Messiah College
Grantham, PA 17027 Telephone: (717) 691-6000 Fax: (717) 796-5374 www.messiah.edu
ENROLLMENT
Undergraduate:
2,625
Full-time undergraduate
men:
1,016
Part-time undergraduate men:
19
Part-time undergraduate women:
53
ADMISSION PROFILE
Student Admission Profile: Number who applied:
1,814
Number accepted:
1,620
Number enrolled:
763
Average SAT verbal scores: 579
Average SAT math scores: 575
Average ACT score:
25
Average HS GPA:
3.58
Freshman Retention Rate:
84%
COSTS:
Tuition:
$23,880
Room and Board:
$3,785-$3,790
FACULTY:
Full-time:
140
Faculty with highest terminal degree:
75%
Student-faculty ratio:
15:1
Messiah College
Grantham, PA 17027
College Description
Messiah College was established in 1909 as a school of the Brethren in Christ Church. Ownership by the Church was replaced in 1972 by a covenant relationship which placed legal responsibility for the College with a self-perpetuating Board of Trustees.
By 1921 Messiah College had become a junior college. Following accreditation in 1963, the College significantly increased the number of majors offered in the liberal arts and introduced degree programs in applied areas. From a first-year total of 38 students, the student body has grown to more than 2600, representing over 60 denominations. Facilities have also increased from one building-Old Main-to a campus of 350 acres. In 1968 Messiah College opened its Philadelphia Campus in collaboration with Temple University. The College is presently under the leadership of Rodney J. Sawatsky, president since 1994.
Messiah College is committed to an embracing evangelical spirit rooted in the Anabaptist, Pietist and Wesleyan traditions of the Christian Church. 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.
Academic Life
The College enrolls over 2500 full time students; approximately 60 percent are women, and nearly 6 percent represent ethnic minorities. Virtually all students are of traditional college age, and 90 percent live in college residences. More than 50 percent of the students come from 40 states outside Pennsylvania and several foreign countries.
Academic Features & Departments: Behavioral Science, Biblical Studies, Education, Engineering, Health, Physical Education, & Recreation History & Political Science, Language, Literature, & Communication, Management & Business, Mathematical Sciences, Music, Natural Sciences, Nursing, Visual and Theatrical Arts.
Since 1963 the College has been accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. Academic programs in engineering, dietetics, nursing, athletic training, music, social work, and education are each accredited by the appropriate professional associations.
Off Campus Experiences: American Studies Program, Au Sable Institute, Brethren Colleges Abroad, CASAS, China Studies Program, Cross-cultural Courses, Daystar University College, Educational Programs Abroad, Global Stewardship Study Program, International Business Institute, Internships, January Exchange Program, Jerusalem University College, Latin American Studies Program, Los Angeles Film Studies Center, Messiah Summer Missions, Middle East Studies Program, Oregon Extension, Oxford Summer School, Oxford Honors Program, Philadelphia Campus, Russian Studies Program, Service-Learning, Spring Break Service Projects, Student Visitor Program, and the Volunteer Center. Cultural Series and Lyceum Speakers: Messiah College presents four outstanding musical performances each year for the Cultural Series, and four lectures from nationally known speakers from many different professions for the Susquehanna Valley Lyceum. Issachar's Loft: This is a joint project of the College Ministries and Student Life offices in partnership with the Coalition for Christian Outreach, designed to encourage and enhance your spiritual and leadership development. Discipleship/Life Groups: Small groups are organized in each of the residence halls and apartments for fellowship, accountability, prayer, and Bible study.
Campus Life & Activities
Student Organizations and Clubs: Academic: Administrative Management Society, Alpha Upsilon (National English Honor Society), Dietetics Association, Health and Fitness Education Association, Legal Awareness Society, Med-Aware Club, Messiah College Society of Engineers, Music Educators National Conference, Nursing Students Association. Athletic: Men's Volleyball, recreational sports, Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Ministry: Outreach Board (over 30 teams), World Christian Fellowship, Mentoring and Small Group Program. Musical: Brass Ensemble, Concert Choir, Choral Arts Society, Handbell Choir, two Jazz Ensembles, Symphonic Winds, Small Ensembles Messiah College has no Fraternities or Sororities. The College offers both traditional residences and apartment-style residences on campus. Staffed by trained professional Residence Directors and student Residence Assistants, these facilities provide an environment which fosters personal growth and responsibility, as students practice living in Christian community. The Grantham campus features eight traditional residences, four apartment-style residences, and several smaller satellite buildings which may be used as student residences.
Diversity
At Messiah College we believe that having a diverse campus allows us to learn from each other as we share our Christian values, differing perspectives, and customs and life experiences. It also helps prepare students to learn in order to better serve God and others. We expose our students to multiple views and perspectives to enable them to respond with maturity to the complexities of the contemporary world. We embrace liberal learning, believing that all truth is God's truth — revealed by God, to be understood and applied by each of us. Every person is to be respected and valued regardless of gender, race, nationality, status, or position, because each person is created in the image of God. So, whatever our students' racial/ethnic heritage, Messiah has programs to help them find their niche on campus.
Facilities and Resources
Academic Facilities: Kline Hall provides space for general purpose classrooms, science and nursing labs, faculty offices, and computer laboratories. Climenhaga Fine Arts Center contains a large lecture hall/theater, a recital hall, instrumental rehearsal hall, music practice rooms, art studios and gallery, theater work space, faculty offices, and general classrooms. Frey Hall includes classrooms, lecture halls, art studios, computer labs, engineering and physics labs, and faculty offices. Jordan Science Center and Oakes Museum of Natural History will open in 1999. This will provide technologically advanced science laboratories and equipment, faculty offices, and classrooms. The Museum will showcase the College's treasury of large mammal, insect, seashell, and bird egg collections. Hoffman Hall provides office space for some faculty members. Old Main houses most of the administrative offices and a large number of faculty offices.
Sports/Varsity Athletics
Sollenberger Sports Center. This complex houses four racquetball courts, a large arena with four basketball courts, an indoor track, a natatorium, classrooms, faculty offices, locker rooms, and wrestling and gymnastics areas. Eisenhower Campus Center provides space for most indoor intercollegiate contests, and houses a weight room and sports medicine laboratory. Starry Athletic Complex includes an artificial turf field for field hockey and lacrosse, a lighted soccer stadium, an all-weather metric track, ten tennis courts, a baseball field, a softball field, and practice field space.
Recreational Sports - Groups of students and individuals participate in recreational tournaments in games such as soccer, flag football, volleyball, basketball, tennis, badminton, ping-pong, bowling, archery, racquetball, and ultimate frisbee. Intercollegiate Sports. A member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III, Messiah College fields 18 teams that compete within the Middle Atlantic Conference. Men participate in cross country, soccer, basketball, wrestling, baseball, tennis, golf, lacrosse, and track and field. Women participate in cross country, field hockey, soccer, volleyball, basketball, tennis, softball, lacrosse, and track and field.
Recreation - Messiah's campus provides opportunities for many outdoor activities, including hiking, canoeing, fishing, and birdwatching. Indoors, a bowling alley and game room in the Campus Center supplement the Sollenberger Sports Center's indoor pool, racquetball and basketball courts, and track. During the winter, the surrounding community offers skiing.
Financial Aid
After the student's financial aid is determined, the college financial aid administrator will begin to put together a financial aid "package". Each student's financial situation is different, so each financial aid award is unique. A financial aid package will include one or more types of financial aid. The most common types of financial aid include: Scholarships (based on financial need, academic achievement, and/or affiliations); Grants (based on financial need); Discounts (dependents of faculty/staff, multiple family members attending Messiah); Loans (based on financial need); Work Study (based on financial need). Applications for financial aid should be submitted by March 1 preceding the academic year for which financial aid is sought.
Admission Requirements
Students who are interested in learning at a Christian college of the liberal and applied arts and sciences are invited to apply for admission to Messiah College. Application forms and supporting materials may be requested from the Admissions Office. These are also available online at www.messiah.edu. The Admissions Office evaluates applications based on each student's preparation for college-level courses, relative strength of the academic program, Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) or American College Test (ACT) scores, application essay, and program of study desired. Written recommendations are important as are a student's achievements in cocurricular activities. The Admissions Committee seeks to admit those candidates who have exhibited scholastic competence and excellence as well as those who are most likely to benefit from and contribute to the Messiah College Community. Students may submit applications after July 1 of their junior year in high school. High school graduates should submit their applications well in advance of the college semester for which they wish to enroll. Messiah College operates a rolling admission policy. Applications are reviewed and acted upon as soon as all application materials are received from the individual. Messiah College does NOT require a personal interview for admission. There may be an interview for admission into certain academic departments. On occasion, the Admissions Office may request an interview in order to clarify personal or academic issues pertaining to a student's application for admission.
