NC State vs. Messiah College

Should I go to North Carolina State University at Raleigh or Messiah College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if NC State or Messiah 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.

Add a college to compare up to four schools

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

Clemson UNC Chapel Hill Virginia Tech UNC Charlotte UofSC Penn State ASU ECU Ohio State Purdue Georgia Maryland
North Carolina State University at Raleigh vs. Messiah College comparison
North Carolina State University at Raleigh Messiah College College 3 College 4
North Carolina State University at Raleigh Messiah College
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

NC State Messiah College
Location Raleigh, NC Grantham, PA
Setting Large City Large Suburban
Enrollment 36,700 3,231
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #123 #358
Religious Affiliation - Interdenominational - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website ncsu.edu messiah.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

NC State Messiah College
Tuition (In State) $6,535 $38,550
Tuition (Out of State) $28,276 $38,550
Room & Board $12,748 $11,560
Avg Net Price $14,852 $24,120
Avg Grant Aid $9,181 $27,519
% Receiving Grant Aid 71% 100%

Admission

NC State Messiah College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 35,568 2,438
Admitted 16,779 1,936
Acceptance Rate 47.2% 79.4%
Enrolled % 33.5% 30.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.83 3.8
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Exceptional Difficult
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 28/33 25/30
SAT Range 1280/1460 1090/1340
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 Jan 15, 2025

Academics

NC State Messiah College
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Engineering (22%)
  • Business (13%)
  • Biology (11%)
  • Agriculture (9%)
  • Social Sciences (5%)
  • Education (19%)
  • Business (13%)
  • Health Professions (10%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Biology (6%)

Outcomes

NC State Messiah College
Graduation Rate 72% 74%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $57,200 $48,600
Making Student Loan Payments 76% 85%
Median Student Loan Debt $20,782 $25,989
Median Loan Payment $214 $268

Diversity

NC State Messiah College
% Men 51% 37%
% Women 49% 63%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 74% 83%
% Black 6% 3%
% Hispanic 5% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 3%
% International 4% 4%
% Unknown Race 2% 1%

Students

NC State Messiah College
% In-State 83% 63%
% Out-of-State 14% 35%

Campus

NC State Messiah College
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • North Carolina State University at Raleigh is larger than than Messiah College based on total student enrollment (36,700 students vs. 3,231 students)

NC State vs. Messiah College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NC State or Messiah College?

  • Messiah College is 489.9% more expensive to attend than NC State for in-state tuition ($38,550.00 vs. $6,535.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 36.3% higher at Messiah College than North Carolina State University at Raleigh ($38,550.00 vs. $28,276.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at North Carolina State University at Raleigh than Messiah College ($14,852 vs. $24,120)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Messiah College are 10.3% lower than costs at North Carolina State University at Raleigh ($11,560 vs. $12,748)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Messiah College than North Carolina State University at Raleigh (100% vs. 71%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Messiah College students is 199.7% larger than aid received North Carolina State University at Raleigh ($27,519 vs. $9,181)

NC State vs. Messiah College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at North Carolina State University at Raleigh (1264) is 135 points higher than at Messiah College (1129)
  • Incoming NC State students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at Messiah College (25)
  • Accepted freshman NC State students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.83) than students at Messiah College (3.8)
  • Messiah College has a higher acceptance rate (79.4%) than NC State (47.2%)

NC State vs. Messiah College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, NC State or Messiah 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 Messiah College and NC State.

  • The graduation rate at Messiah College is higher than North Carolina State University at Raleigh (74% vs. 72%)
  • Graduates from North Carolina State University at Raleigh earn on average $8,600 more per year than Messiah College graduates after ten years. ($57,200 vs. $48,600)
  • North Carolina State University at Raleigh students graduate with a $5,207 lower median federal student loan debt than Messiah College graduates. ($20,782 vs. $25,989)
  • NC State graduates are paying $54 less per month on federal student loans than Messiah College graduates. ($214 vs. $268)
  • More Messiah College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NC State students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 76%)

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