Key differences on Getting in
- 1
Messiah's yield is 16 pts higher than John Carroll's
Yield rate - 2
John Carroll admits 81% vs. 81% at Messiah
Acceptance rate
Admissions
Getting in, fall 2024
Acceptance and yield, test score ranges, test policy, and what each college weighs.
The funnel
Quad's selectivity
- John CarrollAccessible
- MessiahSelective
Men and women
Acceptance rate for men and women who applied, where a college reports admissions by sex.
Test scores
SAT total,
Axis runs 1000–1600. The dark tick marks the national median midpoint.
ACT composite,
Axis runs 21–36. The dark tick marks the national median midpoint.
Test policy
- John CarrollTest-optional
- MessiahTest-optional
How they read a record
John Carroll
GPA, the high school record, and a college-prep program are required; class rank is considered.
Messiah
and GPA are both very important; class rank and tests are both important. 69% of first-years had a 3.75 or higher, so and rarely sets an applicant apart; the courses behind it carry more of the weight.
What they look at
| Factor | John Carroll | Messiah |
|---|---|---|
| High school GPA | Required | Very important |
| High school record | Required | Required |
| Class rank | Considered | Important |
| College-prep program | Required | Required |
| Recommendations | Required | Considered |
| Essay | Required | Important |
| Legacy status | Considered | Considered |
| Work experience | Considered | Considered |
| Demonstration of competencies | Considered | Not considered |
| English proficiency test | Considered | Required |
| Other tests | Not considered | Not considered |
Sources:IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;College Scorecard, Entered fall 2023;College Scorecard, most recent release;Messiah University (Fall 2025), Fall 2025;Messiah University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2027 applicants;Messiah University Common Data Set 2025–26, Entered fall 2024About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)
Figures are the newest each college has published; years can differ between colleges. Each value's ⓘ shows its source and year. Why