Messiah University vs Saint Peter's University
Messiah University and Saint Peter's University, both esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. Messiah University, a private Christian university in Grantham, Pennsylvania, boasts a lower acceptance rate (75%) compared to Saint Peter's University's 85% in Jersey City, New Jersey. Messiah's student body is predominantly White (79%) and female (59%), while Saint Peter's student body is more diverse, with a higher percentage of Hispanic (38%) and male (53%) students. Messiah excels in popular majors like Business, Education, and Health Professions, while Saint Peter's is known for its strengths in Business, Nursing, and Liberal Arts. With a higher graduation rate (73%) compared to Saint Peter's 62%, Messiah University may be a better choice for students seeking a higher chance of completing their degree. Explore the detailed comparison table to discover more key differences and make an informed decision about your academic journey
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![]() Messiah University |
![]() Saint Peter's University |
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Overview |
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Location | Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania | Jersey City, New Jersey |
Campus setting | Suburb: Large | City: 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 | 85.0% | 77.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | Interdenominational | Catholic |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 77.4% | 92.8% |
Application fees | $50 | |
SAT range | 1100 - 1340 | 970 - 1150 |
ACT range | 23 - 31 | 17 - 28 |
Students submitting SAT score | 57.0% | 23.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 11.0% | 3.0% |
Total number of applicants | 2,458 | 2,627 |
Total number of admissions given out | 1,902 | 2,439 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 551 | 402 |
Yield rate | 29.0% | 16.5% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Not required | 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 | $54,340 | $50,160 |
Average net price | $23,895 | $12,937 |
Tuition | $37,430 | $37,660 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$5,970
Meal plan:
$5,250
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Room/dormitory:
$10,200
Meal plan:
$6,100
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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 $26,620 |
100.0%
Average amount $33,992 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
65.0%
Average amount $5,510 |
40.0%
Average amount $4,914 |
Students taking out private loans |
24.0%
Average amount $11,228 |
3.0%
Average amount $11,722 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
2,495
Men 39.0% Women 61.0% |
2,134
Men 37.3% Women 62.7% |
Graduate students |
781
Men 28.6% Women 71.4% |
875
Men 45.9% Women 54.1% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
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Moderate
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Out-of-state students | 34.6% | 9.0% |
International students | 2.8% | 14.4% |
Campus local/setting | Suburb: Large | City: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 2,403 | 615 |
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 | New Jersey New York California Connecticut Maryland |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 12:1 | 11:1 |
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 | 77.0% | 58.4% |
Dropout rate | 4.8% | 41.0% |
Transferred out | 18.3% | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
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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Insurance (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
Student Counseling and Personnel Services (Master's Degrees)
Education, General (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Bachelor's Degrees)
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