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Messiah University
Mechanicsburg, PA 2,318 Undergrads 77.1% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$53,939
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$27,686
After Aid
Median Earnings
$54,064
10yr Post-Entry
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$27,686
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$54,064
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate77.1%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients19.8%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time97.2%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS77.6%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
78.5%
SAT Avg
1,214
SAT Reading
25th: 56061575th: 670
SAT Math
25th: 54060575th: 670
ACT Composite
25th: 222775th: 30
ROI Sensitivity Analysis
This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.
Lifetime Value Added (NPV)
Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$470k
+$74k
-$14k
Median Cost$28k/yr
+$370k
-$26k
-$114k
Full Cost$54k/yr
+$276k
-$121k
-$208k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$28k/yr
Never
-114%
Full Cost$54k/yr
Never
-107%
Analysis Assumptions:
- Starting Salary: Estimated from the 10-year median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).
- Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
- Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
- NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.
Social Impact ROINew
Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.
Donor Return-104%
Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.
Taxpayer Return-90%
Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator with your specific estimates of cost and salary.
Program ROI Analysis
Bachelor's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$23,125
Earnings (5yr)
$80,555
Lifetime Value Added
+$98k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$68,760
Lifetime Value Added
+$10k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$23,073
Earnings (5yr)
$65,508
Lifetime Value Added
-$15k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$44,343
Lifetime Value Added
-$186k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$51,273
Lifetime Value Added
-$103k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$31,581
Lifetime Value Added
-$277k
Engineering, General
BachCIP: 1401
Median Debt
$24,750
Earnings (5yr)
$74,795
Lifetime Value Added
+$55k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$25,250
Earnings (5yr)
$46,412
Lifetime Value Added
-$168k
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
BachCIP: 5006
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$16,663
Lifetime Value Added
-$415k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$42,792
Lifetime Value Added
-$199k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$36,326
Lifetime Value Added
-$253k
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General
BachCIP: 5100
Median Debt
$23,013
Earnings (5yr)
$49,309
Lifetime Value Added
-$144k
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
BachCIP: 1907
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$37,003
Lifetime Value Added
-$248k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$65,142
Lifetime Value Added
-$18k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$25,500
Earnings (5yr)
$48,205
Lifetime Value Added
-$153k
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication
BachCIP: 0907
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$36,795
Lifetime Value Added
-$249k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$72,328
Lifetime Value Added
+$37k
Religious Education
BachCIP: 3904
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (5yr)
$41,655
Lifetime Value Added
-$208k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$21,052
Lifetime Value Added
-$374k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$49,379
Lifetime Value Added
-$144k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$50,981
Lifetime Value Added
-$131k
Master's Degrees
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$37,568
Lifetime Value Added
-$148k
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other
MastCIP: 5199
Median Debt
$49,107
Earnings (5yr)
$57,732
Lifetime Value Added
+$21k
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$21,472
Earnings (2yr)
$55,693
Lifetime Value Added
+$34k
Graduate Certificates
Education, General
Gr-CertCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$46,413
Lifetime Value Added
-$20k
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other
Gr-CertCIP: 5199
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$57,318
Lifetime Value Added
+$126k
Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate, accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.
For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results should not be compared with those Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors starting at age 18.