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Mechanicsburg, PA · Selinsgrove, PA
| Messiah University | Susquehanna University | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $26,502/yr | $28,819/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $19,393/yr | $19,757/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $25,621 | $27,000 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $20,317/yr | $18,493/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $20,916/yr | $21,171/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $23,574/yr | $24,190/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $31,847/yr | $33,866/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $272/mo | $286/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $13,098/yr | $16,100/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | $13,258/yr | $16,100/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $1,290/yr | $1,200/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $2,850/yr | $1,850/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $55,875/yr | $75,410/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $42,240/yr | $59,850/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $42,240/yr | $59,850/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 20% | 25% |
| Students taking federal loans | 54% | 66% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 79% | 81% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | 1110–1350 | 1100–1300 |
| SAT average | 1236 | 1232 |
| ACT range (middle 50%) | 26–31 | 21–29 |
| ACT sections (middle 50%) | English 24–33 · Math 24–30 | English 21–32 · Math 20–28 |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | 2,375 | 5,974 |
| Students accepted | 1,864 | 4,702 |
| Students who enrolled | 596 | 578 |
| Accepted students who enroll | 32% | 12% |
| Enrolled who sent SAT scores | 56% | 45% |
| Enrolled who sent ACT scores | 6% | 6% |
| High-school GPA | Required | Required |
| High-school transcript | Required | Required |
| Essay | Required | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Recommendation letters | Optional (considered if sent) | Required |
| Class rank | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| College-prep program | Required | Required |
| Demonstrated competencies | Not considered | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Work experience | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| English proficiency test | Required | Required |
| Other admission tests | Not considered | Not considered |
| Legacy considered | Not considered | Optional (considered if sent) |
| SAT/ACT policy | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 75% | 82% |
| Freshmen who come back | 89% | 86% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $54,064/yr | $61,723/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $38,104–$75,950 | $43,199–$84,592 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 78% | 77% |
| White students graduating | 77% | 87% |
| Black students graduating | 65% | 62% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 46% | 62% |
| Asian students graduating | 73% | 67% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $50,192/yr | $51,535/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 77% | 85% |
| Graduate on time | 70% | 75% |
| Pell students who graduate | 66% | 74% |
| First-gen students who finish | 72% | 68% |
| Low-income students who finish | 61% | 56% |
| Students who transfer out | 19% | No data reported |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $50,641/yr | $56,149/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Health Professions 17% · Business, Management & Marketing 16% · Education 14% | Business, Management & Marketing 30% · Biological & Biomedical Sciences 12% · Communication & Journalism 10% |
| Most popular program | Health Professions — 17% of degrees | Business, Management & Marketing — 30% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Business, Management & Marketing — 16% of degrees | Biological & Biomedical Sciences — 12% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Education — 14% of degrees | Communication & Journalism — 10% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Engineering — 9% of degrees | English Language & Literature — 8% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Visual & Performing Arts — 8% of degrees | Education — 7% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $73,788/yr | Accounting and Related Services — $65,209/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 19% | 22% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 2,259 | 2,163 |
| Students per professor | 12 : 1 | 13 : 1 |
| Graduate students | 755 | 9 |
| Average professor pay | $9,179/mo | $9,249/mo |
| Full-time professors | 47% | 64% |
| Fully online | No | No |
| Accredited by | Middle States Commission on Higher Education | Middle States Commission on Higher Education |
| Median family income | $85,483 | $85,160 |
| Setting | Suburb (large) | Town (distant) |
| Location | Mechanicsburg, PA | Selinsgrove, PA |
| Region | Mid East | Mid East |
| Founded | 1909 | 1858 |
| Public or private | Private (nonprofit) | Private (nonprofit) |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Master's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | Baccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences Focus |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 2.3% | 1.3% |
| Men | 43% | 43% |
| Women | 57% | 57% |
| White students | 75% | 78% |
| Black students | 4% | 7.1% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 9.4% | 6.6% |
| Asian students | 3.8% | 1.5% |
| Two or more races | 4.2% | 3.2% |
| Other / not reported | 1.2% | 2.5% |
| Special type | Religiously affiliated | Religiously affiliated |
| First-generation students | 18% | 22% |
| Part-time students | 2.1% | 0.6% |
| Students age 25+ | 1.7% | 1.9% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $10,324/yr | $12,425/yr |
| Endowment | $132.1M | $225.3M |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 2,403 | 2,092 |
| Required to live on campus | No | No |
| Room charge (campus housing) | $6,335/yr | $8,850/yr |
| Meal plan charge | $5,575/yr | $6,850/yr |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | Yes |
| Meals per week | Varies by week | No data reported |
| Academic calendar | Semester | Semester |
| Religious affiliation | Interdenominational | Evangelical Lutheran Church |
| 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 | No |
| Online classes | Yes | Yes |
| Whole degrees online | Yes | No |
| Weekend & evening classes | No | No |
| Teacher certification | Yes | Yes |
| Academic & career counseling | Yes | Yes |
| Job help while you study | Yes | Yes |
| Job placement for graduates | No | Yes |
| On-campus day care | No | Yes |
| Program for students with intellectual disabilities | No | No |
| Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) school | Yes | Yes |
| Credit for military training | Yes | No |
| Student veteran organization | No | No |
| Tuition payment plan | Yes | Yes |
| Guaranteed (locked) tuition | No | No |
| Prepaid tuition plan | No | Yes |
| Athletics | ||
| Athletics data from | 2024-25 | 2024-25 |
| College sports level | NCAA Division III without football | NCAA Division III with football |
| Football team | No | Yes |
| Varsity teams | 18 | 19 |
| Student athletes | 475 | 566 |
| Athletic scholarships | $0 | $0 |
| Athletics budget | $2.4M | $4.5M |
| Athletics revenue | $2.9M | $4.5M |
| Recruiting spend | $36,550 | $75,207 |
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, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.