Dakota Wesleyan University vs Messenger College

Dakota Wesleyan University and Messenger College, while sharing some similarities, offer distinct educational experiences. Dakota Wesleyan, a private institution in Mitchell, South Dakota, boasts a higher acceptance rate (75%) compared to Messenger College's 68%. Both institutions offer a range of undergraduate programs, with Dakota Wesleyan excelling in fields like business, education, and nursing, while Messenger College emphasizes healthcare, business, and criminal justice. Messenger College's student body is more diverse, with a higher percentage of international students. Dakota Wesleyan, on the other hand, has a slightly higher graduation rate (58%) than Messenger College (55%). To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison table highlighting key differences between these two institutions. Explore the table to find the college that best aligns with your academic goals and preferences.
Dakota Wesleyan University logo

Dakota Wesleyan University

Messenger College logo

Messenger College

Overview

Location Mitchell, South Dakota Bedford, Texas
Campus setting Town: Remote Suburb: Large
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (Non Profit) Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate
Students retention rate 71.0% 50.0%
Common app member Yes No
Religious affiliation Methodism Protestant

Admission

Acceptance rate 75.7% 100.0%
Application fees $110 $35
SAT range 860 - 1100 N/A
ACT range 19 - 25 N/A
Students submitting SAT score 3.0%
Students submitting ACT score 60.0%
Total number of applicants 1,047 8
Total number of admissions given out 793 8
Admitted students who chose to enroll 169 7
Yield rate 21.3% 87.5%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $43,080 $26,341
Average net price $21,830 $14,115
Tuition $29,700 $8,400
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $3,350

Meal plan: $4,200
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

100.0%
Average amount $18,033
100.0%
Average amount $8,310
Students receiving federal student loan 92.0%
Average amount $5,049
100.0%
Average amount $5,500
Students taking out private loans 26.0%
Average amount $13,323
0.0%
Average amount $0

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 770
Men 42.9% Women 57.1%
31
Men 41.9% Women 58.1%
Graduate students 156
Men 35.3% Women 64.7%
N/A
Racial/ethnic diversity
Very Low
Moderate
Out-of-state students N/A 75.0%
International students 1.1% N/A
Campus local/setting Town: Remote Suburb: Large
Dormitory capacity 520 68
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from N/A Arkansas Colorado Oklahoma Texas

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Business
  • Health Professions
  • Education
  • Law Enforcement and Firefighting
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Philosophy and Religious Studies
  • Theology
Students to faculty ratio 12:1 10:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools

Outcome

Graduation rate 54.9% 46.1%
Dropout rate 38.3% 38.5%
Transferred out 6.9% 7.7%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $60,155
  • Year 2: $57,603
  • Year 3: $64,357
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $55,512
  • Year 3: $55,254
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $39,369
  • Year 3: $42,345
Human Services, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $34,526
  • Year 3: $39,391
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $37,568
  • Year 3: N/A
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $42,123
  • Year 3: N/A
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $28,019
  • Year 3: N/A
Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $29,046
  • Year 2: $33,993
  • Year 3: N/A
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $35,416
  • Year 3: N/A
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $61,623
  • Year 2: $63,005
  • Year 3: N/A
N/A

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