Allegheny College vs Messiah University
Allegheny College and Messiah University, both esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. Allegheny, a private liberal arts college, boasts a 68% acceptance rate, while Messiah, a private Christian university, has a slightly lower acceptance rate of 63%. Allegheny's student body is more diverse, with 48% female and 52% male students, while Messiah's student body is predominantly female, at 58%. Both institutions offer a wide range of undergraduate programs, with popular majors at Allegheny including Business, Psychology, and Biology, and popular majors at Messiah including Nursing, Business, and Education. Allegheny's four-year graduation rate stands at 79%, while Messiah's is slightly higher at 82%. To help you make an informed decision about your higher education journey, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison table that delves into these aspects and more. Explore the table to discover which institution aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal
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![]() Allegheny College |
![]() Messiah University |
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Overview |
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Location | Meadville, Pennsylvania | Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania |
Campus setting | Town: Distant | Suburb: Large |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 83.0% | 85.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | Methodism | Interdenominational |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 75.4% | 77.4% |
Application fees | $50 | |
SAT range | 1140 - 1350 | 1100 - 1340 |
ACT range | 23 - 28 | 23 - 31 |
Students submitting SAT score | 28.0% | 57.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 13.0% | 11.0% |
Total number of applicants | 4,667 | 2,458 |
Total number of admissions given out | 3,521 | 1,902 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 408 | 551 |
Yield rate | 11.6% | 29.0% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Not required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $66,950 | $54,340 |
Average net price | $25,419 | $23,895 |
Tuition | $51,910 | $37,430 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$7,080
Meal plan:
$6,340
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Room/dormitory:
$5,970
Meal plan:
$5,250
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
100.0%
Average amount $41,611 |
100.0%
Average amount $26,620 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
61.0%
Average amount $5,664 |
65.0%
Average amount $5,510 |
Students taking out private loans |
16.0%
Average amount $14,227 |
24.0%
Average amount $11,228 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
1,575
Men 46.1% Women 53.9% |
2,495
Men 39.0% Women 61.0% |
Graduate students | N/A |
781
Men 28.6% Women 71.4% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
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Low
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Out-of-state students | 56.2% | 34.6% |
International students | 5.9% | 2.8% |
Campus local/setting | Town: Distant | Suburb: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 1,739 | 2,403 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Pennsylvania New York Ohio California Florida | Pennsylvania Maryland New Jersey New York Delaware |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 9:1 | 12:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Middle States Commission on Higher Education | Middle States Commission on Higher Education |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 74.5% | 77.0% |
Dropout rate | 25.3% | 4.8% |
Transferred out | N/A | 18.3% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Neurobiology and Neurosciences (Bachelor's Degrees)
Natural Resources Conservation and Research (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Engineering, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Music (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
Marketing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other (Master's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Bachelor's Degrees)
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