Pitt State vs. Messenger College

Comparable Facts

Compare Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, KS with Messenger College in Bedford, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Pittsburg State University is larger than Messenger College based on total student enrollment (5,755 students vs. 24 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Pittsburg State University is located in Pittsburg, KS (Distant Town setting); Messenger College is in Bedford, TX (Small City setting).
• Pittsburg State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Messenger College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Pittsburg State University 14:1; Messenger College 8:1.

Pitt State vs. Messenger College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Pitt State 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 Pittsburg State University than Messenger College ($15,111 vs. $25,941).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pittsburg State University are 23.1% lower than at Messenger College ($10,234 vs. $13,305).
• Messenger College is 38.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Pitt State (about $3,220 more per year; $11,620.00 vs. $8,400.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 69.9% higher at Pitt State than at Messenger College (about $8,124 more per year; $19,744.00 vs. $11,620.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Messenger College than at Pittsburg State University (88% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Pittsburg State University students is 65.1% larger than aid received by Messenger College students ($6,504 vs. $3,940).

Pitt State vs. Messenger College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Pitt State 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 Pitt State.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Pitt State - Test optional; Messenger College - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Messenger College Jul 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Pitt State students have a 0.5 point higher average high school GPA (3.4) than students at Messenger College (2.9).
• Pitt State has a higher acceptance rate (89.4%) than Messenger College (37.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 31.9% at Pitt State vs. 66.7% at Messenger College.

Pitt State vs. Messenger College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Pitt State 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).

• Pittsburg State University's six-year graduation rate (49%) is higher than Messenger College's (10%).
• Graduates from Pittsburg State University earn a median of about $19,600 more per year than Messenger College graduates about ten years after starting college ($43,600 vs. $24,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Pitt State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Messenger College students, three years after graduation. (61% vs. 40%)

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.