Messiah University vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley

Comparable Facts

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

Messiah University is larger than Penn State Lehigh Valley based on total student enrollment (3,373 students vs. 867 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Messiah University is located in Mechanicsburg, PA (Large Suburban setting); Penn State Lehigh Valley is in Center Valley, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Messiah University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Lehigh Valley is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Messiah University 12:1; Penn State Lehigh Valley 14:1.

Messiah University vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Messiah University or Penn State Lehigh Valley? 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 Lehigh Valley than Messiah University ($19,066 vs. $29,408).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Messiah University are 14.2% lower than at Penn State Lehigh Valley ($13,098 vs. $15,274).
• Messiah University is 177.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Lehigh Valley (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 Lehigh Valley (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 Lehigh Valley (100% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Messiah University students is 193.2% larger than aid received by Penn State Lehigh Valley students ($26,576 vs. $9,065).

Messiah University vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Messiah University (1230) is the same as at Penn State Lehigh Valley (1230).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Messiah University 1110/1350; Penn State Lehigh Valley 1130/1320.
• 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 Lehigh Valley - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Messiah University students have a 0.38 point higher average high school GPA (3.8) than students at Penn State Lehigh Valley (3.42).
• Penn State Lehigh Valley has a higher acceptance rate (97.4%) than Messiah University (79%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 29.1% at Messiah University vs. 14% at Penn State Lehigh Valley.

Messiah University vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Messiah University and Penn State Lehigh Valley? 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 Lehigh Valley's (47%).
• Graduates from Penn State Lehigh Valley 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 Lehigh Valley 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 Lehigh Valley graduates ($268 vs. $277).
• More Messiah University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Lehigh Valley 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.