receive some grants and scholarships, compared to the national average of 87% for all colleges and universities. The average amount of federal, state, and institutional grants that students receive is shown on the right.
This leaves a total of $26,864 on average to be covered by the student – be it through loans or out of pocket. In total, 65% of students take out loans, federal or private, at an average amount of $9,562. This is 11% more than the national average.
Federal grants
$5,510
Pell grants
$4,384
State grants
$3,575
Institutional grants
$24,015
Messiah University offers 2 online bachelor programs, both of which are in hybrid format At the master’s level Messiah University offers 7 programs, 6 of which are held exclusively online. We use the IPEDS July '20 — July '21 Distance Education report to determine which programs are online. EarningsPlus data is provided when available.
Online programs
9
Hybrid programs
3
Percentage of programs online
10%
Messiah University's very inclusive admissions are indicated by their 77% acceptance rate. In 2021, the school had 2,458 applicants, of which 1,902 were admitted and 551 enrolled. Messiah University has a rolling admissions policy, which means applications are reviewed as they arrive until all spaces are filled.
Full time
100%
83%
Female
63%
59%
First time
83%
59%
In-state
65%
68%
1st generation
18%
35%
White
81%
52%
Black
3%
14%
Hispanic
6%
15%
Asian
3%
5%
American Indian
N/A
1.6%
Pacific Islander
N/A
0.3%
Other
7%
12%