About Messiah
Sharpening intellect. Deepening Christian faith. Inspiring action.
Who we are
Messiah University is a nationally ranked, private Christian university with a student body of 3,374 undergraduate and graduate students. Our scenic 471-acre suburban campus is located in central Pennsylvania, just 12 miles from the state capital of Harrisburg. The University was founded in 1909 by the Brethren in Christ Church. Today, the University’s faith base is broadly evangelical and includes students and employees from a variety of denominations and Christian faith traditions.
By the Numbers
Our student body is made up of students from 38 states and 28 countries
747 students served or studied abroad in 38 countries
60 denominations represented in our student body
An authentic faith community
Messiah University is an educational community profoundly committed to worshipping, loving and serving God. The University’s motto, “Christ Preeminent,” points to our community’s full, rich shared understanding of Jesus Christ and how the Christian faith is relevant to every dimension of life. At Messiah we’re committed to personal faith in Christ for the forgiveness of sin and to pursuing the exemplary nature of Christ's life as a model for our own lives. This common Christian conviction shapes every aspect of students’ experiences in the Messiah community.
Mission and Identity
Statements of Faith
Community Covenant
See anew at Messiah University
The heart of “see anew” is the concept of transformation and reconciliation. Our alumni consistently tell us that their experience at Messiah was transforming—that it helped them see themselves, their faith, their career, and the world in exciting new ways. They also share that a Messiah education equipped them to navigate life's tensions and bring together seemingly incompatible people and ideas. We believe that this is exactly what the college years should be like for students, especially a Christ-centered college experience that’s rooted in the transformation we undergo as we follow Jesus together.
Faith-intellect
Discipline-imagination
Harmony-difference
Wisdom-expertise
Worship-service
