Outcomes-based program rankings.
Program outcomes at Messiah University vary significantly by field of study. These rankings evaluate each program by post-graduation earnings, debt burden, and return on investment — not prestige or reputation.
Use this analysis to compare programs and understand which fields deliver the strongest outcomes.
Analyzing 21 programs with available earnings data.
recent graduates
This bar shows the range of median earnings across all majors at this school.
The tables below compare programs in each category by earnings, rank, debt, and cohort size.
These sections represent the complete set of ranked undergraduate programs at Messiah University.
Engineering, General. leads engineering & technology with 85K in median earnings.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engineering, General.Small sample | — | $84,927★ | — | 16 |
| Computer Science.Small sample |
Program rankings are derived entirely from post-graduation outcomes. We do not use reputation surveys, selectivity metrics, or SAT scores. This means some programs may rank differently than you'd expect based on prestige — and that's intentional.
Median earnings 10 years post-enrollment
Debt burden relative to earnings
Institutional contribution to outcomes
Resources, cohort size, and graduation rates
Trajectory from early to mid-career
| $74,941 |
| — |
| 13 |
Accounting and Related Services. leads business & economics with 82K in median earnings.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accounting and Related Services.Small sample | — | $81,907★ | — | 14 |
| Marketing.Small sample | — | $67,900 | — | 13 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | — | $66,222 | — | 34 |
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. leads health with 78K in median earnings.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | — | $77,824★ | — | 36 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions.Small sample | — | $56,005 | — | 7 |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General. | — | $54,256 | — | 31 |
Biology, General. leads sciences & mathematics with 30K in median earnings.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biology, General. | — | $29,685 | — | 22 |
Social Work. leads social sciences & policy with 53K in median earnings.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Social Work.Small sample | — | $52,511★ | — | 17 |
| Psychology, General. | — | $45,982 | — | 27 |
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication. leads communications with 46K in median earnings.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication.Small sample | — | $45,522★ | — | 8 |
| Communication and Media Studies.Small sample | — | $33,993 | — | 12 |
Fine and Studio Arts. leads humanities & arts with 42K in median earnings.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fine and Studio Arts.Small sample | — | $41,649★ | — | 18 |
| English Language and Literature, General.Small sample | — | $26,353 | — | 12 |
| Religious Education.Small sample | — | $25,967 | — | 6 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts.Small sample | — | $16,663 | — | 6 |
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas. leads education with 54K in median earnings.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas. | — | $54,115★ | — | 28 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods. | — | $53,052 | — | 20 |
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services. leads other & interdisciplinary with 47K in median earnings.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services. | — | $46,813★ | — | 27 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness.Small sample | — | $36,326 | — | 8 |
Why rankings may differ by program: A university's nursing program and business program can have entirely different outcome profiles. Our methodology surfaces these differences so you can evaluate programs — not just institutions.
