Messiah University
Common Data Set 2025-26
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Acceptance Rate
81.1%
Applications
2,472
Admitted
2,004
Enrolled
630
SAT Composite
1150-1350
SAT Math
560-670
SAT Reading
580-700
ACT Composite
27-33
How the class gets assembled.
No Early Decision reportedNo Early Action reported
This school does not report an Early Decision lane, so the flow collapses to the school-reported applicant, admit, and enrolled totals.
Each column is scaled within that stage. Labels show exact counts.
Applicants2,472reported count
Admits2,00481%
Class seats63031% yield
Exact admission data
| Path | Applicants | Admitted | Admit rate | Class seats | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All applicants | 2,472 | 2,004 | 81% | 630 | School-reported totals. |
Overall yield: 31%. Published yield blends high-commitment ED admits with the rest of the admitted pool.
Application fee: $50. Fee waivers are reported as available.
This school marks applicant interest as Considered. Read yield and wait-list behavior with that policy in mind.
Federal outcomes
Federal data from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard, vintage 2022-23. Outcomes reflect earlier cohorts than the CDS year shown elsewhere on this page.
$54,064
10 yrs after enrollment
75%
6-year completion
$26,502
sticker minus grants
$25,621
federal loans only
All Extracted Fields
638fields parsed from this CDS.
General Information
8 TABLESFirst Name:Dan
Last Name:Custer
Title:Assistant Director of Institutional Research
Office:Institutional Research
Country:United States
Phone:717-796-1800
Email Address:instresearch@messiah.edu
If yes, please provide the URL of the corresponding Web page:https://www.messiah.edu/institutional-research/research/common-data-set
City:Mechanicsburg
StatePA
Name of College/University:Messiah University
CityMechanicsburg
StatePA
Zip17,055
Country:United States
Main Phone Number:766-2511
WWW Home Page Address:www.messiah.edu
Admissions Phone Number:691-6000
Admissions Email Address:admissions@messiah.edu
If there is a separate URL for your school’s online application, please specify:https://www.messiah.edu/undergraduate-admissions/pages/undergraduate-application
Source of institutional control (Check only one):Private (nonprofit)
Classify your undergraduate institution:Coeducational college
Academic year calendar:Semester
CertificateX
Bachelor'sX
Postbachelor's certificateX
Master'sX
Post-master's certificateX
Doctoral degree research/scholarshipX
Doctoral degree – professional practiceX
Enrollment And Persistence
6 TABLESFirst-Time, First-Year Admission
7 TABLESAPX
CLEPX
Institutional ExamX
Total first-time, first-year who applied1,398
Total first-time, first-year who were admitted1,155
Total first-time, first-year who enrolled424
Total first-time, first-year who applied954
Total first-time, first-year who were admitted826
Total first-time, first-year who enrolled199
Total first-time, first-year who applied120
Total first-time, first-year who were admitted23
Total first-time, first-year who enrolled7
Total first-time, first-year who applied0
Total first-time, first-year who were admitted0
Total first-time, first-year who enrolled0
Total academic units19
English4
Mathematics3
Science3
Of these, units that must be lab2
Foreign language0
Social studies2
History1
Academic electives4
Total academic units21
English4
Mathematics3
Science3
Of these, units that must be lab2
Foreign language2
Social studies2
History1
Academic electives4
SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing: 700-80025.5
SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing: 600-69946.0
SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing: 500-59924.5
SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing: 400-4993.4
SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing: 300-3990.6
SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing: 200-2990
SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing: Total100
SAT Math: 700-80016.2
SAT Math: 600-69942.2
SAT Math: 500-59930.1
SAT Math: 400-49910.9
SAT Math: 300-3990.6
SAT Math: 200-2990
SAT Math: Total100
SAT Composite: 1400-160014.0
SAT Composite: 1200-139949.4
SAT Composite: 1000-119931.4
SAT Composite: 800-9994.4
SAT Composite: 600-7990.9
SAT Composite: 400-5990
ACT Composite: 30-3650
ACT Composite: 24-2940
ACT Composite: 18-2310
ACT Composite: 12-170
ACT Composite: 6-110
ACT Composite: Below 60
ACT Composite: Total100
Percent in top tenth of high school graduating class37
Percent in top quarter of high school graduating class60
Percent in top half of high school graduating class87
Percent in bottom half of high school graduating class13
Percent in bottom quarter of high school graduating class3
Percent who had GPA of 4.069
Percent who had GPA between 3.75 and 3.9911
Percent who had GPA between 3.50 and 3.749
Percent who had GPA between 3.25 and 3.496
Percent who had GPA between 3.00 and 3.244
Percent who had GPA between 2.50 and 2.991
Percent who had GPA between 2.0 and 2.490
Percent who had GPA between 1.0 and 1.990
Percent who had GPA below 1.00
Total100
Percent who had GPA of 4.036
Percent who had GPA between 3.75 and 3.9921
Percent who had GPA between 3.50 and 3.7417
Percent who had GPA between 3.25 and 3.4911
Percent who had GPA between 3.00 and 3.249
Percent who had GPA between 2.50 and 2.995
Percent who had GPA between 2.0 and 2.490
Percent who had GPA between 1.0 and 1.990
Percent who had GPA below 1.00
Total100
Percent who had GPA of 4.053.8
Percent who had GPA between 3.75 and 3.9915.3
Percent who had GPA between 3.50 and 3.7412.9
Percent who had GPA between 3.25 and 3.498.5
Percent who had GPA between 3.00 and 3.246.5
Percent who had GPA between 2.50 and 2.992.9
Percent who had GPA between 2.0 and 2.490.2
Percent who had GPA between 1.0 and 1.990
Percent who had GPA below 1.00
Total100
Average high school GPA of all degree-seeking, first-time, first-year students who submitted GPA:3.79
Percent of total first-time, first-year students who submitted high school GPA:100
Does your institution have an application fee?Yes
Amount of application fee:50
Can it be waived for applicants with financial need?Yes
Can on-line application fee be waived for applicants with financial need?Yes
Does your institution have an application closing date?No
Are first-time, first-year students accepted for terms other than the fall?Yes
Yes, on a rolling basis:X
Amount of housing deposit:200
If yes, maximum period of postponement:1 year
Does your institution allow high school students to enroll as full-time, first-time, first-year students one year or more before high school graduation? (FT)No
Does your institution offer an early decision plan (an admission plan that permits students to apply and be notified of an admission decision well in advance of the regular notification date and that asks students to commit to attending if accepted) for first-time, first-year applicants for fall enrollment?No
Do you have a nonbinding early action plan whereby students are notified of an admission decision well in advance of the regular notification date but do not have to commit to attending your college?No
If you have an application fee and an on-line application option, please indicate policy for students who apply on-line:X
Transfer Admission
3 TABLESFallX
WinterX
High school transcriptRequired of Some
College transcript(s)Required of All
Essay or personal statementNot Required
InterviewNot Required
Standardized test scoresNot Required
Statement of good standing from prior institution(s)Not Required
Fall Rolling AdmissionX
Spring Rolling AdmissionX
Describe additional requirements for transfer admission, if applicable:- D12 course that may be transferred for credit: 2.00 Number Unit Type - D13 Maximum number of credits or courses that may be transferred from a two-year institution: unlimited credits Number Unit Type - D14 Maximum number of credits or courses that may be transferred from a four-year institution: unlimited credits Number Unit Type - D15 Minimum number of credits that transfers must complete at your institution to earn an associate degree: Number Unit Type - D16 Minimum number of credits that transfers must complete at your institution to earn a bachelor's degree: cr hrs & 12 in major - D17 Describe other transfer credit policies: ##
Report the lowest grade earned for any course that may be transferred for credit:2
Number32
Unit Typecredit
Describe other military/veteran transfer credit policies unique to your institution:We award CLEP Exam credits to any student. If a student has served in the military we award
Academic Offerings and Policies
2 TABLESAccelerated programX
Comprehensive transition and postsecondary program for students with intellectual disabilitiesX
Double majorX
Dual enrollmentX
Exchange student program (domestic)X
Honors ProgramX
Independent studyX
InternshipsX
Student-designed majorX
Study abroadX
Teacher certification programX
Undergraduate ResearchX
Other (specify):X
Specify:Pass/Fail Option for classes
Arts/fine artsX
English (including composition)X
Foreign languagesX
HistoryX
Physical EducationX
HumanitiesX
Intensive writingX
MathematicsX
PhilosophyX
Sciences (biological or physical)X
Social scienceX
Other (describe):X
Describe:Computer literacy built into other coursework
Student Life
4 TABLESPercent who are from out of state (exclude international/nonresidents from the numerator and denominator)32%
Percent who live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing89%
Percent who live off campus or commute11%
Percent of students age 25 and older0%
Percent who are from out of state (exclude international/nonresidents from the numerator and denominator)33%
Percent who live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing84%
Percent who live off campus or commute16%
Percent of students age 25 and older2%
Average age of full-time students18
Average age of all students (full- and part-time)18
Average age of full-time students20
Average age of all students (full- and part-time)20
Campus MinistriesX
Choral groupsX
Concert bandX
DanceX
Drama/theaterX
International Student OrganizationX
Jazz bandX
Literary magazineX
Music ensemblesX
Musical theaterX
Pep bandX
Radio stationX
Student governmentX
Student newspaperX
Student-run film societyX
Symphony orchestraX
Television stationX
YearbookX
Coed residence hallsX
Men's residence halls (Men)X
Women's residence halls (Females)X
Apartments for single studentsX
Special housing for disabled studentsX
Special housing for international studentsX
Theme housingX
Living Learning CommunitiesX
Annual Expenses
5 TABLESPlease provide the URL of your institution’s net price calculator:https://www.messiah.edu/ug-fin-aid/pages/net_price_calculator
Minimum18
Financial Aid
15 TABLESAcademic Year2025-2026 estimated
Federal methodology (FM)X
Federal$4,443,972
State all states, not only the state in which your institution is located$3,020,694
Institutional: Endowed scholarships, annual gifts and tuition funded grants, awarded by the college, excluding athletic aid and tuition waivers (which are reported below).$37,838,563
Scholarships/grants from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) not awarded by the college$1,279,789
Total Scholarships/Grants$46,583,018
Student loans from all sources (excluding parent loans)$8,076,572
Federal Work-Study$1,498,561
State and other (e.g., institutional) work-study/employment (Note: Excludes Federal Work-Study captured above.)$465,357
Total Self-Help$10,040,490
Parent Loans$968,143
Tuition Waivers Note: Reporting is optional. Report tuition waivers in this row if you choose to report them. Do not report tuition waivers elsewhere.$1,567,128
Athletic Awards$0
Federal$709,592
State all states, not only the state in which your institution is located$46,582
Institutional: Endowed scholarships, annual gifts and tuition funded grants, awarded by the college, excluding athletic aid and tuition waivers (which are reported below).$15,905,400
Scholarships/grants from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) not awarded by the college$943,098
Total Scholarships/Grants$17,604,672
Student loans from all sources (excluding parent loans)$8,040,599
State and other (e.g., institutional) work-study/employment (Note: Excludes Federal Work-Study captured above.)$1,612,002
Total Self-Help$9,652,601
Parent Loans$3,088,779
Tuition Waivers Note: Reporting is optional. Report tuition waivers in this row if you choose to report them. Do not report tuition waivers elsewhere.$1,766,278
Athletic Awards$0
Provide the number of students in the 2024 undergraduate class who started at your institution as first-time students and received a bachelor's degree between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2024. Exclude students who transferred into your institution.27
Institutional need-based scholarship or grant aid is availableX
Institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid is availableX
Average dollar amount of institutional financial aid awarded to undergraduate degree-seeking nonresidents:$1,181,519
Total dollar amount of institutional financial aid awarded to undergraduate degree-seeking nonresidents:$1,181,519
Other (specify):X
Specify:International Student’s Certification of Finances
FAFSAX
Priority date for filing required financial aid forms:X
Priority date for filing required financial aid forms: Month4
Priority date for filing required financial aid forms: Day1
If yes, starting date (Month):12
If yes, starting date (Day):1
Students must reply by (date): Month5
Students must reply by (date): Day1
Federal Direct Subsidized Stafford LoansX
Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford LoansX
Federal Direct PLUS LoansX
Federal Nursing LoansX
College/university loans from institutional fundsX
Federal Pell GrantsX
Federal SEOGX
State scholarships/grantsX
Private scholarshipsX
College/university scholarship or grant aid from institutional fundsX
ArtX
LeadershipX
Music/dramaX
If your institution has recently implemented any major financial aid policy, program, or initiative to make your institution more affordable to incoming students such as replacing loans with grants, or waiving costs for families below a certain income level please provide details:CDS-H Page 30 Common Data Set 2025-2026
Instructional Faculty And Class Size
2 TABLESFall 2025 Student to Faculty ratio13