Messiah University vs Lenoir-Rhyne University

Messiah University and Lenoir-Rhyne University, both esteemed private institutions, offer distinct educational experiences. Messiah, rooted in Christian faith, boasts a higher acceptance rate (78%) compared to Lenoir-Rhyne's selective admissions (68%). Messiah's student body is predominantly White (79%) and female (59%), while Lenoir-Rhyne's student population is more diverse, with a higher percentage of male students (53%) and a larger international student body (4%). Both universities excel in certain academic areas: Messiah is known for its strong programs in nursing, business, and education, while Lenoir-Rhyne shines in communication, business, and exercise science. With comparable graduation rates, both institutions ensure their students are well-prepared for their careers. Explore the detailed comparison table to discover more about these universities and make an informed decision that aligns with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.

	Lenoir-Rhyne University	Messiah University
Overview
Location	Hickory, North Carolina	Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
Campus setting	City: Small	Suburb: Large
College type	4 year	4 year
Control/business model	Private (Non Profit)	Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system	Semester	Semester
Degrees offered	Undergraduate and Graduate	Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate	62.0%	85.0%
Common app member	Yes	Yes
Religious affiliation	Evangelical	Interdenominational

Admission
Acceptance rate	85.7%	77.4%
Application fees	Undergraduate: $35 Graduate: $35	$50
SAT range	N/A	1100 - 1340
ACT range	N/A	23 - 31
Students submitting SAT score		57.0%
Students submitting ACT score		11.0%
Total number of applicants	4,847	2,458
Total number of admissions given out	4,155	1,902
Admitted students who chose to enroll	382	551
Yield rate	9.2%	29.0%
Test scores (SAT/ACT)	N/A	N/A
High school GPA	Required	Required
Recommendation letters	Not required	Not required
High school transcript	Not required	Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL)	Required	Required

Tuition and Fees
Sticker price	$58,910	$54,340
Average net price	$21,739	$23,895
Tuition	$41,500	$37,430
Room & board	$12,800	Room/dormitory: $5,970 Meal plan: $5,250
Available payment plans	Tuition payment plan	Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid
Students receiving financial aid (Grants & scholarships)	100.0% Average amount $32,070	100.0% Average amount $26,620
Students receiving federal student loan	70.0% Average amount $5,253	65.0% Average amount $5,510
Students taking out private loans	9.0% Average amount $13,819	24.0% Average amount $11,228

Students and Campus
Undergraduate students	1,579 Men 42.2% Women 57.8%	2,495 Men 39.0% Women 61.0%
Graduate students	826 Men 25.8% Women 74.2%	781 Men 28.6% Women 71.4%
Racial/ethnic diversity	Low	Low
Out-of-state students	17.4%	34.6%
International students	4.4%	2.8%
Campus local/setting	City: Small	Suburb: Large
Dormitory capacity	1,039	2,403
First year students are required to live on campus?	No	No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from	North Carolina South Carolina Georgia Florida Virginia	Pennsylvania Maryland New Jersey New York Delaware

Academics
Popular study areas	Health Professions Business Education Kinesiology & Leisure Studies Public Administration and Social Service	Health Professions Education Business Visual & Performing Arts Engineering
Students to faculty ratio	12:1	12:1
Institutional accreditation	Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges	Middle States Commission on Higher Education

Outcome
Graduation rate	48.2%	77.0%
Dropout rate	51.6%	4.8%
Transferred out	N/A	18.3%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)	Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $64,504 Year 2: $66,236 Year 3: $65,004 Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $56,396 Year 2: $48,265 Year 3: $56,352 Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $47,513 Year 2: $48,849 Year 3: $54,337 Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $37,847 Year 2: $37,928 Year 3: $43,319 Student Counseling and Personnel Services (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $41,616 Year 2: $42,235 Year 3: $42,896 Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $23,411 Year 2: $29,374 Year 3: $36,667 Theological and Ministerial Studies (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $63,193 Year 2: N/A Year 3: N/A Human Services, General (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $36,924 Year 2: N/A Year 3: N/A Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $72,965 Year 2: N/A Year 3: N/A Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $68,990 Year 2: N/A Year 3: N/A	Engineering, General (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $57,515 Year 2: $60,623 Year 3: $64,027 Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $56,062 Year 2: $53,608 Year 3: $62,810 Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $62,117 Year 2: $62,546 Year 3: $62,631 Music (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $59,416 Year 2: $55,693 Year 3: $56,809 Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $41,254 Year 2: $49,214 Year 3: $53,924 Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $32,970 Year 2: $37,568 Year 3: $47,853 Marketing (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $37,875 Year 2: $37,054 Year 3: $47,113 Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $41,733 Year 2: $40,621 Year 3: $45,156 Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $43,616 Year 2: $39,523 Year 3: $44,488 Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $42,316 Year 2: $35,594 Year 3: $41,855

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