More selective than 59% of Pennsylvania colleges we cover. U.S. median 77%.
College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class
56% of enrolled first-years sent SAT scores, 6% sent ACT scores.
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class
Called “yield.” A high yield means many admitted students choose Messiah University over other offers.
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class
Applicants, admits and enrollment
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class (first-time, degree-seeking undergraduates). Newer counts arrive with the next IPEDS release.
What Messiah University weighs when deciding
How much each part of an application counts for first-year applicants, as Messiah University reports it. Programs with their own criteria (nursing, music, honors) can weigh things differently.
- Rigor of high school courses
- High school GPA
- Extracurricular activities
- Talent or ability
- Character and personal qualities
- Religious affiliation
- Class rank
- SAT/ACT scores
- Essay
- Volunteer work
- Recommendations
- Alumni relation (legacy)
- Work experience
- Your demonstrated interest
- Interview
- First-generation college student
- Where you live
- State residency
Item C7. Common Data Set 2025-26 (fall 2025 first-year students), published by the college.
High school GPA of Messiah University first-year students
Share of fall 2025 first-year students in each high school GPA range; the average was 3.79. Colleges report GPAs as they record them, weighted or not.
Items C11-C12; enrolled students, not admitted students. Common Data Set 2025-26 (fall 2025 first-year students), published by the college.
Early decision, early action and the waitlist
Items C2, C21-C22. Common Data Set 2025-26 (fall 2025 first-year students), published by the college.
Messiah University SAT and ACT scores
Scores of enrolled first-year students who submitted them, Fall 2024. A quarter scored below the 25th percentile and a quarter above the 75th. If your score is above the 75th, Messiah University is likely within reach on scores alone; below the 25th, it is a reach.
| Test | 25th percentile | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|
| SAT reading & writing | 570 | 680 |
| SAT math | 540 | 670 |
| ACT composite | 26 | 31 |
| SAT total (approx.) | 1110 | 1350 |
College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class (reported to IPEDS). SAT total adds the two section scores, an approximation.
Messiah University admissions year over year
| Entering class | Acceptance | SAT reading | SAT math | ACT | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2024 | 79% | 570–680 | 540–670 | 26–31 | College Scorecard |
| Fall 2023 | 78% | 560–670 | 540–670 | 22–30 | IPEDS |
Score ranges are the 25th–75th percentiles. Each year is kept as published; we add a year with every federal release.
How selective is Messiah University compared with other Pennsylvania colleges?
Messiah University has the 46th-lowest acceptance rate of 111 Pennsylvania colleges we cover. Schools around it:
| Rank | College | Acceptance | Graduation | Avg. net price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 42 | DeSales University | 77% | 72% | $31,643 |
| 43 | Elizabethtown College | 78% | 76% | $26,598 |
| 44 | West Chester University of Pennsylvania | 78% | 71% | $23,331 |
| 45 | Juniata College | 79% | 74% | $23,988 |
| 46 | Messiah University | 79% | 75% | $26,502 |
| 47 | Drexel University | 79% | 78% | $38,509 |
| 48 | Seton Hill University | 80% | 67% | $22,204 |
| 49 | Arcadia University | 80% | 67% | $29,466 |
| 50 | Temple University | 80% | 75% | $28,198 |
College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class. All Pennsylvania colleges →
Who enrolls at Messiah University
College Scorecard; IPEDS
Messiah University admissions questions
What is the Messiah University acceptance rate?
Messiah University accepts 79% of applicants, most. For the Fall 2023 entering class, 1,864 of 2,375 applicants were admitted.
Does Messiah University require the SAT or ACT?
Messiah University considers SAT or ACT scores but does not require them (test-optional), according to its federal admissions report for Fall 2023. 56% of enrolled first-year students submitted SAT scores and 6% submitted ACT scores.
What SAT score do you need for Messiah University?
The middle 50% of Messiah University enrolled first-year students scored 1110–1350 on the SAT and 26–31 on the ACT. A score above the upper number puts you in the top quarter of enrolled students; below the lower number puts you in the bottom quarter.
How many admitted students enroll at Messiah University?
32% of admitted students enrolled in Fall 2023 (596 of 1,864).
What does Messiah University look for in applicants?
Messiah University reports these as very important for first-year applicants: rigor of high school courses, high school GPA, extracurricular activities, talent or ability, character and personal qualities, religious affiliation. Important: class rank, sAT/ACT scores, essay, volunteer work. Considered: recommendations, alumni relation (legacy), work experience, your demonstrated interest. (Common Data Set 2025-26).
Does Messiah University have early decision?
No. Messiah University does not offer binding early decision (Common Data Set 2025-26).
Is Messiah University getting harder to get into?
Messiah University accepted 79% of applicants for Fall 2024, compared with 78% for Fall 2023.
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS Admissions; Messiah University's Common Data Set 2025-26; years shown with each figure. “Colleges we cover” means colleges awarding bachelor's degrees to at least 100 undergraduates. Back to Messiah University overview