McPherson College vs. Messenger College

Should I go to McPherson College or Messenger College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if McPherson College or Messenger 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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McPherson College vs. Messenger College comparison
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Overview

 McPherson College Messenger College
Location McPherson, KS Joplin, TX
Setting Remote Town Small City
Enrollment 822 19
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation Church of Brethren Other Protestant - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website mcpherson.edu messengercollege.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 McPherson College Messenger College
Tuition (In State) $32,494 $9,480
Tuition (Out of State) $32,494 $9,480
Room & Board $9,918 $7,832
Avg Net Price $25,065 $17,197
Avg Grant Aid $21,916 $7,812
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

 McPherson College Messenger College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,445 8
Admitted 952 4
Acceptance Rate 65.9% 50%
Enrolled % 26.3% 100%
Avg High School GPA 3.33 2.9
Typical High School Grades B+ B-
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Unavailable
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 17/23
SAT Range 908/1120
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 1, 2025 Jul 1, 2025

Academics

 McPherson College Messenger College
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (22%)
  • Engineering Technology (16%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (15%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (9%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (83%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (11%)
  • Business (6%)

Outcomes

 McPherson College Messenger College
Graduation Rate 46% 10%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $44,200 $24,000
Making Student Loan Payments 67% 40%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 N/A
Median Loan Payment $268 N/A

Diversity

 McPherson College Messenger College
% Men 67% 42%
% Women 33% 58%
Racial Diversity Medium High
HBCU No No
% White 70% 54%
% Black 10% 18%
% Hispanic 12% 13%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 5%
% International 4% 2%
% Unknown Race 0% 8%

Students

 McPherson College Messenger College
% In-State 31% 50%
% Out-of-State 62% 50%

Campus

 McPherson College Messenger College
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes No
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • McPherson College is larger than than Messenger College based on total student enrollment (822 students vs. 19 students)

McPherson College vs. Messenger College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, McPherson College or Messenger College?

  • McPherson College is 242.8% more expensive to attend than Messenger College for in-state tuition ($32,494.00 vs. $9,480.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 242.8% higher at McPherson College than Messenger College ($32,494.00 vs. $9,480.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Messenger College than McPherson College ($17,197 vs. $25,065)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Messenger College are 26.6% lower than costs at McPherson College ($7,832 vs. $9,918)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at McPherson College as Messenger College (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by McPherson College students is 180.5% larger than aid received Messenger College ($21,916 vs. $7,812)

McPherson College vs. Messenger College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman McPherson College students have a 0.43 point higher average high school GPA (3.33) than students at Messenger College (2.9)
  • McPherson College has a higher acceptance rate (65.9%) than Messenger College (50%)

McPherson College vs. Messenger College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, McPherson College or Messenger 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 Messenger College and McPherson College.

  • The graduation rate at McPherson College is higher than Messenger College (46% vs. 10%)
  • Graduates from McPherson College earn on average $20,200 more per year than Messenger College graduates after ten years. ($44,200 vs. $24,000)
  • More McPherson College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Messenger College students, three years after graduation. (67% vs. 40%)

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