University of Portland vs. Messiah College

Should I go to University of Portland or Messiah College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if University of Portland 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.

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University of Portland vs. Messiah College comparison
University of Portland Messiah College College 3 College 4
University of Portland Messiah College
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Overview

University of Portland Messiah College
Location Portland, OR Grantham, PA
Setting Large City Large Suburban
Enrollment 3,457 3,344
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #140 #362
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic Interdenominational - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website up.edu messiah.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

University of Portland Messiah College
Tuition (In State) $54,400 $39,700
Tuition (Out of State) $54,400 $39,700
Room & Board $16,600 $11,910
Avg Net Price $34,951 $29,882
Avg Grant Aid $34,476 $24,223
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

University of Portland Messiah College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 9,041 2,375
Admitted 8,624 1,864
Acceptance Rate 95.4% 78.5%
Enrolled % 8.5% 32%
Avg High School GPA 3.66 3.8
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Difficult Difficult
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 25/30 22/30
SAT Range 1190/1356 1100/1340
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, 2026

Academics

University of Portland Messiah College
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (27%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Engineering (10%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Education (19%)
  • Business (13%)
  • Health Professions (10%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Biology (6%)

Outcomes

University of Portland Messiah College
Graduation Rate 76% 74%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $59,000 $48,600
Making Student Loan Payments 85% 85%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,313 $25,989
Median Loan Payment $251 $268

Diversity

University of Portland Messiah College
% Men 4% 6%
% Women 6% 17%
Racial Diversity Medium Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 61% 83%
% Black 1% 3%
% Hispanic 11% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 2% 0%
% Two or More Races 8% 3%
% International 3% 4%
% Unknown Race 2% 1%

Students

University of Portland Messiah College
% In-State 34% 63%
% Out-of-State 64% 36%

Campus

University of Portland 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

  • University of Portland is larger than than Messiah College based on total student enrollment (3,457 students vs. 3,344 students)

University of Portland vs. Messiah College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, University of Portland or Messiah College?

  • University of Portland is 37% more expensive to attend than Messiah College for in-state tuition ($54,400.00 vs. $39,700.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 37% higher at University of Portland than Messiah College ($54,400.00 vs. $39,700.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Messiah College than University of Portland ($29,882 vs. $34,951)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Messiah College are 39.4% lower than costs at University of Portland ($11,910 vs. $16,600)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at University of Portland as Messiah College (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Portland students is 42.3% larger than aid received Messiah College ($34,476 vs. $24,223)

University of Portland vs. Messiah College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of Portland (1195) is 66 points higher than at Messiah College (1129)
  • Accepted freshman Messiah College students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.8) than students at University of Portland (3.66)
  • University of Portland has a higher acceptance rate (95.4%) than Messiah College (78.5%)

University of Portland vs. Messiah College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, University of Portland 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 University of Portland.

  • The graduation rate at University of Portland is higher than Messiah College (76% vs. 74%)
  • Graduates from University of Portland earn on average $10,400 more per year than Messiah College graduates after ten years. ($59,000 vs. $48,600)
  • University of Portland students graduate with a $1,676 lower median federal student loan debt than Messiah College graduates. ($24,313 vs. $25,989)
  • University of Portland graduates are paying $17 less per month on federal student loans than Messiah College graduates. ($251 vs. $268)
  • More University of Portland graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Messiah College students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 85%)

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