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Student Life at Messiah
Life on campus
College is more than just going to class and studying. You’ll receive an outstanding education during your time at Messiah--but you’ll also experience fun, excitement and make lifelong friendships. As an undergraduate residential or commuter student, you’ll realize Messiah’s campus is buzzing with activity and that there’s always something to do. In fact, many of these experiences become meaningful traditions for our students and make Messiah a really hard place to leave when you graduate.
Student life profile
60+ Clubs and organizations
2,586 Undergraduate students
78% of students live in on-campus housing
What’s there to do?
On-Campus
Off-Campus
Campus Traditions
Fan Experience
Sport-Related Activities
Clubs and Organizations
What’s there to do?
Fan experience
As a Messiah student, you'll have many opportunities to be a spectator and become a loyal Falcon fan, cheering on our 22 NCAA Division III teams at countless athletic events. Whether you’re at the diamond cheering on the softball team or spending a Saturday watching soccer or lacrosse, it’s a great way to spend time with friends and get in the school spirit!
35 NCAA Division III Championships
22 NCAA
DIII teams
What’s there to do?
Sport-related activities
In addition to NCAA athletics, there are many club sports and recreational leagues on campus, like Ultimate frisbee, field hockey and more. Club teams compete against other colleges and universities, while our recreational teams compete against each other for the coveted campus rec sports league title. As a Messiah athlete, no matter what level you compete at, you practice something of lifelong importance directing your talents and hard work toward a greater purpose.
What’s there to do?
Clubs and organizations
Messiah's campus is an active, busy place. You can engage your passions in any of the 60+ clubs and organizations within the Student Government Association (SGA). These student-run groups play a crucial role in your education, offering you a place to serve, lead, grow and have fun outside the classroom.
What’s there to do?
Campus traditions
From the moment you step onto campus at Messiah until you cross the stage at Commencement, there are a variety of traditions and annual events that bring students together as a fun and supportive campus community.
Messiah students and their families experience two meaningful candlelight worship services—one at the end of first-year move-in day and one at Baccalaureate the night before Commencement. These powerful ceremonies are a meaningful way to bookend your time at Messiah—and to reflect on all that God has done in your life.
Before the Homecoming soccer games, students are given white (free!) T-shirts. The spirited crowd—dressed in white and led by a bagpiper—marches across the Covered Bridge to the soccer field where they inspire Falcon fans to cheer on the big game!
The women gear up for a fun football game while the men take on the role as cheerleaders in this fun Homecoming tradition. The competition pits seniors against first-years and sophomores against juniors.
Each spring, Messiah hosts Service Day where students and employees have a day off from classes and work, and serve together as a campus community. This is done either as a volunteer for Special Olympics (hosted on our campus) or with any one of many outreach opportunities throughout the local area.
Studying for finals likely doesn’t seem like fun, but Messiah works hard to make that week more bearable for students. During finals week, Lottie Dining Hall opens one night between 10 p.m. and midnight and employee volunteers serve students free pancakes and tots. Then, at midnight every night during finals week, students let off a little steam with a collective scream out their windows!
The beautiful Yellow Breeches Creek runs right through Messiah’s campus, and on any given day, you’ll see students enjoying a nap in a hammock, studying with friends, tubing or canoeing, and even fishing!
What’s there to do?
On-campus
When looking for events or activities on campus, students know where to look: the Student Activities Board (SAB), Multicultural council and other student-led organizations. They plan dances, concerts, coffeehouses, films, off-campus excursions and many other activities.
Like live entertainment? Hang out in the student union and catch a free concert featuring up-and-coming bands, play a game of pool or watch your classmates perform during the monthly Coffeehouse. Want to relax? Grab a latte and head to our on-campus theater to catch a movie. Looking to be active? Jog along the Yellow Breeches Creek, or show off your dance moves at the Spring Fling. From experiencing amazing new cuisine at the Food Truck Fest to trying your hand at pumpkin carving at the annual Fall Festival or Spring Sha-bing, your social calendar won’t be lacking.
What’s there to do?
Off-campus
While there’s plenty to do on campus, we realize you might want to explore the surrounding area, too. Luckily, we’re only a short drive from Harrisburg—Pennsylvania’s capital city—and many other towns and metropolitan areas. Within just a few minutes of campus, you’ll find plenty of restaurants, shopping, entertainment venues, movie theaters, galleries, coffee shops and museums.
Things to see and do!There’s no place like home.
At Messiah University, “home” is a universal term to students and alumni. From the very first moment you drive onto campus as a new student, volunteers are ready to help you settle into your residence hall. You’ll quickly become familiar with faces and spaces that will make Messiah feel like home.
Living on campus
Living on your own for the first time can be a big adjustment. Residence Life is here to make that transition as smooth and fun as possible. As a first-year or transfer student, you’ll have access to an intentional environment that helps you build lasting relationships with peers who are experiencing the same things as you. Your resident director and resident assistants work hard to host events and activities to help you get to know other students and form a sense of “home.”
First-year residence halls
Frequently asked questions—you asked, we answered!
Are there specific behavioral guidelines I will be required to follow while enrolled at Messiah University?
Yes, as a Christian university, Messiah communicates behavior expectations for students that focus on our relationship with God and each other, and the practical implications of community life. Before coming to Messiah, students are asked to review these expectations and agree to live by them if they choose to join the Messiah community. You can learn more about Messiah's community standards in our student handbook to see if Messiah University is a good fit for your values and the way of life you want during your college experience.
Can first-year students have cars on campus?
Yes, first-year students who live on campus are permitted to park a car on campus. Parking is available on a first-come, first-serve basis as designated by a student’s enrollment deposit date, and participation in the parking lottery.
While the University strives to offer parking to all first-year students who would like it, the demand for on campus parking spaces may exceed the number of available spaces.
After the first year, any student may have a car on campus. Complete information about parking regulations at Messiah is available from the Department of Safety website.
How many students are enrolled at Messiah University?
Messiah enrolls nearly 2,500 undergraduate and more than 700 online graduate students each year.
Do I have to live on campus my first year?
All single, full-time students under the age of 23 are required to live on campus. Campus housing is generally limited to students who are registered for at least 12 credit hours. Exceptions to the residency requirement are granted to students who meet the commuter criteria and have signed a commuter housing contract. Commuters are those students who meet one of these criteria:
- The student is living locally with parents.
- The student is living locally with family members (i.e. grandparents, aunts/uncles).
- The student is classified as having independent status by the Office of Financial Aid and is living locally.
- The student has non-traditional status (23 years of age and over or married).
- The student is married.
Hungry?
Good food: an essential for college students. Messiah University provides a wide variety of great-tasting and nutritious foods in enjoyable environments to socialize, study and of course, eat. Our award-winning program offers fresh, tasty foods at each of our different locations. We take food very seriously here, which is why we have four different meal plan-approved locations. Bon Appétit!
Dining Facilities
Lottie Nelson
With a wide range of fresh foods and menu options, Lottie Nelson Dining Hall, located on the second floor of Eisenhower, provides options for each meal of the day! A fruit and yogurt bar, create your own omelet station, make your own salad, made-to-order specialty sandwiches, homemade soups and other fresh and healthy menu options are available.
The Falcon
On the go? The Falcon is the perfect choice for you! Located on the ground floor of Eisenhower, the Falcon offers freshly made food choices. From the popular pre-chapel breakfast sandwiches, toasted flatbreads, rice bowls and more, each option is freshly made ready for you within minutes (you can even order ahead!). Operating from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m, the Falcon serves as a quick and delicious alternative for breakfast or lunch.
Union Cafe
In the mood to order pizza? The Union has a great variety of options such as pizzas, strombolis, salads, burgers, wraps, ice cream and more. Filled with booths and tables and cozy fireside seating, the Union is the ideal location to grab dinner and catch up with a friend after a long day of class. You can pre-order here, too!
Cafe Diem
Love coffee shops? Then stop by the Murray Library to pick up a good book and a fresh cup of coffee at Cafe Diem. Offering coffee, specialty drinks, pastries and additional grab n’ go items, it’s the perfect place to stop for that pick-me-up in between classes.