Frequently Asked Questions
Q - Who is Messiah College’s President?
A - Kim S. Phipps, Ph.D., was named the eighth president of Messiah College in December 2004. As president, Dr. Phipps serves as the chief executive officer of Messiah College, subject to direction of the board of trustees, and is responsible for visioning, planning, fundraising, administrating and nurturing a campus culture consistent with the mission of the college. For more details, see the President's Office site.
Q - What is the mission and history of Messiah College?
A - Messiah College is a Christian college of the liberal and applied arts and sciences. The College is committed to an embracing evangelical spirit rooted in the Anabaptist, Pietist and Wesleyan traditions of the Christian Church. Our mission is to educate men and women toward maturity of intellect, character and Christian faith in preparation for lives of service, leadership and reconciliation in church and society. For more detailed history see the About Messiah section of the site.
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Q - What is the Community Covenant?
A - In the motto, "Christ Preeminent," the Messiah College community affirms that life draws meaning from submission to Christ and service to others. Our philosophy statement affirms the triune God as the creator of all that is, the source of all truth. As beings created in the image of God, we have special responsibilities and challenges. In our community of believer-scholars we affirm the interrelatedness of what we believe, the way we live, and the way we learn. Our search for truth and commitment to Christ connect us not only to each other but also to God's creation and God's people throughout history.
Read the full and complete Community Covenant.
Q - How many students are enrolled at Messiah College?
A - Fall 2006 enrollment was recorded at 2,854 students.
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Q - What are the College’s Retention and Graduation rates?
A - The retention rate (first year students who return for their sophomore year) for Messiah College was 84% for the fall of 2006. The four year graduation rate is 67.5% and the six year graduation rate is 72.5%.
Q - Does Messiah College run on a semester system?
A - Messiah College is based on a two-semester calendar. The fall semester begins in late August and extends through mid-December. The spring semester begins with the January Term and extends through early May. An integral part of the second semester, January Term gives students an opportunity to concentrate on a single course for three weeks. Trans-cultural travel programs are among the innovative courses offered at this same period.
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Q - What is the Messiah College mascot?
A - The Falcon
Q - What are the School Colors?
A - Navy Blue and White
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Q - How is the college organized?
A - Messiah College's five academic schools provide not only a facility and faculty for each academic program, but also a community. Visit each school's web site using the links below.
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Q - What majors does Messiah College offer?
A - Messiah College opens expansive academic and career options for students by offering more than 55 majors and pre-professional programs. Learn more by visiting the academic majors page.
Q - What majors are most popular?
A - During the academic year 2006-2007 the following academic majors were prevalent. Nursing (7.6%), Elementary Education (7.1%), Communication (4.9%), Psychology (4.7%) and Biology (4.7%).
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Q - Does Messiah College have an Honors Program?
A - Yes. The College Honors Program is designed for students who demonstrate high scholarly ability early in their academic career. The program provides a series of interdisciplinary honors courses, which satisfies selected general education requirements. In addition, various campus activities are designed each semester exclusively for participants in the College Honors Program. Participation in the program culminates in the preparation and public presentation of an interdisciplinary research project in the senior year. Admission to the program is highly competitive. The College Honors Program is open to first-year students that are selected to receive the Trustees' or President's Scholarship.
Please visit the official College Honors Program page for more details.
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Q - Where do graduates go after graduation?
A -Many of our Messiah College alumni are working in various professional fields. We’ve listed many of our alumni by academic majors at the Profiles of Vocation site for discovering what they are up to now!
Q - Will I be able to get to know my professors or just be another face in the crowd?
A - At Messiah, the classes are designed to be smaller, so that students will be able to have more personalized relationships with their professors. Our faculty to student ratio is 13:1.
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Q - Are professors readily available for students?
A - Professors at Messiah are accessible to the students, and they have office hours for students to be able to contact them.
Q - Do professors teach first year student classes?
A - The professors at Messiah teach a wide range of classes. Since we do not have graduate students teaching ANY of Messiah’s courses, students will have professors with terminal degrees teaching even entry level courses.
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Q - How do I apply for admission?
A - The College provides two methods for candidates to apply for admission: the Standard Choice and the Write Choice. Both options require the submission of the application form, high school transcript, application essay, and one Christian Life recommendation form. In addition, the following materials or activities are required to complete an application for admission:
Standard Choice - Applicant must submit either the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or American College Testing (ACT) score results. To learn more about these tests or to register for an upcoming testing date see the following web sites. For the SAT see www.collegeboard.org and for the ACT see www.act.org
Write Choice - Applicant must be in the top 20% class ranking, participate in an admissions interview, and submit an additional graded writing sample. (Test scores are not required for students who meet the criteria for Write Choice.)
The Admissions Office seeks to admit those candidates who have exhibited scholastic competence and excellence as well as those who are most likely to succeed, benefit from, and contribute to the Messiah College community.
Q - Is there any advantage to applying online?
A - Yes. Applications are received in a faster manner than the conventional paper application, which in turn allows the admission office to response to the applicant quicker!
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Q - What is required for admission consideration?
A - See the entire required materials for admission consideration. You can also download appropriate application forms.
Q - Once my file is complete how long will it take to hear about my admission decision?
A - Messiah College operates on rolling admission. All application files are reviewed within 2-3 weeks from the time of completion. Transfer students may experience a longer period due to review of previous coursework.
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Q - Who is my admission counselor?
A - See the entire staff with instructions to find your admission counselor.
Q - Are there different requirements for Home Schooled students?
A - Home Schooled students are asked to follow the same admission application procedures. However Home Schooled students are asked to submit a comprehensive transcript of a senior year academic program as well as a courses and course evaluations of the ninth through eleventh grades. If students do not receive grades, please explain the method of evaluation of course content. If students have an independent evaluation of academic progress by a qualified educator, please include that with the transcript. Find more information on Home Schooled students at Messiah here.
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Q - Are there different admission requirements for International Students?
A - Yes. Additional documentation is required for admission consideration for International Students. See exact details here.
Q - I applied once before to Messiah College, will I need to submit another application?
A - Students are invited to complete the Readmission Application. If students have attended another college we request that transcripts be sent to the Office of Admissions in addition to the Readmission Application.
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Q - What athletic division is Messiah College associated?
A - Messiah College is a member of the NCAA - Division III. Messiah College is also a member of the Middle Atlantic Corporation.
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Q - What sports are offered at Messiah?
A -
Q - What kinds of intramural and rec-sport programs are there?
A - Messiah offers a Recreational Sports Program, known on campus as rec-sports. Included in the Intramural Program are sports such as basketball, softball, soccer, flag football, floor hockey, volleyball, and kickball, to name a few. Teams play within their division with the top teams then moving to a playoff round. The rec-sports champion for each sport will receive a free T-shirt. Rec-sports champion T-shirts are a hot commodity on campus.
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Q - How can I contact a coach?
A - Head Coaches:
Q - How does Messiah College incorporate the Christian perspective in its athletic programs?
A - While Messiah sets standards for excellence in Division III intercollegiate athletic programs, we also encourage development of the whole person through sports. At Messiah, principles of sportsmanship and fair play take precedence over the results of athletic contests. The physical and psychological well-being of each participant is affirmed in the context of team camaraderie. This means that person, character, and faith development are of great importance to the coaches. Messiah College is committed to maintaining a strong program of intercollegiate athletics marked by excellence and spiritual values.
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Q - How much is the tuition, room & board and fees for 2007-2008?
A - The tuition is $11,855 per semester. The Room & Board fees are approximately $3,460. And the mandatory fees are $355 per semester. For a more comprehensive look at the Messiah College costs see the Schedule of Semester Fees.
Q - When is tuition set for the next year?
A - The Messiah College Board of Trustees approves the tuition, room & board and fees for the College at their Board meeting each winter.
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Q - How is the tuition determined each year?
A -The College administration recommends a tuition, room & board and fees rates that are projected to cover the educational expenses for the college in the coming academic year.
Q - How does the application process work?
A - Applying for financial aid can be a bit unsettling. We understand this and wish to assist families as much as possible. Students and families can follow our easy instructions on the Financial Aid web site or call us for further counsel. We’d be happy to help!
The Messiah College Financial Aid Office is open for consultation on weekdays 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Our phone number is (717) 691-6007.
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Q - How is financial aid determined?
A - To determine eligibility for financial aid start by filling out and submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Messiah College encourages students to submit the FAFSA online to increase processing time. Although a traditional paper and pencil FAFSA is acceptable too. The FAFSA is used to determine need for state grants (including Pennsylvania) and Messiah College need-based financial aid. See the FAFSA online at www.FAFSA.ed.gov. The Messiah College Code is 003298.
Q - Who can I speak with if I have questions about the financial aid process?
A - The Messiah College Financial Aid Office is open for consultation on weekdays 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Our phone number is (717) 691-6007.
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Q - What is included in financial aid packages?
A - Financial aid comes in various forms. Students may be awarded need-based aid in the form of scholarships, grants, student loans, and through on campus job called work-study.
For a full complement of all available financial aid, please see the Financial Aid site.
Q - If my family’s circumstances change will the College financial aid be reconsidered?
A - We wish to be sensitive to the changing nature of a family’s ability to afford a college education. We invite families to consult with the Financial Aid Office to review eligibility for aid when circumstances change.
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Q - What if I do not qualify for financial aid?
A - Messiah College recognizes some students will not be eligible for need-based financial aid. However students and parents may still be eligible for student and family loans. We encourage students to seek alternative funding through the Financial Aid Office.
Q - What is a scholarship?
A - Scholarships come in many forms from the generous donors of the Messiah College Family. There are scholarships for academic merit, scholarships for talent, and scholarships for leadership. See the financial aid web site for more eligibility requirements.
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Q - Are scholarships renewable?
A - Scholarships generally have specific limitations attached to the awarding cycle. Be certain to prepare oneself for criteria is attached to any scholarship.
Q - What is a grant?
A - A grant is generally money given to a student for college tuition. A grant can be provided by Federal, State, local charity, or the College itself. A student is not expected to pay back the provider of the grant.
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Q - What grants are offered?
A - Grants from the Federal Government come in forms such as the Pell Grant. The State of Pennsylvania offers grants to students who are residents and who attend a college in the State. Messiah College offers various grants to students depending on eligibility of the student.
Q - What loans are available?
A - Several loans are available for Messiah College students. Messiah seeks to find the most convenient and competitive borrowing rates for students.
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Q - Can parents take loans for their children at Messiah College?
A - Parent Loans do exist. Contact the Financial Aid Office for specific eligibility requirements, loan terms and interest rates. Call the Financial Aid Office at 1-800-233-4220, or e-mail us at finaid@messiah.edu.
Q - Do I have to accept any student loans offered on my award?
A - No. Students are not required to accept the student loans offered on financial aid awards. However Messiah College makes student loans available to those who qualify to cover educational expenses.
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Q - When are financial aid awards sent out to students?
A - New students are sent financial aid awards in early March each spring.
Q - Who can I speak with if I have questions about my award?
A - The Messiah College Financial Aid Office is open for consultation on weekdays 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Our phone number is (717) 691-6007. We’d be delighted to address any financial aid concern!
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Q - Can I pay the College in installments?
A - Payments plans do exist. Contact the Business Office for exact details on the payment plans. The Business Office is open Monday through Friday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM (717)-691-6025 or busoffc@messiah.edu
Q - Who can I talk to if I have questions about my bills?
A - Contact one of our business office staff for inquiries to student bills. The Business Office is open Monday through Friday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM (717)-691-6004 or busoffc@messiah.edu
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Q - Will I apply for financial aid each year?
A - Students do need to reapply for financial aid on a yearly basis. Generally once a student completes a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) they are sent a renewal application notice the following year.
Q - Is there financial aid available for international students?
A - Yes. Non-US Citizens are offered limited scholarships and grants. Contact the office of admissions for details.
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Q - What residence halls are available for first year students?
A - Messiah has created a "first-year experience" for all first-year students who will live on the same floors/buildings as cohorts. All first-year students will live in one of the three first-year buildings: Hess, Naugle or Witmer.
Q - What residence halls are available for transfer students?
A - Students who are sophomores through seniors will be able to live in traditional halls. Students with 45 or more post high school credits will have three additional options of on-campus apartments, special-interest housing and Harrisburg housing.
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Q - Where can I go for additional housing questions?
A - The Office of Residence Life web site addresses many questions relative to housing needs.
Q - What are the meal plan options for students?
A - First year students have a variety of choices that are available when using their campus ID card for meals and various other functions. The dining facilities that are located in the Eisenhower Campus Center are: Lottie Nelson Dining room located on the second floor which offers an all-you-can eat menu with a variety of choices in a "Food Court" that allows students to choose anything from sandwiches to full course meals; and the Falcon Express Snack Shop located on the lower level which offers items like pizza, burgers, sandwiches, salads, pastries, and beverages. The C-store is located in the basement of North Complex and offers a variety of quick "pick-up" items from munchies and snacks to personal care items. And the Union Cafe, located in the Larsen Student Union, is a unique coffee shop, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
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Q - Can students have cars on campus?
A - On a limited basis first-year resident students are permitted to have cars on campus. Permission is often granted to first-year students who are 21 or live more than 250 miles from campus. After the first year, any student may have a car on campus. Complete information about parking regulations at Messiah is available from the Department of Safety web site.
Q - Is there security on campus?
A - Yes. Messiah's Department of Safety actively patrols the campus 24 hours a day, seven days per week. Officers patrol the college grounds and buildings by vehicle, foot, and bike patrols.
Q - Does Messiah have a department of public safety?
A - Yes, Messiah College has a Department of Safety. In concert with the mission of Messiah College, the Department of Safety is dedicated to the educational process by providing a safe and secure living, learning and working environment for all members of the Messiah College community. Along with ensuring the security of all facilities, our priorities within the total organizational framework are safety, community service and serving as an information resource. We work in cooperation with other departments and organizations to foster a positive community atmosphere.
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Q - Does Messiah College offer opportunities to study abroad?
A - Yes. The Institute for International Education released the results of their annual Open Doors Survey on November of 2006; the survey ranked Messiah College 9th in the nation. For more information about our study abroad programs, please visit the EpiCenter web site
Q - Where can a student study abroad?
A - Some of our study abroad programs include the Caribbean, Central America, South America, Britain, Europe, Africa, Russia, China, India, Middle East, India, Japan, and Indonesia.
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Q - What can students get involved in outside the classroom?
A - Life at Messiah offers students a wide range of activities in which to participate. Opportunities for student involvement include areas as diverse as: academic clubs, leadership groups, media, campus-wide activities, music, theatre, special-interests, ministry, service, and worship. This is a condensed list of clubs and organizations for student involvement. For more detailed information, see the complete list of student organizations.
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Q - Does Messiah hold regular chapel services?
A - Yes. Messiah's student body gathers together on Tuesday and Thursday mornings to attend chapel services. Chapel at Messiah College is a central expression of our identity as a community of Christians with a deep commitment to spiritual growth and academic excellence.
In chapel we seek to nurture holistic Christian faith through:
- worship that expresses our faith
with a full range of contemporary
and traditional form
- teaching that connects God's Word and our world
- community building that affirms our common identity in Christ and celebrates our diversity
Q - Does Messiah have chapel attendance requirements?
A - Yes. Each student is required to attend 24 chapels per semester. Twelve of the chapels attended must be Common Chapels held in Brubaker Auditorium; the remainder may be Elective or Alternate chapels. Students record their chapel attendance electronically with student I.D. cards.
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Q - What opportunities are available for ministry?
A - Messiah's student body donated more than 70,000 hours to local mission projects and community service during the 2005-2006 academic year. During summer or spring break, on the weekends or in their spare time, Messiah students find ways to serve.
A number of students travel overseas on short-term missions projects. Some students work with inner-city shelters and youth programs. Others volunteer with crisis pregnancy centers, social service agencies, and rehabilitation facilities. Still others build houses with Messiah's chapter of Habitat for Humanity. These and other service projects, locally and abroad, are frequently related to particular courses in Messiah's service-learning program.
Student musicians tour with the College's music ministry teams. Dancers minister through Acclamation, Messiah's touring dance ensemble. We even have a puppet ministry and "Klowns for the Kingdom," a traveling clown troupe. And each year more than 1,000 students, staff, and faculty volunteer at the Special Olympics, which the College hosts every spring.
For more service opportunities see The Agape Center web site.
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Q - What Bible study opportunities are available to students?
A - Messiah's Life Group program sponsors student-led Bible study on each residence hall floor on campus. Students meet together once a week to worship, pray, and study as a small groups. Find out more details on our Life Groups here.
Q - Are students required to attend a local church on Sunday?
A - While Messiah College does not require students to attend church on Sunday mornings, it is strongly encouraged that students do attend services. Students are encouraged to find a congregation in the community that they feel comfortable attending. Transportation opportunities are listed for current students to attend various churches for worship on the College Ministries web site.
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Q - Is there a Sunday morning service on campus?
A - The College does not hold services on campus on Sunday morning. Students are encouraged to attend congregations in the surrounding community. Many of the local congregations send either buses or vans to campus to pickup students for Sunday services.
Q - What options are available to visit campus?
A - Students are welcome to arrange visits individually or at one of our scheduled Open Houses throughout the year.
Q - What happens at a campus visit?
A - Generally an individual campus visit begins with a tour of our gorgeous 400 acre campus. The tour takes about an hour and includes stops at a residence hall, academic buildings, the library, the student union, indoor athletic facilities, the fine arts center, and more. After the tour, enjoy the opportunity to meet with an Admissions Counselor to talk with you about life after high school. Find out how your interests and Messiah College can merge in a dynamic way. You can share your accomplishments and dreams, discuss the application process, find out how to finance a college education, and learn more about Messiah's diverse curricular and co-curricular offerings.
Open Houses are festive experiences for the entire family! Small and large group activities are offered to introduce the wide variety of educational opportunities available to students. Parents and siblings are encouraged to attend. Other highlights include campus tours and information sessions on admissions policies, financial aid, academic programs, and campus life.
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Q - Can I stay over night with a student host?
A - Absolutely! There is nothing like experiencing Messiah first hand then by being hosted by one of our Messiah College student hosts! We can arrange an overnight stay in conjunction with an individual or Open House visit. We do ask for at least a two-week notice to arrange overnight accommodations.
Q - Can I sit in on a class or meet with a professor?
A - When making an individual visit, all attempts will be made for prospective students to sit in on a class of their choice, or meet with a faculty member in their area of interest. However sometimes during testing periods or breaks visitors might not be able to experience a class.
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