Messiah University vs. Penn State Brandywine

Comparable Facts

Compare Messiah University in Mechanicsburg, PA with Penn State Brandywine in Media, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Messiah University is larger than Penn State Brandywine based on total student enrollment (3,373 students vs. 1,236 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Messiah University is located in Mechanicsburg, PA (Large Suburban setting); Penn State Brandywine is in Media, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Messiah University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Brandywine is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Messiah University 12:1; Penn State Brandywine 15:1.

Messiah University vs. Penn State Brandywine Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Messiah University or Penn State Brandywine? 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 Penn State Brandywine than Messiah University ($22,710 vs. $29,408).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Messiah University are 9.5% lower than at Penn State Brandywine ($13,098 vs. $14,474).
• Messiah University is 177.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Brandywine (about $27,032 more per year; $42,240.00 vs. $15,208.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 66.4% higher at Messiah University than at Penn State Brandywine (about $16,848 more per year; $42,240.00 vs. $25,392.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Messiah University than at Penn State Brandywine (100% vs. 73%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Messiah University students is 191.6% larger than aid received by Penn State Brandywine students ($26,576 vs. $9,113).

Messiah University vs. Penn State Brandywine Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Messiah University or Penn State Brandywine? 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 Penn State Brandywine and Messiah University.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Messiah University (1230) is 30 points higher than at Penn State Brandywine (1200).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Messiah University 1110/1350; Penn State Brandywine 1080/1310.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Messiah University 26/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Messiah University - Test optional; Penn State Brandywine - Test optional.
• Penn State Brandywine has a higher acceptance rate (98.1%) than Messiah University (79%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 29.1% at Messiah University vs. 16.8% at Penn State Brandywine.

Messiah University vs. Penn State Brandywine Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Messiah University and Penn State Brandywine? 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).

• Messiah University's six-year graduation rate (74%) is higher than Penn State Brandywine's (37%).
• Graduates from Penn State Brandywine earn a median of about $6,700 more per year than Messiah University graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $48,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Messiah University graduates have a $829 lower median loan debt than Penn State Brandywine graduates ($25,989 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Messiah University graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Brandywine graduates ($268 vs. $277).
• More Messiah University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Brandywine students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 69%)

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.