- Acceptance rate: 79% for fall 2024
- SAT, middle 50%: 570–680 reading and writing, 540–670 math
- ACT, middle 50%: 26–31 composite
- Average net price: $29,882 a year (2022–23)
On this page · 7 sections
How does your GPA compare?
Don't know your GPA? Check my GPA
Where you standEnter your GPA
Add a test score to compare it with what Messiah University reported: an acceptance rate of 79% for fall 2024 and an ACT middle 50% of 26–31.
Weighted GPAs above 4.0 can't be compared directly. Many colleges recalculate on their own scale, so use your unweighted GPA here.
A guide based on reported data, not a prediction. Messiah University reviews each application.
Messiah University GPA requirements
Messiah University requires a high school GPA from first-year applicants, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Federal data doesn't include GPA averages, and Messiah University hasn't published one we could verify, so this page doesn't list an average GPA.
Messiah University acceptance rate
Messiah University admitted 1,941 of 2,458 first-year applicants for fall 2024, an acceptance rate of 79%, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
Messiah University (formerly Messiah College) is a private nonprofit 4-year university in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, with 2,618 undergraduates.
SAT and ACT scores
Scores of the first-year students who entered Messiah University in fall 2024 and submitted them. Half of them scored between the 25th and 75th percentiles:
| Test | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading and Writing | 570 | 620 | 680 |
| SAT Math | 540 | 610 | 670 |
| ACT Composite | 26 | 27 | 31 |
| ACT English | 24 | 29 | 33 |
| ACT Math | 24 | 26 | 30 |
The U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard estimates an average SAT score of 1236 for admitted students.
Admission requirements
What Messiah University looks at when it decides on first-year applicants, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024:
| Admission factor | Status |
|---|---|
| High School GPAYour cumulative high school grade point average. | Required |
| High School RecordYour transcript: the courses you took and the grades you earned. | Required |
| College Preparatory ProgramCompletion of a college preparatory curriculum in high school. | Required |
| Essay or Personal StatementA personal statement or essay written for your application. | Required |
| High School Class RankYour ranking relative to other students in your graduating class. | Considered if submitted |
| RecommendationsLetters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, or other mentors. | Considered if submitted |
| Test ScoresSAT or ACT scores. | Considered if submitted |
| Work ExperiencePaid or volunteer work. | Considered if submitted |
| Other TestsOther admission tests, such as the Wonderlic or WISC-III. | Not considered |
| Demonstration of CompetenciesEvidence of specific skills through portfolios, auditions, or other demonstrations. | Not considered |
| Legacy StatusWhether a parent or other relative attended the college. | Not considered |
AP credit
Messiah University awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
It also awards credit for life experience, such as work or military service.
Average net price
First-time, full-time undergraduates who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average net price of $29,882 a year at Messiah University in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
Net price is the full cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Frequently asked questions
Is it easy to get into Messiah University?
For most prepared students, yes: at least 3 in 4 applicants got in. Messiah University admitted 79% of first-year applicants for fall 2024.
How much does GPA matter at Messiah University?
A lot: Messiah University requires high school GPA, high school record, college preparatory program and essay or personal statement. It considers high school class rank, recommendations, test scores and work experience if you send them. It doesn't consider other tests, demonstration of competencies and legacy status. That's what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Do I have a chance at Messiah University with a 3.0 GPA?
GPA alone can't tell you here. Messiah University admitted 79% of first-year applicants for fall 2024. It requires a high school GPA but hasn't published an average we could verify, so there's no admitted-student GPA to compare a 3.0 against. Your transcript and test scores are the clearer guide.
What GPA does Messiah University look for?
Messiah University requires a high school GPA from first-year applicants, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024. It hasn't published an average GPA we could verify, so we don't list one.
Is Messiah University test optional?
Check Messiah University's admissions website for the current rule: testing policies change from year to year. Messiah University was test optional: it considered SAT or ACT scores if you sent them, it said in its report to the U.S. Department of Education (fall 2024). Of its fall 2024 first-year students, 52% sent SAT scores and 6% sent ACT scores.
What are Messiah University's SAT and ACT score ranges?
The middle 50% of Messiah University's fall 2024 first-year students who sent scores had SAT 570–680 in reading and writing and 540–670 in math; ACT composite 26–31, according to what the college reported to the U.S. Department of Education. A quarter scored below that range.
What is the acceptance rate at Messiah University?
Messiah University's acceptance rate was 79% for fall 2024: it admitted 1,941 of 2,458 first-year applicants, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
What is the average net price at Messiah University?
First-time, full-time undergraduates who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average of $29,882 a year at Messiah University in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Does Messiah University give credit for AP exams?
Yes. Messiah University awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
Does it matter at Messiah University if a parent went there?
No. Messiah University doesn't consider whether a parent or other relative attended, according to its filing with the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Before you apply, check Messiah University's official admissions site: requirements can differ by program and change from year to year.
Sources
- College Navigator: Messiah UniversityU.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS (2024–25 provisional data): admissions, test scores and admission factors for fall 2024, undergraduate enrollment for fall 2024, net price for 2022–23 and credit policies for 2024–25.
- College Scorecard dataAverage SAT: an estimate by the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (June 10, 2026 release).
Wrong result or missing a feature? Send feedback
Similar colleges in Pennsylvania
With a similar acceptance rate and size.
- Saint Francis UniversityAdmits most applicants · 77% admitted
- Mercyhurst UniversityAdmits most applicants · 81% admitted
- Susquehanna UniversityAdmits most applicants · 81% admitted
- Arcadia UniversityAdmits most applicants · 80% admitted
- DeSales UniversityAdmits most applicants · 77% admitted
- Mount Aloysius CollegeAdmits most applicants · 82% admitted
See all colleges in Pennsylvania →