Messiah University vs. Penn State Greater Allegheny

Comparable Facts

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

Messiah University is larger than Penn State Greater Allegheny based on total student enrollment (3,373 students vs. 352 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Messiah University is located in Mechanicsburg, PA (Large Suburban setting); Penn State Greater Allegheny is in McKeesport, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Messiah University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Greater Allegheny is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Messiah University 12:1; Penn State Greater Allegheny 9:1.

Messiah University vs. Penn State Greater Allegheny Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Messiah University or Penn State Greater Allegheny? 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 Greater Allegheny than Messiah University ($15,574 vs. $29,408).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Messiah University are 9.5% lower than at Penn State Greater Allegheny ($13,098 vs. $14,474).
• Messiah University is 193.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Greater Allegheny (about $27,832 more per year; $42,240.00 vs. $14,408.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 75% higher at Messiah University than at Penn State Greater Allegheny (about $18,106 more per year; $42,240.00 vs. $24,134.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Messiah University than at Penn State Greater Allegheny (100% vs. 86%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Messiah University students is 139% larger than aid received by Penn State Greater Allegheny students ($26,576 vs. $11,121).

Messiah University vs. Penn State Greater Allegheny Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Messiah University or Penn State Greater Allegheny? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Penn State Greater Allegheny and Messiah University.

• The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Messiah University (1230) is 50 points higher than at Penn State Greater Allegheny (1180).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Messiah University 1110/1350; Penn State Greater Allegheny 1080/1280.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Messiah University 26/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Messiah University - Test optional; Penn State Greater Allegheny - Test optional.
• Penn State Greater Allegheny has a higher acceptance rate (96.5%) than Messiah University (79%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 29.1% at Messiah University vs. 19.5% at Penn State Greater Allegheny.

Messiah University vs. Penn State Greater Allegheny Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Messiah University and Penn State Greater Allegheny? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• Messiah University's six-year graduation rate (74%) is higher than Penn State Greater Allegheny's (47%).
• Graduates from Penn State Greater Allegheny 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 Greater Allegheny 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 Greater Allegheny graduates ($268 vs. $277).
• More Messiah University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Greater Allegheny 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.