Messiah University vs. Ship

Comparable Facts

Compare Messiah University in Mechanicsburg, PA with Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania in Shippensburg, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania is larger than Messiah University based on total student enrollment (5,161 students vs. 3,373 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Messiah University is located in Mechanicsburg, PA (Large Suburban setting); Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania is in Shippensburg, PA (Distant Town setting).
• Messiah University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Messiah University 12:1; Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania 18:1.

Messiah University vs. Ship Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Messiah University or Ship? 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 Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania than Messiah University ($23,772 vs. $29,408).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Messiah University are 1.8% lower than at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania ($13,098 vs. $13,340).
• Messiah University is 207.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Ship (about $28,520 more per year; $42,240.00 vs. $13,720.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 164.4% higher at Messiah University than at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania (about $26,266 more per year; $42,240.00 vs. $15,974.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Messiah University than at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania (100% vs. 90%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Messiah University students is 293.4% larger than aid received by Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania students ($26,576 vs. $6,756).

Messiah University vs. Ship Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Messiah University or Ship? 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 Ship and Messiah University.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Messiah University (1230) is 130 points higher than at Ship (1100).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Messiah University 1110/1350; Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania 990/1210.
• 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; Ship - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Messiah University students have a 0.57 point higher average high school GPA (3.8) than students at Ship (3.23).
• Ship has a higher acceptance rate (86.5%) than Messiah University (79%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 29.1% at Messiah University vs. 17.5% at Ship.

Messiah University vs. Ship Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Messiah University and Ship? 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 Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania's (60%).
• Graduates from Messiah University earn a median of about $1,400 more per year than Ship graduates about ten years after starting college ($48,600 vs. $47,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania graduates have a $989 lower median loan debt than Messiah University graduates ($25,000 vs. $25,989).
• Among borrowers, Ship graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Messiah University graduates ($258 vs. $268).
• More Messiah University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Ship students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 72%)

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.