Admissions FAQs

Q - What is Messiah’s campus like?
A - Messiah College is located in the rolling hills of south-central Pennsylvania, minutes from the state capital of Harrisburg. The campus is surrounded by the Yellow Breeches Creek, a wooded nature trail and has its very own covered bridge. A smaller, self-contained and bicycle friendly campus, students can walk from one side of campus to the other in 10 minutes.

Q - How many students are enrolled at Messiah College?
A - Messiah enrolls approximately 2,800 undergraduate students each year.

Q- What is Messiah’s acceptance rate?
A - Approximately 65% for first-year students.

Q- What is the male to female ratio?
A - 39% Male / 61% Female

Q- What are the guidelines for Messiah student conduct?
A - The Community Covenant fully outlines expectations for students. Messiah’s campus is an alcohol, tobacco and drug free environment. There are more specific rules for living in on-campus housing, which you can find in the Student Handbook.

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.

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 is 83.2%. The four year graduation rate is 70.3% and the six year graduation rate is 74.1%.

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.

Q - What is the Messiah College mascot?
A - The Falcon

Q - What are the School Colors?
A - Navy Blue and White