Messiah University vs Patrick Henry College

Messiah University and Patrick Henry College, both esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. Messiah University, a private Christian university in Grantham, Pennsylvania, boasts a 75% acceptance rate and a diverse student body representing 48 states and 50 countries. With popular majors in nursing, business, and education, Messiah graduates enjoy a 95% placement rate within six months of graduation. On the other hand, Patrick Henry College, a private Christian college in Purcellville, Virginia, has a more selective admissions process with a 48% acceptance rate. Its student body is predominantly from the United States, with popular majors in government, history, and economics. Patrick Henry College prides itself on its 100% job placement rate for graduates. To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison table highlighting key differences between these two exceptional institutions. Explore the table to discover which college aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
Messiah University logo

Messiah University

Patrick Henry College logo

Patrick Henry College

Overview

Location Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania Purcellville, Virginia
Campus setting Suburb: Large Town: Fringe
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
Students retention rate 85.0% 91.0%
Common app member Yes No
Religious affiliation Interdenominational

Admission

Acceptance rate 77.4% 82.4%
Application fees $50 $40
SAT range 1100 - 1340 1170 - 1408
ACT range 23 - 31 27 - 32
Students submitting SAT score 57.0% 67.0%
Students submitting ACT score 11.0% 44.0%
Total number of applicants 2,458 239
Total number of admissions given out 1,902 197
Admitted students who chose to enroll 551 105
Yield rate 29.0% 53.3%
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 Not required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $54,340 $38,325
Average net price $23,895 $25,430
Tuition $37,430 $28,400
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $5,970

Meal plan: $5,250
Room/dormitory: $5,000

Meal plan: $6,020
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

100.0%
Average amount $26,620
95.0%
Average amount $13,947
Students receiving federal student loan 65.0%
Average amount $5,510
0.0%
Average amount $0
Students taking out private loans 24.0%
Average amount $11,228
12.0%
Average amount $20,509

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 2,495
Men 39.0% Women 61.0%
387
Men 50.4% Women 49.6%
Graduate students 781
Men 28.6% Women 71.4%
N/A
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Very Low
Out-of-state students 34.6% N/A
International students 2.8% N/A
Campus local/setting Suburb: Large Town: Fringe
Dormitory capacity 2,403 295
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from Pennsylvania Maryland New Jersey New York Delaware N/A

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Health Professions
  • Education
  • Business
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Engineering
  • Military Technologies
  • Social Sciences
  • Liberal Arts
  • Communication and Journalism
  • English Language and Literature
Students to faculty ratio 12:1 14:1
Institutional accreditation Middle States Commission on Higher Education Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools

Outcome

Graduation rate 77.0% 71.0%
Dropout rate 4.8% 27.5%
Transferred out 18.3% N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
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
N/A

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