Livingstone College vs. Messenger College

Comparable Facts

Compare Livingstone College in Salisbury, NC with Messenger College in Bedford, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Livingstone College is larger than Messenger College based on total student enrollment (936 students vs. 24 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Livingstone College is located in Salisbury, NC (Distant Town setting); Messenger College is in Bedford, TX (Small City setting).
• Livingstone College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Messenger College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Livingstone College 14:1; Messenger College 8:1.

Livingstone College vs. Messenger College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Livingstone College or Messenger College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Livingstone College than Messenger College ($12,826 vs. $25,941).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Livingstone College are 48.9% lower than at Messenger College ($6,794 vs. $13,305).
• Livingstone College is 57.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Messenger College (about $6,676 more per year; $18,296.00 vs. $11,620.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 57.5% higher at Livingstone College than at Messenger College (about $6,676 more per year; $18,296.00 vs. $11,620.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Livingstone College than at Messenger College (99% vs. 88%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Livingstone College students is 293% larger than aid received by Messenger College students ($15,485 vs. $3,940).

Livingstone College vs. Messenger College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Livingstone College or Messenger College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Messenger College and Livingstone College.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Livingstone College 800/960.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Livingstone College 14/21.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Livingstone College - Test-free; Messenger College - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Messenger College Jul 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Messenger College students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (2.9) than students at Livingstone College (2.64).
• Livingstone College has a higher acceptance rate (59.2%) than Messenger College (37.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 8.6% at Livingstone College vs. 66.7% at Messenger College.

Livingstone College vs. Messenger College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Livingstone College and Messenger College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Livingstone College's six-year graduation rate (28%) is higher than Messenger College's (10%).
• Graduates from Livingstone College earn a median of about $200 more per year than Messenger College graduates about ten years after starting college ($24,200 vs. $24,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Messenger College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Livingstone College students, three years after graduation. (40% vs. 13%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.