Butler vs. Messiah University

Butler University and Messiah University side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Butler University
Messiah University

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Messiah University (79% admitted vs 85.1%). Typical SAT 1230 vs 1260.
  • Cheaper after aid: Messiah University. Average net price is $29,408 vs $38,438 at Butler.
  • Graduation: Butler 72% vs Messiah University 74%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Butler $68,400 vs Messiah University $48,600 (median).
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Key differences

Butler University Messiah University
Acceptance rate
Messiah University more selective
Butler85.1%
Messiah University79%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Butler higher
Butler1160-1350
Messiah University1110-1350
Average net price
Messiah University $9,030 less
Butler$38,438
Messiah University$29,408
In-state tuition
Messiah University $5,320 less
Butler$47,560
Messiah University$42,240
Out-of-state tuition
Messiah University $5,320 less
Butler$47,560
Messiah University$42,240
Graduation rate
Messiah University +2 pts
Butler72%
Messiah University74%
Median earnings (10 years)
Butler +$19,800
Butler$68,400
Messiah University$48,600

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Butler 9,471
  • Messiah University 2,458
  • Admitted
  • Butler 8,058
  • Messiah University 1,941
  • Acceptance rate
  • Butler 85.1%
  • Messiah University 79%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Butler 12.9%
  • Messiah University 29.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Butler 1260
  • Messiah University 1230
  • Typical ACT score
  • Butler 28
  • Messiah University 28
  • Average high school GPA
  • Butler 3.92
  • Messiah University 3.8
  • Typical high school grades
  • Butler A
  • Messiah University A-
  • Admissions standards
  • Butler Difficult
  • Messiah University Difficult
  • Applicant competition
  • Butler
  • Messiah University
  • SAT range
  • Butler 1160-1350
  • Messiah University 1110-1350
  • ACT range
  • Butler 26-31
  • Messiah University 26-31
  • Submit test scores
  • Butler Test optional
  • Messiah University Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • Butler Aug 1, 2027
  • Messiah University
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Butler $47,560
  • Messiah University $42,240
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Butler $47,560
  • Messiah University $42,240
  • Room & board
  • Butler $16,430
  • Messiah University $13,098
  • Average net price
  • Butler $38,438
  • Messiah University $29,408
  • Average grant aid
  • Butler $27,790
  • Messiah University $26,576
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Butler 97%
  • Messiah University 100%
  • Graduation rate
  • Butler 72%
  • Messiah University 74%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Butler $68,400
  • Messiah University $48,600
  • Making student loan payments
  • Butler 84%
  • Messiah University 85%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Butler $27,000
  • Messiah University $25,989
  • Median loan payment
  • Butler $279
  • Messiah University $268
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Butler 11:1
  • Messiah University 12:1
  • Popular majors
  • Butler
    • Business (17%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Communication (9%)
  • Messiah University
    • Education (19%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Health Professions (10%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • Biology (6%)
  • Location
  • Butler Indianapolis, IN
  • Messiah University Mechanicsburg, PA
  • Setting
  • Butler Large City
  • Messiah University Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Butler 5,746
  • Messiah University 3,373
  • Type
  • Butler Private 4 Year
  • Messiah University Private 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Butler #209
  • Messiah University #338

Comparable Facts

Compare Butler University in Indianapolis, IN with Messiah University in Mechanicsburg, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Butler University is larger than Messiah University based on total student enrollment (5,746 students vs. 3,373 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Butler University is located in Indianapolis, IN (Large City setting); Messiah University is in Mechanicsburg, PA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Butler University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Messiah University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Butler University 11:1; Messiah University 12:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Messiah University are 20.3% lower than at Butler University ($13,098 vs. $16,430).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 12.6% higher at Butler than at Messiah University (about $5,320 more per year; $47,560 vs. $42,240).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Messiah University than at Butler University (100% vs. 97%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Butler University students is 4.6% larger than aid received by Messiah University students ($27,790 vs. $26,576).

Admissions details

  • Incoming Butler students have the same typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate; 28) as students at Messiah University (28).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Butler and Messiah University.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Butler Aug 1, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Butler average a 3.92 high school GPA, 0.12 higher than at Messiah University (3.8).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.9% at Butler vs. 29.1% at Messiah University.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Messiah University graduates have a $1,011 lower median loan debt than Butler graduates ($25,989 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Messiah University graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Butler graduates ($268 vs. $279).
  • More Messiah University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Butler students, three years after graduation (85% vs. 84%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

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