Paine College vs. Messenger College

Comparable Facts

Compare Paine College in Augusta, GA with Messenger College in Bedford, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Paine College is larger than Messenger College based on total student enrollment (390 students vs. 24 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Paine College is located in Augusta, GA (Midsize City setting); Messenger College is in Bedford, TX (Small City setting).
• Paine College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Messenger College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Paine College 11:1; Messenger College 8:1.

Paine College vs. Messenger College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Paine College or Messenger College? 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 Paine College than Messenger College ($15,935 vs. $25,941).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Paine College are 43.5% lower than at Messenger College ($7,512 vs. $13,305).
• Paine College is 25.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Messenger College (about $2,976 more per year; $14,596.00 vs. $11,620.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 25.6% higher at Paine College than at Messenger College (about $2,976 more per year; $14,596.00 vs. $11,620.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Paine College than at Messenger College (100% vs. 88%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Paine College students is 208.2% larger than aid received by Messenger College students ($12,145 vs. $3,940).

Paine College vs. Messenger College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Paine College or Messenger College? 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 Messenger College and Paine College.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Paine College 776/976.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Paine College 15/19.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Paine College - Test-free; Messenger College - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Paine College Jul 1, 2027; Messenger College Jul 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Messenger College students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (2.9) than students at Paine College (2.81).
• Paine College has a higher acceptance rate (95.4%) than Messenger College (37.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 3.6% at Paine College vs. 66.7% at Messenger College.

Paine College vs. Messenger College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Paine College and Messenger College? 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).

• Paine College's six-year graduation rate (27%) is higher than Messenger College's (10%).
• Graduates from Paine College earn a median of about $4,400 more per year than Messenger College graduates about ten years after starting college ($28,400 vs. $24,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Messenger College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Paine College students, three years after graduation. (40% vs. 15%)

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.