Founding and Status.  The College was established in 1909 as a school of the Brethren in Christ Church. Ownership by the Church was replaced in 1972 by a covenant relationship which placed legal responsibility for the College with a self-perpetuating Board of Trustees. "Christ Preeminent" has served as the College motto for many years.

Accreditation.  The College began granting four-year baccalaureate degrees in the mid 1950s. Since 1963 the College has been accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. Academic programs in engineering, dietetics, nursing, athletic training, music, social work, and education are each accredited by the appropriate professional associations.

Membership.  The College is a member of several education organizations, including the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania, The Council of Independent Colleges, Christian College Consortium, Coalition for Christian Colleges and Universities, Council of Mennonite Colleges, Council for the Advancement and Support of Education, Council of Independent Colleges, and National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities.

Faculty.  The College’s full-time teaching faculty numbers approximately 170. About 75 percent hold terminal degrees. Coming from a multitude of backgrounds, they represent nearly 150 graduate schools in five countries and many denominational affiliations.

Student Body.  The College enrolls over 2900 full-time students; approximately 63 percent are women, and nearly 10 percent represent ethnic minorities. The College has enjoyed rapid growth in the last two decades. Virtually all students are of traditional college age, and 84 percent live in College residences. More than 50 percent of the students come from 40 states outside Pennsylvania and several foreign countries. The student body represents a wide variety of church affiliations, with 4 percent coming from the Brethren in Christ Church. The average SAT score for first-year students is 1190.

Grantham Campus.  Grantham, PA, ten miles southwest of the capital city, Harrisburg, provides the College with a suburban setting and easy access to such urban centers as Harrisburg, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C. Since 1910 the Grantham Campus has been developed into a 400-acre site with modern, attractive facilities accommodating academic, social, religious, and athletic activities. Nineteen of the 23 buildings have been constructed since 1964.

Philadelphia Campus.  The Philadelphia Campus, a multi-faceted educational center, situates Messiah College in a major urban center with its ethnic, cultural, and academic diversity. The mission of the Philadelphia campus is to provide access to and enrich Christian higher education in the urban context, engage the wider academy, and address the challenge and potential of the urban world. This campus consists of seven large, renovated townhouses located on Broad Street, directly across from Temple University. The facility provides residence space for more than 90 students, as well as apartments, chapel, classroom, library, cafeteria, lounge, offices, computer lab, laundry, and recreation venues.

Academic Calendar.  4-1-3 plan. The second semester includes a three-week January session.

Academic Program.  The College awards both Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees. The academic program includes over 50 majors, more than 60 minors, and secondary education certification in eleven academic disciplines. The College’s program is administered through thirteen academic departments. Off-campus study opportunities abound through cooperative arrangements with Brethren Colleges Abroad, Daystar University, AuSable Institute of Environmental Studies, Oregon Extension, and programs offered by the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities.

Cocurricular Program.  The College has a strong and varied cocurricular program. Twenty NCAA intercollegiate athletic teams, club sports, rec-sports, numerous leadership opportunities, outreach teams, music ministry teams, short-term missions, required chapel, service learning, Bible studies/discipleship groups, and experiential learning opportunities are some of the programs in which students are involved. Approximately 30 professionally trained cocurricular educators help enable students to learn and grow as holistic Christians.

Finances.  The College has a continuing tradition of careful management and stewardship of its financial resources. The operating budget exceeds $70 million and the College's total assets, including endowment and trust funds, exceed $250 million.