Messiah University
Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania · Private · 2,259 undergraduates · messiah.edu
Test policy (fall 2027)
Test optional
Sending scores is your choice
Admit rate
81%
of 2,472 applicants
SAT (middle 50%)
1150 to 1350
of enrolled freshmen
Annual cost (2027-28)
$65,870Est.Estimate
before aid
Your chances and merit aid at Messiah University
See where you stand for admission, how much merit aid you could get, and what you'd pay after it.
We started you at a typical enrolled freshman here. Move the sliders to match you.
Your admission chances
81% of applicants admitted
Target
Your SAT is inside the range where the middle half of enrolled freshmen scored, and your GPA is in the middle half of freshmen's.
Estimated merit aid
a year
Your cost after merit aid
$65,870
a year in 2027-28, from a $65,870 sticker price
What to do with your 1240
Send your score
About 45% of freshmen here didn't send a score. We estimate their typical SAT at about 1100, and yours is above it.
Reach, target and likely are a rough guide from your test score and how selective the college is. Admissions also weigh your courses, grades, essays and activities. Merit aid figures are estimates, before any need-based aid.
Admissions
Test policy for fall 2027
Test optional
You choose whether to send an SAT or ACT score. If you send one, it's considered.
- Reviews applications as they arrive, so applying early helps.
- CLT accepted alongside SAT/ACT
Source: Test Optional | Messiah University · Checked October 17, 2026
Application deadlines
- Feb1Priority deadline · February 1, 2027Apply by this date for the best chance at admission and scholarships.
Who gets in
81%
of applicants were admitted: 2,004 of 2,472 for fall 2025.
Test scores of enrolled freshmen (fall 2025)
The shaded part shows the middle half of enrolled freshmen who sent scores: a quarter scored below it and a quarter above. 51% of them sent SAT scores and 5% sent ACT scores.
SAT total 1150 to 1350
Reading and Writing 580 to 700
Math 560 to 670
ACT composite 27 to 33
How enrolled freshmen scored on the SAT
- 1400 to 160014%
- 1200 to 139949%
- 1000 to 119931%
- 800 to 9994.4%
- 600 to 7990.9%
- 400 to 5990%
Source: Common Data Set 2025-2026
High school GPA of enrolled freshmen
Average GPA: 3.79
- 4.054%
- 3.75 to 3.9915%
- 3.50 to 3.7413%
- 3.25 to 3.498.5%
- 3.00 to 3.246.5%
- 2.50 to 2.992.9%
- Below 2.500.2%
Cost and financial aid
The sticker price is what a year costs before any aid. Most students pay less after grants and scholarships.
Sticker price for 2027-28Estimate
$65,870
a year
- Tuition$45,570
- Fees$1,130
- Food and housing$14,430
- Books and supplies$1,420
- Transportation and other$3,320
Messiah University published $63,336 for 2026-27. Its 2027-28 prices aren't out yet.
Source: Common Data Set 2025-2026
What families actually pay
What a year cost on average after grants and scholarships, for freshmen who got federal aid in 2023-24, by family income.
- $0 to $30,000$17,980
- $30,001 to $48,000$18,614
- $48,001 to $75,000$19,156
- $75,001 to $110,000$21,356
- Over $110,000$32,612
Financial aid
82%
of a student's financial need is covered, on average
$31,761
average need-based grant to freshmen, money you don't repay
24%
of freshmen got merit aid without financial need, $20,859 on average
- FAFSA
- Required for need-based aid. It's the free federal aid form.
- CSS Profile
- Not required. Only the FAFSA is needed.
- Aid priority date: 4/1
- Send your aid forms by this date to be first in line for the college's grant money.
Source: Common Data Set 2025-2026
AP credit
AP exams that earn credit can replace college courses, so you pay for fewer of them and may graduate sooner.
AP exams that earn credit
36 of 36
Earn credit with a score of 3
34 exams
A 3-credit course is worth
about $4,560Est.Estimate
at 2027-28 tuition
Credit for each AP exam
| Exam | Score needed | Credits | Counts as |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-D Art and Design | 3 | 3 | ART 100 |
| African American Studies | 3 | 3 | IDPL 300 |
| Art History | 3 | 3 | ELET 100 |
| Biology | 3 | 3 | BIOL 106 (Non-bio) |
| Biology | 4 | 3 | BIOL 200 (Bio dept) |
| Calculus AB | 3 | 3 | MATH 107 or MATH 108 |
| Calculus AB | 4 | 4 | MATH 111 |
| Calculus BC | 3 | 3 | MATH 108 |
| Calculus BC | 4 | 4 | MATH 111 |
| Calculus BC | 5 | 8 | MATH 111, 112 |
| Chemistry | 3 | 3 | CHEM 102 or CHEM 103 |
| Chemistry | 4 | 4 | CHEM 105 |
| Chemistry | 5 | 8 | CHEM 105, 106 |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 3 | 6 | CHIN 101, 102 |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 4 | 9 | CHIN 201 |
| Comparative Government and Politics | 3 | 3 | POLI 213 |
| Computer Science A | 3 | 3 | CIS 181 |
| Computer Science Principles | 4 | 3 | CIS 180 |
| Drawing | 3 | 3 | ART 103 |
| English Language and Composition | 3 | 3 | ELET 100 |
| English Literature and Composition | 3 | 3 | ENGL 152 |
| Environmental Science | 3 | 3 | BIOL 106 (NON-Biology Dept) |
| Environmental Science | 4 | 3 | BIOL 200 (Biology Dept) |
| European History | 3 | 3 | HIST 102 |
| French Language and Culture | 3 | 6 | FREN 101, 102 |
| French Language and Culture | 4 | 9 | FREN 201 |
| German Language and Culture | 3 | 6 | GERM 101, 102 |
| German Language and Culture | 4 | 9 | GERM 201 |
| Human Geography | 3 | 3 | GEOG 103 |
| Latin | 3 | 3 | LATN 101 |
| Latin | 4 | 6 | LATN 101, 102 |
| Latin | 5 | 9 | LATN 101, 102, 201 |
| Macroeconomics | 3 | 3 | ECON 120 |
| Microeconomics | 3 | 3 | ECON 220 |
| Music Theory | 3 | 4 | MUTH 101, 107 |
| Music Theory | 5 | 8 | MUTH 101, 102, 107, 108 |
| Physics 1 | 3 | 4 | PHYS 201 |
| Physics 2 | 3 | 4 | PHYS 202 |
| Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 3 | 4 | PHYS 212 |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 3 | 4 | PHYS 211 |
| Psychology | 3 | 3 | PSYC 101 |
| Research | 3 | 3 | ELET 100 |
| Seminar | 3 | 3 | ELET 100 |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 3 | 6 | SPAN 101, 102 |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 4 | 9 | SPAN 201 |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 4 | 3 | SPAN 300 |
| Statistics | 3 | 3 | STAT 269 or STAT 281 |
| United States Government and Politics | 3 | 3 | POLI 113 |
| United States History | 3 | 3 | HIST 141 |
| United States History | 4 | 6 | HIST 141, 142 |
| World History: Modern | 3 | 3 | HIST 272 |
Source: AP credit policy
After college
Graduate within 6 years
78%
Come back for a second year
89%
Typical earnings
$60,377
a year, 10 years after starting here
- Messiah University$86,081
- All colleges$94,282
Median yearly earnings of graduates five years after finishing a bachelor's in this major. 16 majors here have earnings data.
Keep exploring
Figures marked Estimate are our estimates, not numbers the college published. Check each college's own site before you apply. SAT is a trademark of College Board, and ACT is a trademark of ACT, Inc. Sharp is not affiliated with either, or with Messiah University. The Messiah University logo is a trademark of the college.