Who we are
Messiah University is a nationally ranked, private Christian university with a student body of 3,320 undergraduate and graduate students. Our scenic 375-acre suburban campus is located in central Pennsylvania, just 12 miles from the state capital of Harrisburg. The University was founded in 1909 by the Brethren in Christ Church. Today, the University’s faith base is broadly evangelical and includes students and employees from a variety of denominations and Christian faith traditions.
Messiah by the numbers
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Our student body is made up of students from 39 states and 23 countries
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60+ off-campus study locations in 40 countries
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35+ denominations represented in our student body
Our beautiful campus
Messiah is located in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, just 12 miles from the state capital, Harrisburg, and just a short drive from Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington, D.C.
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Get to know the area
The area surrounding Messiah is full of activity! From restaurants, shopping, churches, and exciting adventures, you and your friends will always have something fun to do or see.
Climbnasium
A premier indoor rock climbing facility with climbs to 40 feet in height, climbers of all abilities are sure to be challenged.
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Ski roundtop
Roundtop Mountain Resort offers skiing, snowboarding and snow tubing.
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Hersheypark
Enjoy a day at an amusement park full of rides and attractions, and most importantly—chocolate!
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Yellow Breeches
A central part of campus life, students enjoy swimming, canoeing, tubing and fishing in the creek that runs through campus.
City Island
A recreational jewel, City Island features Harrisburg Senators baseball, miniature golf, arcade and batting cages, and many free parks, playgrounds and fields.
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Hiking
The Appalachian Trail nearby features hikes that range from beginner one-mile flat hikes to weekend peak bagging excursions.
Carlisle Sports Emporium
With mini golf, indoor and outdoor go-karts, laser tag, roller skating, batting cages and a large arcade, you certainly won’t be bored.
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Giant Center
This premier entertainment venue in Hershey, Pennsylvania features headliner concerts and events and is home to the Hershey Bears hockey club.
Read moreAn authentic faith community
Messiah University is an educational community profoundly committed to worshipping, loving and serving God. The University’s motto, “Christ Preeminent,” points to our community’s full, rich shared understanding of Jesus Christ and how the Christian faith is relevant to every dimension of life. At Messiah we’re committed to personal faith in Christ for the forgiveness of sin and to pursuing the exemplary nature of Christ's life as a model for our own lives. This common Christian conviction shapes every aspect of students’ experiences in the Messiah community.
Mission and Identity 
Statements of Faith 
Community Covenant See anew at Messiah University
The heart of “see anew” is the concept of transformation and reconciliation. Our alumni consistently tell us that their experience at Messiah was transforming—that it helped them see themselves, their faith, their career, and the world in exciting new ways. They also share that a Messiah education equipped them to navigate life's tensions and bring together seemingly incompatible people and ideas. We believe that this is exactly what the college years should be like for students, especially a Christ-centered college experience that’s rooted in the transformation we undergo as we follow Jesus together.