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| Metric | Hope | Messiah |
|---|---|---|
| Getting in | ||
| Admissions data | Fall 2024 | Fall 2025Fall 2025 |
| Acceptance rate | 79% | 81%Fall 2025 |
| Acceptance rate, men / women | 76% / 82% | 77% / 80% |
| Acceptance rate, in-state / other states / international | Not published | 83% / 87% / 19%Fall 2025 |
| Yield, in-state / other states / international | Not published | 37% / 24% / 30%Fall 2025 |
| Applicants | 5,150 | 2,472Fall 2025 |
| Admitted | 4,081 | 2,004Fall 2025 |
| Enrolled | 821 | 630Fall 2025 |
| Yield | 20% | 31%Fall 2025 |
| SAT middle 50% | 1100–1340 | 1150–1350Fall 2025 |
| ACT middle 50% | 25–31 | 26–31 |
| Sent an SAT | 43% | 322 (51%)Fall 2025 |
| Sent an ACT | 14% | 30 (5%)Fall 2025 |
| Scored 1400+ on the SAT | 9%Fall 2023 | 14%Fall 2025 |
| Scored 30+ on the ACT | 38%Fall 2023 | – |
| Admission: High school GPA | ImportantFall 2023 | Very importantFall 2025 |
| Admission: High school record | Required | Required |
| Admission: Class rank | ConsideredFall 2023 | ImportantFall 2025 |
| Admission: College-prep program | Considered | Required |
| Admission: Recommendations | ConsideredFall 2023 | ConsideredFall 2025 |
| Admission: Essay | ConsideredFall 2023 | ImportantFall 2025 |
| Admission: Legacy status | ConsideredFall 2023 | ConsideredFall 2025 |
| Admission: Work experience | Not consideredFall 2023 | ConsideredFall 2025 |
| Admission: Demonstration of competencies | Not considered | Not considered |
| Admission: English proficiency test | Required | Required |
| Admission: Other tests | Not considered | Not considered |
| Average high school GPA | 3.80Fall 2023 | 3.79Fall 2025 |
| First-years in the top tenth of their class | – | 37% (of the 55% with a rank)Fall 2025 |
| Early decision | Not offered2023–24 | Not offered2025–26 |
| Early action | – | Not offered2025–26 |
| Wait list | No wait listFall 2023 | No wait listFall 2025 |
| Admission: Rigor of high school record | ImportantFall 2023 | Very importantFall 2025 |
| Admission: Test scores | ConsideredFall 2023 | ImportantFall 2025 |
| Admission: Interview | Not consideredFall 2023 | Not consideredFall 2025 |
| Admission: Extracurricular activities | ConsideredFall 2023 | Very importantFall 2025 |
| Admission: Talent or ability | ConsideredFall 2023 | Very importantFall 2025 |
| Admission: Character and personal qualities | Not consideredFall 2023 | Very importantFall 2025 |
| Admission: First generation | Not consideredFall 2023 | Not consideredFall 2025 |
| Admission: Geographic residence | ConsideredFall 2023 | Not consideredFall 2025 |
| Admission: State residency | Not consideredFall 2023 | Not consideredFall 2025 |
| Admission: Religious affiliation | Not consideredFall 2023 | Very importantFall 2025 |
| Admission: Volunteer work | Not consideredFall 2023 | ImportantFall 2025 |
| Admission: Demonstrated interest | Not consideredFall 2023 | ConsideredFall 2025 |
| Test policy | Test-optional | Required for some applicantsFall 2027 applicants |
| Application fee | None | $50 |
| Deadlines & deposit | – | No set reply dateFall 2026 cycle |
| Gap year allowed | YesFall 2024 cycle | Yes, up to 1 yearFall 2026 cycle |
| Credit for AP exams | Yes | Yes |
| Transfer acceptance rate | 47%Fall 2023 | 69%Fall 2025 |
| Students & campus | ||
| Setting | City: Small | Suburb: Large |
| Carnegie class | Mixed Baccalaureate | Professions-focused Undergraduate/Graduate-Doctorate Small |
| Research activity | Research college or university | Not a research tier |
| Student access & earnings | Lower Access, Medium Earnings | Lower Access, Medium Earnings |
| HBCU, tribal, land-grant | None | None |
| Minority-serving, single-sex | None | None |
| Religious affiliation | None | Interdenominational |
| Athletics | Division III | Division III |
| Conference | Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association | Middle Atlantic States Athletic Corporation |
| ROTC | Not listed | Army |
| Study abroad | Offered | Offered |
| Undergraduate research program | Yes | Not listed |
| Calendar | Semesters | Semesters |
| Undergrads | 3,288 | 2,259 |
| Beds in college housing | 2,472 | 2,403 |
| First-years must live on campus | No | No |
| Men in a fraternity | 15%Fall 2023 | – |
| Women in a sorority | 16%Fall 2023 | – |
| Fraternity/sorority housing | – | Offered2025–26 |
| Greek councils present | – | – |
| Pell Grant | 16% | 20% |
| First-gen | 15% | 18% |
| Men / women | 40% / 60% | 43% / 57% |
| Part-time students | 2% | 2% |
| Students 25 and older | 2% | 2% |
| First-years from in state | 58% | 66% |
| First-years from other states | 30% | 33% |
| First-years from abroad | 0% | 1% |
| New transfer students this fall | 49 | 78 |
| Transfers, share of new undergraduates | 6% | 12% |
| Diversity index | 0.39 | 0.42 |
| Academics | ||
| Students per faculty member | 9 to 1 | 12 to 1 |
| Classes under 20 students | – | 51%Fall 2025 |
| Full-time faculty share | 69% | 47% |
| Average faculty salary | $78,384 | $82,786 |
| Bachelor's degrees awarded | 744 | 530 |
| Most popular majors | Business Administration and Management, General 15% · Psychology, General 9% · Engineering, General 7% | Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General 9% · Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse 8% · Business Administration and Management, General 6% |
| Instruction spending per student | $13,039 (private nonprofit, FASB accounting) | $10,324 (private nonprofit, FASB accounting) |
| Endowment per student | $95,741 (private nonprofit, FASB accounting) | $40,546 (private nonprofit, FASB accounting) |
| Tuition share of core revenue | 51% | 70% |
| Cost & aid | ||
| Average cost, all students (est.) | $31,563 | $30,194 |
| Aid generosity (grants ÷ full price) | 43% | 47% |
| Net price, students with grants | $30,700 | $29,408 |
| Sticker price, in-state | $55,790 | $56,770 |
| Sticker price, out-of-state | $55,790 | $56,770 |
| Tuition guarantee | Yes | No |
| Promise program | No | Yes |
| Tuition & fees, in-state | $40,420 | $40,640 |
| Tuition & fees, out-of-state | $40,420 | $40,640 |
| First-years paying out-of-state rates | – | – |
| First-years with grants | 97% | 100% |
| Average grant | $24,945 | $26,576 |
| Aid from the college | 97% | 100% |
| Need-based aid up to | Little need-based aid above $110K | Little need-based aid above $110K |
| Merit for students without need | 49% got a grant without federal aid, averaging $21K (proxy) | 31% got a grant without federal aid, averaging $20K (proxy) |
| Published promise | – | – |
| Aid forms | – | FAFSAFall 2026 entrants |
| Aid priority date or deadline | March 1 (deadline)Fall 2024 entrants | April 1 (priority)Fall 2026 entrants |
| Need met, first-years | 84%2023–24 (estimated) | 82%2025–26 (estimated) |
| Average aid package, first-years | $34,8562023–24 (estimated) | $38,3882025–26 (estimated) |
| College grant dollars given as merit | 41%2023–24 (estimated) | – |
| Aid for international students | 48 students, average $26.7K2023–24 (estimated) | Offered2025–26 (estimated) |
| Outcomes | ||
| Median earnings (10 yrs) | $58,427 | $54,064 |
| Graduation rate | 80% | 77% |
| Graduated in 6 years, Pell Grant recipients | 74% | 70%Entered fall 2019 |
| Graduated in 6 years, neither Pell nor subsidized loan | 83% | 81%Entered fall 2019 |
| Pell graduation gap | 9 pts lower | 10 pts lowerEntered fall 2019 |
| Finished within 4 years: Pell recipients | Not published | 67%Entered fall 2019 |
| Finished within 4 years: neither Pell nor subsidized loan | Not published | 75%Entered fall 2019 |
| Finished within 4 years: all first-time full-time | Not published | 73%Entered fall 2019 |
| Finished within 5 years: Pell recipients | Not published | 70%Entered fall 2019 |
| Finished within 5 years: neither Pell nor subsidized loan | Not published | 80%Entered fall 2019 |
| Finished within 5 years: all first-time full-time | Not published | 78%Entered fall 2019 |
| Graduated in 6 years, White students | 82% | 77% |
| Graduated in 6 years, Asian students | Under 30 students | Under 30 students |
| Graduated in 6 years, Hispanic/Latino students | 67% | 46% |
| Graduated in 6 years, Black students | Under 30 students | Under 30 students |
| Graduated in 6 years, students of two or more races | 75% | Under 30 students |
| Graduated in 6 years, international students | Under 30 students | Under 30 students |
| Retention rate | 88% | 88%Entered fall 2024 |
| Credential within 4 years, all students | 78% | 74% |
| Credential within 8 years, all students | 79% | 78% |
| Enrolled at another college, 8 years on | 10% | 18% |
| Median debt | $26,800 | $25,621 |
| Undergrads with a federal loan | 44% | 54% |
| Median debt, Pell Grant recipients | $24,500 | $24,188 |
| Website | hope.edu | messiah.edu |
Sources:IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;Hope College Common Data Set 2023–24, Fall 2023;Hope College Common Data Set 2023–24, 2023–24;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;Hope College Common Data Set 2023–24, Fall 2024 cycle;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation), 2025–26;IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD), 2025–26;College Scorecard, most recent release;College Scorecard, Fall 2024;National directories of campus chapters and groups, October 2026;College Scorecard, Fall 2023;IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students), Fall 2024;IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level), Fall 2024;IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D), Fall 2024;IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks), Fall 2024;IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field), 2024–25 graduates;IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures, 2023–24;IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients), Entered fall 2018;College Scorecard, Entered fall 2023;IPEDS Outcome Measures survey, Students entering fall 2016;College Scorecard, 2023–24;Hope College Common Data Set 2023–24, Fall 2024 entrants;Hope College Common Data Set 2023–24, 2023–24 (estimated);Common Data Set, most recent release;Messiah University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025;Messiah University Common Data Set 2025–26, 2025–26;Messiah University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2027 applicants;Messiah University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2026 cycle;Messiah University Common Data Set 2025–26, Entered fall 2019;Messiah University Common Data Set 2025–26, Entered fall 2024;Messiah University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2026 entrants;Messiah University Common Data Set 2025–26, 2025–26 (estimated)About 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