Admissions
Getting in, fall 2025
Messiah admits about 8 in 10 applicants (81%). That puts it in the "Selective" tier, more selective than 42% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.
Out of every 100 applicants…
The funnel
Applicants from Pennsylvania and from other states were admitted at similar rates (83% and 87%).
$50 to apply
Can be waived for applicants with financial need.
Grants credit for AP exams
Men and women
Men were admitted at 77%, women at 80%.
Yield
31% of admitted students enroll, in the typical range nationally.
No wait list
Applying early
Doesn't offer early decision or early action
Where you stand
How Messiah reads a record
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. Scores are required for some applicants. 51% of first-years sent an SAT and 6% an ACT. Of the 55% whose high school reported a rank, 37% were in the top tenth.
What they look at
Considers whether an applicant's parent attended (legacy status).
| Very important | Important | Considered | Not considered | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academic | |||||
| Rigor of high school record | Very important | ||||
| Class rank | Important | ||||
| Academic GPA | Very important | ||||
| Test scores | Important | ||||
| Essay | Important | ||||
| Recommendations | Considered | ||||
| Personal | |||||
| Interview | Not considered | ||||
| Extracurricular activities | Very important | ||||
| Talent or ability | Very important | ||||
| Character and personal qualities | Very important | ||||
| First generation | Not considered | ||||
| Alumni relation (legacy) | Considered | ||||
| Geographic residence | Not considered | ||||
| State residency | Not considered | ||||
| Religious affiliation | Very important | ||||
| Volunteer work | Important | ||||
| Work experience | Considered | ||||
| Demonstrated interest | Considered | ||||
From the federal survey: high school record required; college-prep program required; English proficiency test required
Transferring in
69% of transfer applicants were admittedvs. 81% of first-year applicants
247 applied · 171 admitted · 87 enrolled
Transfers may start in the fall and winter.
Minimum college GPA: 2.5
Grants credit for course work completed at another college
Dates
- Fall entry: decisions on a rolling basis
- Spring entry: decisions on a rolling basis
What the application needs
- College transcripts
- Required
- Essay or personal statement
- Required
- Standardized test scores
- Recommended for some
- Statement of good standing from a prior college
- Required
Applying
The regular round, as the college reports it. Early rounds have their own dates.
- Decisions are sent on a rolling basis starting August 31.
- There's no set reply date.
- The housing deposit is refundable.
- Admitted students may postpone enrollment for a gap year. Longest postponement: 1 year.
On the admissions map
↑ SAT midpoint (higher = higher scores)
Fall 2025 first-years
First-years' high school GPA
Average GPA 3.79
High schools grade differently, and colleges recalculate or weight GPAs their own way, so compare this college only with itself.
First-years by high school GPA (4.0 scale)
- 4.054%
- 3.75–3.9915%
- 3.50–3.7413%
- 3.25–3.498%
- 3.00–3.247%
- below 3.03%
The middle half had GPAs of 3.50–4.0.
All nine bands
| GPA | All |
|---|---|
| 4.0 | 53.8% |
| 3.75–3.99 | 15.3% |
| 3.50–3.74 | 12.9% |
| 3.25–3.49 | 8.5% |
| 3.00–3.24 | 6.5% |
| 2.50–2.99 | 2.9% |
| 2.0–2.49 | 0.2% |
| 1.0–1.99 | 0.0% |
| below 1.0 | 0.0% |
37% were in the top tenth of their high school class, 60% in the top quarter, of the 55% whose high school reported a rank.
Source:Messiah University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)
Test scores
What enrolled first-years scored
The typical enrolled first-year who sent scores is around 1255 on the SAT, 85 points above the median for colleges that report scores.
Required for some applicants
Some applicants must send scores. For students entering in fall 2027.
“We also consider the Classic Learning Test (CLT) if submitted.”
Where would you land?
Middle 50% of enrolled first-years who sent scores This college's median National median midpoint
Score bands
14% of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored 1400 or higher.
25% of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored 700 or higher.
16% of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored 700 or higher.
Shares of the 51% of first-years who sent an SAT; students who didn't send scores aren't in these bands.
Who submitted scores?
submitted SAT
322 studentssubmitted ACT
At least half of students submitted a score, so the ranges are reasonably representative.
Sources:Messiah University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025;IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation), 2025–26;Messiah University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2027 applicants;Messiah University Common Data Set 2025–26, 2025–26;Messiah University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2026 cycleAbout the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)