Messiah College

About Messiah College

Messiah College is a nationally ranked, private Christian college with a student body of 3,305 undergraduate and graduate students. Located in Mechanicsburg, Pa., Messiah is just 12 miles from the state capital, Harrisburg. The College was founded in 1909 by the Brethren in Christ Church. Today, the College’s faith base is broadly evangelical and includes students and employees from a variety of denominations and Christian faith traditions.

Identity statement

Messiah College is a Christian college of the liberal and applied arts and sciences. The College is committed to an embracing evangelical spirit rooted in the Anabaptist, Pietist and Wesleyan traditions of the Christian Church.

Mission statement

Our mission is to educate men and women toward maturity of intellect, character and Christian faith in preparation for lives of service, leadership, and reconciliation in church and society.

Motivated by a common mission

The opening commitment of our mission statement―to develop students’ “maturity of intellect, character and Christian faith”―reflects the integration of our community’s shared faith into every aspect of the Messiah College experience. This holistic educational model was the bold vision of our founder S. R. Smith more than 100 years ago and remains a cornerstone of our identity.

The other core components of Messiah’s mission—service, leadership, and reconciliation—are also firmly rooted in the context of our Christian faith. We don’t just serve because it’s the “right thing to do”; we serve because God calls us to open our hearts to the poor and needy and to work for justice wherever injustice prevails. We learn to lead believing that Jesus is our ultimate example of leading with compassion, respect, and love. And, because of our faith, we are compelled to build bridges of understanding and peace to demonstrate the reconciling love of God to others.

Our campus

Located in suburban, south-central Pennsylvania, Messiah College is nestled on 471 scenic acres. Whether you’re taking a stroll along the picturesque Yellow Breeches creek that runs through campus, listening to a lecture in one of our state-of-the-art academic buildings, watching a soccer game at our outdoor sport complex, hanging out at a concert in our student union, or simply enjoying the beauty of the campus, you’ll be sure to feel at home.

Why will you feel at home?

Because at Messiah, it’s more than a beautiful campus. It’s about hospitality for the whole person. Visiting for your first time? Returning to campus for your senior year? Bringing your grandparents for Grandparent’s Day? No matter what the reason, you’re always greeted by friendly faces and genuinely helpful people who want the best for you.

Creating a passion for community

Our campus is made up of a diverse group of students, staff, and faculty. Though we may all come from different places and backgrounds, we make it a priority to encourage meaningful relationships across our campus community.

While the seven academic buildings, 12 residence halls/apartments, library and many other buildings dedicated to worship, learning and student life make up our physical campus, it is the more than 3,000 students who make Messiah’s campus thrive—with fulfilling friendships, passion for Christ and commitment to academic excellence.

Close to it all

Although you can’t tell by our scenic surroundings—Messiah’s campus is just a short driving distance from nearby metropolitan areas. The downtown restaurants, galleries museums and sports venues of the state capital of Harrisburg are just 15 minutes away. And the busy urban centers of Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington D.C. and New York City are all within a 2-3 hour drive. And when you’ve experienced the opportunities our nearby cities have to offer, we’ll be happy to welcome you back to the activity on our campus!

Scholarships

Messiah College offers several scholarships including the Provost’s and College Honors Programs Scholarships each with different academic requirements and deadlines. We must receive all application materials by January 15th for highest scholarship consideration.

International citizens may be awarded additional financial aid on a case-by-case basis using the information provided on the International Student Scholarship Application (ISSA). The link to the ISSA form is emailed to students along with their admissions decision letter. That means the sooner the admissions process is completed, the sooner students can apply for financial aid and receive a package.

After subtracting academic scholarship and financial aid monies, international students pay between US$20,000-$30,000 each year for four years. The U.S. Embassy will deny student visa requests if the student cannot show supporting financial documents to pay this amount for college expenses. This is a government rule, not college rule.

We can accept your application, official transcript and test score at any time during the year. You must select which term you would be entering. There are two intakes during each academic year - in late August for our Fall term and late January for our Spring term.