Arcadia University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Glenside, Pennsylvania. It enrolls 1,948 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorMiddle States Commission on Higher Education
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
59/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes65
Value19
Affordability27
Selectivity50
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 80.2%, Arcadia University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
80.2%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1065 – 1265
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Arcadia University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
13.5 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Arcadia University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $29,466 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$29,466
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
28%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
61%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$49,610
Room & Board (on-campus)
$17,180
Room & Board (off-campus)
$26,390
Books & Supplies
$1,500
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$1,100
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$1,100
Total Cost of Attendance
$64,645
Application fee: $30 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$23,127
$30,001 – $48,000
$25,388
$48,001 – $75,000
$25,978
$75,001 – $110,000
$28,654
Over $110,000
$34,339
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$5,50010%percentile
$9,50025%percentile
$27,000Medianpercentile
$27,00075%percentile
$31,75090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $22,125
↓ $4,875
No Pell $21,500
↓ $5,500
Dependent students $21,953
↓ $5,047
Independent students $21,000
↓ $6,000
Female students $22,863
↓ $4,137
Male students $21,500
↓ $5,500
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $6,250, less than completers ($27,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
59% of full-time students who enrolled at Arcadia University graduate within six years, and 80% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
59%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
80%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Arcadia University earn a median of $58,336 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$58,336
Earning > $25K
84%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$44,000
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$57,600
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$44,100
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$45,400
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$50,900
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $13,600, about 24% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
15.5 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 88% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Arcadia University is home to 1,948 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 31% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
1,948
Part-Time
7%
First-Generation
31%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 54.8%1,067
Black 16.8%327
Hispanic 11.7%228
International 5.0%98
Asian 4.1%80
Other 3.9%76
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Arcadia University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large SuburbGlenside, Pennsylvania
Housing
Mostly residential1,085 beds on campus
Adult Learners
4%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Arcadia University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
69 distinct programs across
20 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Arcadia University is 11:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
11:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$141M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$78,667
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
143 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
27
19%
$96,677
Associate Professors
51
36%
$77,823
Assistant Professors
62
43%
$72,655
Instructors
3
2%
$55,154
Pros & Cons of Arcadia University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Arcadia University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Above-average net price
High published cost of attendance before aid
Best for:
Based on the data, Arcadia University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about Arcadia University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Arcadia University.
Is Arcadia University hard to get into?
Arcadia University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 80.2%.
What is the acceptance rate at Arcadia University?
Arcadia University has an acceptance rate of 80.2%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Arcadia University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Arcadia University scored between 1065 and 1265 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
How much does Arcadia University cost?
The average net price after aid at Arcadia University is $29,466 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Arcadia University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $58,336 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $29,466 per year. That's roughly 2.0x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Arcadia University known for?
Arcadia University is best known for its programs in Rehabilitation, Allied Health Diagnostic, Biology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Arcadia University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Arcadia University are $58,336, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Arcadia University accredited?
Yes. Arcadia University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
How many students attend Arcadia University?
Arcadia University enrolls 1,948 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Arcadia University?
Arcadia University graduates 59% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Arcadia University a public or private college?
Arcadia University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Arcadia University located?
Arcadia University is located in Glenside, Pennsylvania.
What programs does Arcadia University offer?
Arcadia University offers 69 distinct programs. The most popular include Rehabilitation, Allied Health Diagnostic, Biology.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Arcadia University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Arcadia University is 11:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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