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Erie, PA · Mechanicsburg, PA
| Mercyhurst University | Messiah University | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $19,444/yr | $26,502/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $22,626/yr | $19,393/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $25,305 | $25,621 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $22,429/yr | $20,317/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $17,197/yr | $20,916/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $21,665/yr | $23,574/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $16,748/yr | $31,847/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $268/mo | $272/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $14,540/yr | $13,098/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | $12,030/yr | $13,258/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $1,200/yr | $1,290/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $2,269/yr | $2,850/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $59,557/yr | $55,875/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $45,770/yr | $42,240/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $45,770/yr | $42,240/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 31% | 20% |
| Students taking federal loans | 65% | 54% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 81% | 79% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | No data reported | 1110–1350 |
| SAT average | No data reported | 1236 |
| ACT range (middle 50%) | No data reported | 26–31 |
| ACT sections (middle 50%) | No data reported | English 24–33 · Math 24–30 |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | 3,500 | 2,375 |
| Students accepted | 2,913 | 1,864 |
| Students who enrolled | 571 | 596 |
| Accepted students who enroll | 20% | 32% |
| Enrolled who sent SAT scores | No data reported | 56% |
| Enrolled who sent ACT scores | No data reported | 6% |
| High-school GPA | Required | Required |
| High-school transcript | Required | Required |
| Essay | Optional (considered if sent) | Required |
| Recommendation letters | Required | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Class rank | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| College-prep program | Optional (considered if sent) | Required |
| Demonstrated competencies | Optional (considered if sent) | Not considered |
| Work experience | Not considered | Optional (considered if sent) |
| English proficiency test | Required | Required |
| Other admission tests | Optional (considered if sent) | Not considered |
| Legacy considered | Optional (considered if sent) | Not considered |
| SAT/ACT policy | Not considered | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 60% | 75% |
| Freshmen who come back | 80% | 89% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $47,452/yr | $54,064/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $28,870–$68,639 | $38,104–$75,950 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 65% | 78% |
| White students graduating | 66% | 77% |
| Black students graduating | 32% | 65% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 44% | 46% |
| Asian students graduating | 40% | 73% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $39,565/yr | $50,192/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 73% | 77% |
| Graduate on time | 58% | 70% |
| Pell students who graduate | 43% | 66% |
| First-gen students who finish | 39% | 72% |
| Low-income students who finish | 29% | 61% |
| Students who transfer out | 38% | 19% |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $45,273/yr | $50,641/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Business, Management & Marketing 20% · Health Professions 17% · Homeland Security & Protective Services 14% | Health Professions 17% · Business, Management & Marketing 16% · Education 14% |
| Most popular program | Business, Management & Marketing — 20% of degrees | Health Professions — 17% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Health Professions — 17% of degrees | Business, Management & Marketing — 16% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Homeland Security & Protective Services — 14% of degrees | Education — 14% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Biological & Biomedical Sciences — 9% of degrees | Engineering — 9% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Education — 6% of degrees | Visual & Performing Arts — 8% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions — $101,125/yr | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $73,788/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 15% | 19% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 2,191 | 2,259 |
| Students per professor | 14 : 1 | 12 : 1 |
| Graduate students | 358 | 755 |
| Average professor pay | $7,193/mo | $9,179/mo |
| Full-time professors | 60% | 47% |
| Fully online | No | No |
| Accredited by | Middle States Commission on Higher Education | Middle States Commission on Higher Education |
| Median family income | $51,028 | $85,483 |
| Setting | City (small) | Suburb (large) |
| Location | Erie, PA | Mechanicsburg, PA |
| Region | Mid East | Mid East |
| Founded | 1926 | 1909 |
| Public or private | Private (nonprofit) | Private (nonprofit) |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Master's Colleges & Universities: Medium Programs | Master's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 6% | 2.3% |
| Men | 43% | 43% |
| Women | 57% | 57% |
| White students | 73% | 75% |
| Black students | 7.4% | 4% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 5.6% | 9.4% |
| Asian students | 1.6% | 3.8% |
| Two or more races | 0.1% | 4.2% |
| Other / not reported | 6% | 1.2% |
| Special type | Religiously affiliated | Religiously affiliated |
| First-generation students | 29% | 18% |
| Part-time students | 3.9% | 2.1% |
| Students age 25+ | 6.7% | 1.7% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $9,031/yr | $10,324/yr |
| Endowment | $32.8M | $132.1M |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 2,000 | 2,403 |
| Required to live on campus | No | No |
| Room charge (campus housing) | $7,354/yr | $6,335/yr |
| Meal plan charge | $6,920/yr | $5,575/yr |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | Yes |
| Meals per week | 20 meals/week | Varies by week |
| Academic calendar | Semester | Semester |
| Religious affiliation | Roman Catholic | Interdenominational |
| Federal designation | None | None |
| Study abroad | Yes | Yes |
| Undergraduate research | No | No |
| ROTC | Yes — Army | Yes — Army |
| Accepts AP credit | Yes | Yes |
| Accepts dual-enrollment credit | No | No |
| Credit for life experience | Yes | Yes |
| Online classes | Yes | Yes |
| Whole degrees online | No | Yes |
| Weekend & evening classes | Yes | No |
| Teacher certification | Yes | Yes |
| Academic & career counseling | Yes | Yes |
| Job help while you study | Yes | Yes |
| Job placement for graduates | Yes | No |
| On-campus day care | No | No |
| Program for students with intellectual disabilities | No | No |
| Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) school | Yes | Yes |
| Credit for military training | Yes | Yes |
| Student veteran organization | No | No |
| Tuition payment plan | Yes | Yes |
| Guaranteed (locked) tuition | No | No |
| Prepaid tuition plan | No | No |
| Athletics | ||
| Athletics data from | 2024-25 | 2024-25 |
| College sports level | NCAA Division I-FCS | NCAA Division III without football |
| Football team | Yes | No |
| Varsity teams | 26 | 18 |
| Student athletes | 759 | 475 |
| Athletic scholarships | $10.9M | $0 |
| Athletics budget | $19.3M | $2.4M |
| Athletics revenue | $19.4M | $2.9M |
| Recruiting spend | $255,789 | $36,550 |
Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, logo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.