Messiah College - Admission Requirements, SAT, ACT, GPA and chance of acceptance

Your chances of getting into Messiah College

Admission Rate & Difficulty

Percent Admitted

78.5%

Admission Difficulty for Messiah College
Measure	Difficulty
Admission Standards		Difficult
Applicant Competition		Very Low

Acceptance Rate

The acceptance rate at Messiah College is 78.5%. Its admission rate is the 51st lowest in Pennsylvania.

Admission Selectivity

How hard is it to get into Messiah College and can you get accepted?

Messiah College is an easy school to get into and you have a very good chance of acceptance if you meet the admission criteria. Last year, 1,864 out of the 2,375 who applied were admitted.

Messiah College typically accepts and attracts "A-" average high school students with an average GPA around 3.8. Most incoming freshmen graduate in the top quarter of their high school class. 32% of those admitted chose to enroll in the school.

Can you get into Messiah College?

78% are accepted, can you get in? Use the admission calculator to see if you have the grades and test scores needed to get in. See your admission chances based on your extracurriculars, intended major, background, and more.

Admission Requirements in Brief

To have the best chance of getting into to Messiah College you should:

Have a high school GPA of 3.8 or better
Earn A- grades in high school
Score 1220 on the SAT
Score 26 on the ACT
Graduate in the top 25% of your high school class

Messiah College GPA

GPA Requirements & Average GPA

Avg. High School GPA

3.8

Typical High School Grades

A-

What GPA do you need to get into Messiah College?

GPA Requirements

The GPA requirements for getting into Messiah College are to have around a 3.8 high school GPA. You are required to have exceptionally good grades and you should be graduating near the top of your class.

If your high school grades are above the average 3.8 GPA, you have a very good chance of being admitted as Messiah College accepts 78% of applicants.

Average GPA

The average unweighted GPA at Messiah College is 3.8 on the 4.0 scale. 54% of students who get in have perfect 4.0 GPA's in high school. To achieve the average GPA for admission, you need to earn A- letter grades and regularly score around 90-92 percent on tests and assignments in high school. The school ranks #11 in Pennsylvania for highest average GPA.

Importance of GPA

Since Messiah College is a test optional college, extra focus will be placed on your GPA when the school considers your application. As a result, it is very important that you meet the GPA requirements.

See additional colleges accepting applicants in the 3.8 GPA range.

Competitiveness by GPA Ranges

The table below outlines the number of admitted freshmen by GPA range as well as how competitive your GPA will be as compared with other applicants.

High School GPA's for admitted Messiah College students
High School GPA	Freshmen Within Range	Competitiveness
4.0	54.0%	Avg +
3.75 to 3.99	18.0%	Avg
3.50 to 3.74	13.0%	Reach
3.25 to 3.49	7.0%	Reach
3.00 to 3.24	4.0%	Reach
2.50 to 2.99	3.0%	Reach
2.00 to 2.49	1.0%	Low
1.00 to 1.99	0%	Low
less than 1.00	0%	Low

What do these chances mean?

GPA Data Source, Peterson's Data 2024

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Messiah College SAT Scores

Testing Requirements

Submission of SAT or ACT scores is not required for admission to Messiah College. If you optionally submit test scores, they will be considered with your application, but they are not mandatory. 56% of students submitted SAT scores and 6% submitted ACT scores for admission for the most recent academic year..

SAT Requirements & Average SAT Score

SAT Range

1100-1340

Applicants Submitting SAT

56%

SAT Scores for Messiah College
SAT Test	25th Percentile Score
Reading 25th Percentile	560
Math 25th Percentile	540
Composite 25th Percentile	1100

SAT Scores for Messiah College
SAT Test	75th Percentile Score
Reading 75th Percentile	670
Math 75th Percentile	670
Composite 75th Percentile	1340
Average SAT Score	1220

SAT Scores you need to get in

What are the SAT requirements for you to be admitted to Messiah College?

Average Score & Range

The average SAT score at Messiah College is 1220 out of 1600 and the range for the middle 50% of accepted students is 1100-1340. Students who get into Messiah College score in the top 41 percent of all SAT test takers.. Messiah College ranks #26 in the state of Pennsylvania for highest average SAT composite score.

Score for Acceptance

You should target scoring 1220 or above to be most competitive with other applicants. Messiah College regularly admits students with SAT scores down to 1100 on a 1600 scale. However, three quarter of admitted students score higher. If you score below a 1100, admission should be considered a reach. Some students may be accepted with minimum SAT's as low as 980, but scores this low are outside the normal range.

Score Submission Requirements

Messiah College is a test optional school meaning do not have to submit SAT scores with your application. The position on SAT scores from the college is "not required for admission, but considered if submitted (test optional)".

View other colleges which accept students in the 1220 SAT score range.

Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2023 starting class

Chance of Acceptance by SAT Score

The table below outlines your predicted admission chances based on SAT score alone. If you are an average applicant with a score of 1220, you have around a 78% chance of being admitted. A 1340 places you well ahead of most other applicants and gives you about a 87% chance of getting in.

Messiah College admission chances by SAT score
SAT Score (1600 scale)	Competitiveness	Admission Chances
1340 and Above	Good	>87%
1220 to 1340	Avg +	78%-87%
1100 to 1220	Avg -	65%-78%
980 to 1100	Reach	50%-65%
Less than 980	Low	<50%

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Messiah College ACT Scores

ACT Requirements & Average ACT Score

ACT Range

22-30

Applicants Submitting ACT

ACT Scores for Messiah College
ACT Test	25th Percentile Score
Reading 25th Percentile	22
Math 25th Percentile	21
Composite 25th Percentile	22

ACT Scores for Messiah College
ACT Test	75th Percentile Score
Reading 75th Percentile	30
Math 75th Percentile	29
Composite 75th Percentile	30
Average ACT Score	26

ACT Scores needed to get accepted

What are the ACT requirements for students to get into Messiah College?

Score Range

The average ACT score for admitted students to Messiah College is 26, while the middle 50% of students (25th to 75th percentile) score between a 22 and 30. The school ranks #30 in Pennsylvania for highest average ACT composite score.

Score for Acceptance

For the best chance of admission, you should have an ACT of 26. This will place you in solid competition against other applicants. At a minimum, you should aim for a 22 and score in the score in the top 37 percent nationally. The lowest ACT score likely to be admitted is a 18.

6 percent of applicants submit ACT scores to Messiah College.

Score Submission Requirements

You do not have to to submit ACT scores with your application as Messiah College is test optional. The policy from the school on ACT scores is "not required for admission, but considered if submitted (test optional)".

Find other colleges with similar ACT score requirements

Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2023 starting class

Chance of Acceptance by ACT Score

Here are your predicted chances of getting into Messiah College for different ACT score ranges. A typical applicant with a 26 score has around 78% chance of getting in. Your odds increase to about 87% with a 30 ACT score.

Messiah College admission chances by ACT score
ACT Score	Competitiveness	Admission Chances
30 and Above	Good	>87%
26 to 30	Avg +	78%-87%
22 to 26	Avg -	65%-78%
18 to 22	Reach	50%-65%
Less than 18	Low	<50%

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High School Class Rank

64% of Messiah College freshman are in the top twenty five percent of their high school graduating class and 33% are in the top ten percent.

High School Class Rank for admitted Messiah College students
High School Class Rank	Freshmen Within Range
Top 10% of class	33%
Top 25% of class	64%
Top 50% of class	86%

Data Source, Peterson's Data

Applying

Admission Statistics

Admission and enrollment rates by gender are detailed the the table below.

Messiah College admission statistics
	Women	Men	Total
Applied	1,386	989	2,375
Accepted	1,093	771	1,864
Acceptance Rate	79%	78%	78%
Enrolled	346	250	596
Percent of Admitted Who Enrolled (Admission Yield)	32%	32%	32%

Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2023 starting class

Application Fee

The cost for prospective students to apply to Messiah College is $50.

Application Requirements

What are the requirements for admission to Messiah College and what student information is used for admission decisions?

Messiah College Application Requirements
Test Scores	Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
High School GPA	Required to be considered for admission
High School Class Rank	Not required for admission, but considered if submitted
Completion of College Preparatory Program	Required to be considered for admission
Recommendations	Not required for admission, but considered if submitted
Demonstration of Competencies	Not considered for admission, even if submitted

Credits Accepted

High School Credits Accepted at Messiah College
AP Credit	Yes
Dual Credit	Yes
Credit for Life Experiences	No

Admission Requirements Summary

Because Messiah College is lightly competitive to get into, you have a very good chance of acceptance with the right GPA and test scores. If you have a 3.8 GPA, you are almost certain to getting in. Combining this with an SAT score of 1220 and ACT of 26 will almost guarantee your admission.