Messiah vs Rider
Side by side: Mass and confession times, faith grades, academics, cost after aid and outcomes.
Messiah UniversityMechanicsburg, PACatholic life on campusRider UniversityLawrenceville, NJCatholic life on campus
At a glance
- Rider lists Mass every weekday.
- Messiah has the higher graduation rate: 75% against 61% at Rider.
- For families earning up to $30,000, Rider has the lower price after aid: $15,824 a year, against $19,393 at Messiah.
- Median earnings ten years after entry are higher at Rider: $62,208, against $54,064 at Messiah.
Catholic life
Mass times
Every weekday
Confession times
Once a week
Eucharistic adoration
3 times a week
Campus ministry
1 listed
2 listed
The college
Control
Private nonprofit
Private nonprofit
Location
Mechanicsburg, PA
Lawrenceville, NJ
Setting
Suburb
Suburb
Students
3,344
4,083
Academics
Academic Excellence grade
BAcademic Excellence: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.
BAcademic Excellence: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.
Admission rate
79%
79%
Average SAT
1236
1227
ACT middle 50%
26–31
27–31
Graduation rate
75%
61%
First-year retention
89%
78%
Cost and outcomes
Average net price a year
$26,502
$24,792
Net price, up to $30,000 income
$19,393
$15,824
Net price, $30,001–$48,000 income
$20,317
$18,090
Net price, $48,001–$75,000 income
$20,916
$22,119
Net price, $75,001–$110,000 income
$23,574
$28,445
Net price, over $110,000 income
$31,847
$31,574
Median debt
$25,621
$26,130
Median earnings 10 years after entry
$54,064
$62,208
The grades and the Compass Score are Catholic School Compass ratings from documented sources; each college’s page lists its sources. Cost, admission, graduation, earnings and debt are federal data. This page does not rank the two colleges.