Duquesne University vs. Messiah College

Should I go to Duquesne University or Messiah College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Duquesne University or Messiah College is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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Duquesne University vs. Messiah College comparison
Duquesne University Messiah College College 3 College 4
Duquesne University Messiah College
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Overview

 Duquesne University Messiah College
Location Pittsburgh, PA Grantham, PA
Setting Large City Large Suburban
Enrollment 8,107 3,231
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #212 #358
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic Interdenominational - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website duq.edu messiah.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Duquesne University Messiah College
Tuition (In State) $45,376 $38,550
Tuition (Out of State) $45,376 $38,550
Room & Board $14,744 $11,560
Avg Net Price $33,919 $24,120
Avg Grant Aid $26,800 $27,519
% Receiving Grant Aid 95% 100%

Admission

 Duquesne University Messiah College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 12,376 2,438
Admitted 10,828 1,936
Acceptance Rate 87.5% 79.4%
Enrolled % 13.3% 30.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.8 3.8
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Difficult Difficult
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 25/31 25/30
SAT Range 1160/1330 1090/1340
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 15, 2025

Academics

 Duquesne University Messiah College
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (31%)
  • Health Professions (18%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Education (19%)
  • Business (13%)
  • Health Professions (10%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Biology (6%)

Outcomes

 Duquesne University Messiah College
Graduation Rate 73% 74%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $65,100 $48,600
Making Student Loan Payments 82% 85%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $25,989
Median Loan Payment $279 $268

Diversity

 Duquesne University Messiah College
% Men 36% 37%
% Women 64% 63%
Racial Diversity Very Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 81% 83%
% Black 5% 3%
% Hispanic 3% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 4% 4%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

 Duquesne University Messiah College
% In-State 74% 63%
% Out-of-State 24% 35%

Campus

 Duquesne University Messiah College
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Duquesne University is larger than than Messiah College based on total student enrollment (8,107 students vs. 3,231 students)

Duquesne University vs. Messiah College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Duquesne University or Messiah College?

  • Duquesne University is 17.7% more expensive to attend than Messiah College for in-state tuition ($45,376.00 vs. $38,550.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 17.7% higher at Duquesne University than Messiah College ($45,376.00 vs. $38,550.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Messiah College than Duquesne University ($24,120 vs. $33,919)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Messiah College are 27.5% lower than costs at Duquesne University ($11,560 vs. $14,744)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Messiah College than Duquesne University (100% vs. 95%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Messiah College students is 2.7% larger than aid received Duquesne University ($27,519 vs. $26,800)

Duquesne University vs. Messiah College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Duquesne University or Messiah College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Messiah College or Duquesne University .

  • The average SAT score at Duquesne University (1138) is 9 points higher than at Messiah College (1129)
  • Incoming Duquesne University students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at Messiah College (25)
  • Accepted freshman Duquesne University students have at the same average high school GPA (3.8) as students at Messiah College (3.8)
  • Duquesne University has a higher acceptance rate (87.5%) than Messiah College (79.4%)

Duquesne University vs. Messiah College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Duquesne University or Messiah College? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Messiah College and Duquesne University.

  • The graduation rate at Messiah College is higher than Duquesne University (74% vs. 73%)
  • Graduates from Duquesne University earn on average $16,500 more per year than Messiah College graduates after ten years. ($65,100 vs. $48,600)
  • Messiah College students graduate with a $1,011 lower median federal student loan debt than Duquesne University graduates. ($25,989 vs. $27,000)
  • Messiah College graduates are paying $11 less per month on federal student loans than Duquesne University graduates. ($268 vs. $279)
  • More Messiah College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Duquesne University students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 82%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/