Messiah University vs Union University
Messiah University and Union University, both esteemed private institutions, offer distinct educational experiences. Messiah, rooted in Christian faith, boasts a lower acceptance rate (69%) compared to Union's (84%). Messiah's student body is predominantly White (79%), while Union's is more diverse (59% White). Both universities excel in certain disciplines: Messiah in Nursing and Union in Engineering. While Messiah graduates 75% of its students within four years, Union's four-year graduation rate stands at 63%. Explore the detailed comparison table to discover more about these universities' unique offerings and make an informed decision that aligns with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
|
![]() Messiah University |
![]() Union University |
---|---|---|
Overview |
||
Location | Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania | Jackson, Tennessee |
Campus setting | Suburb: Large | City: Small |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Semester | 4-1-4 |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 85.0% | 87.0% |
![]() |
Yes | No |
Religious affiliation | Interdenominational | Baptist |
|
||
Admission |
||
Acceptance rate | 77.4% | 52.9% |
Application fees | $50 |
Undergraduate:
$35
Graduate:
$25
|
SAT range | 1100 - 1340 | 1120 - 1330 |
ACT range | 23 - 31 | 23 - 30 |
Students submitting SAT score | 57.0% | 14.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 11.0% | 86.0% |
Total number of applicants | 2,458 | 2,660 |
Total number of admissions given out | 1,902 | 1,407 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 551 | 355 |
Yield rate | 29.0% | 25.2% |
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 | $54,340 | $57,160 |
Average net price | $23,895 | $27,660 |
Tuition | $37,430 | $34,320 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$5,970
Meal plan:
$5,250
|
Room/dormitory:
$8,250
Meal plan:
$3,800
|
Available payment plans |
|
|
|
||
Financial Aid |
||
Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
100.0%
Average amount $26,620 |
99.0%
Average amount $27,090 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
65.0%
Average amount $5,510 |
48.0%
Average amount $5,366 |
Students taking out private loans |
24.0%
Average amount $11,228 |
6.0%
Average amount $10,345 |
|
||
Students and Campus |
||
Undergraduate students |
2,495
Men 39.0% Women 61.0% |
1,993
Men 34.9% Women 65.1% |
Graduate students |
781
Men 28.6% Women 71.4% |
937
Men 29.5% Women 70.5% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
|
Low
|
Out-of-state students | 34.6% | N/A |
International students | 2.8% | 1.6% |
Campus local/setting | Suburb: Large | City: Small |
Dormitory capacity | 2,403 | 1,288 |
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 |
|
|
Students to faculty ratio | 12:1 | 9:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Middle States Commission on Higher Education | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
|
||
Outcome |
||
Graduation rate | 77.0% | 68.3% |
Dropout rate | 4.8% | 8.5% |
Transferred out | 18.3% | 22.9% |
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)
|
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctoral Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (First Professional Degrees)
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other (Bachelor's Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
Education, General (Master's Degrees)
Social Work (Master's Degrees)
|
Compare Similar Colleges
The list of suggested college comparisons provided below is generated automatically by our system, utilizing
statistics gathered from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and various online sources. If you
don't find the colleges you wish to compare, please visit our comparison page.
There, you can search for the
specific colleges and initiate your comparison.






































































































































































































































































































































