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Arcadia University

private · Founded 1853 · Philadelphia, PA

Acceptance Rate

79.20%

Enrollment

3,142

Tuition & Fees

$48,990

Graduation Rate

64.00%

Retention Rate

81.00%

Off-Campus Needed

1,351

Arcadia Report Card

Letter grades compare this school against national university benchmarks.

Academics

Selectivity, test scores, retention, and faculty access.

B
Raw z-score: -0.37

Value

Cost, aid, grants, and post-graduation earnings.

B
Raw z-score: -0.52

Diversity

Economic access, geographic mix, and gender balance.

C+
Raw z-score: -0.53

Location

Safety, walkability, transit, and student nightlife.

-
Insufficient data

Campus

Housing capacity, student body scale, and campus setting.

C+
Raw z-score: -0.39

Outcomes

Graduation, retention, employment, and earnings.

C+
Raw z-score: -0.46

Grades are benchmarked against national profile data. View methodology

Arcadia University is a private university in Glenside, Pennsylvania, just outside Philadelphia. Founded in 1853, its campus is anchored by the iconic Grey Towers Castle, a National Historic Landmark. Arcadia is nationally recognized for study abroad and offers programs across arts and sciences, health sciences, education, and global business. It ranks first in the US for undergraduate study abroad participation and enrolls approximately 3,800 students.

Can You Get Into Arcadia?

Arcadia admitted just 5,296 of 6,688 applicants — a 79.20% acceptance rate

Admissions Snapshot

Acceptance Rate79.20%
School
State avg

44% above state avg

Total Applicants6,688
Students Admitted5,296
Students Enrolled420
Yield Rate7.90%
School
State avg

69% below state avg

Test Scores (Middle 50%)

SAT Reading & Writing

553650

200800

SAT Math

530660

200800

ACT Composite

2630

136

Your odds at this school

Coming to Arcadia from out of state?

34% of freshmen aren't from Pennsylvania. If you're moving for Arcadia, start your housing search early — only 57.00% of students can live on campus.

Browse Housing Near Arcadia

What Will Arcadia Cost You?

Most students don't pay sticker price — 87.00% receive financial aid

Sticker Price

Tuition$48,290
School
State avg

24% below state avg

Fees$700
Room (on-campus)$8,500
Board (meal plan)$5,590
Total Cost of Attendance$63,080

Per-credit cost: $790 (part-time)

Financial Aid & Grants

Students receiving any aid87.00%
Average grant amount$31,015/yr

Your estimated net price

On-Campus vs. Off-Campus Housing Cost

Arcadia's on-campus room and board adds up to $14,090 per year ($1,174/month). Many students find that off-campus apartments offer more space, kitchen access, and flexibility — often at a lower monthly cost.

On-CampusOff-Campus (avg)
Annual Housing$8,500Varies
Monthly Equivalent$708/moSee listings
Meal Plan$5,590 (required)Flexible
Availability1,085 beds onlyHundreds of options

What Can You Study at Arcadia?

Most Popular Undergraduate Majors

1

Biology/Biological Sciences, General.

66 graduates · 72.73% women

2

Psychology, General.

44 graduates · 84.09% women

3

Public Health, General.

20 graduates · 80% women

4

Actuarial Science.

18 graduates · 50% women

5

Teacher Education, Multiple Levels.

16 graduates · 100% women

6

Business Administration and Management, General.

16 graduates · 50% women

7

Computer and Information Sciences, General.

15 graduates · 20% women

8

Political Science and Government, General.

15 graduates · 66.67% women

9

Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General.

15 graduates · 86.67% women

10

Speech Communication and Rhetoric.

14 graduates · 64.29% women

Your major at this school

Grad students need housing too

With 1,252 graduate students and only 1,085 total dorm beds, most grad students live off campus.

See Apartments Popular with Grad Students

What's It Like at Arcadia?

Philadelphia, PA — suburb

Student Body

Total Enrollment3,142
Undergraduates1,890
Graduate Students1,252
Full-Time2,143 (68%)
Part-Time999 (32%)
Women67.00%

Where Freshmen Come From

Out-of-State
32%
Pennsylvania
66%
International
1%

From your state to this school

Student Demographics

White
55%
Asian
8%
Hispanic
7%
Black
12%
Two or More
2%
Not Reported
10%

Neighborhoods near Arcadia

Where students live around Arcadia University — vibe, walkability, and commute at a glance.

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How Does Arcadia Compare?

Institutional resources and student-faculty ratios

Student-Faculty Ratio

11:1

Peer Institutions

Schools that Arcadia reports as peers for academic and admissions benchmarking.

213367
215770
211583
216339

Will You Succeed at Arcadia?

81.00% of freshmen return for sophomore year — 64.00% graduate within 6 years

Graduation Rates

First-Year Retention81.00%
School
State avg

3% below state avg

4-Year Graduation Rate59.00%
5-Year Graduation Rate64.00%
6-Year Graduation Rate64.00%
School
State avg

13% below state avg

National Average (6-year)53%
Arcadia
64.00%
Natl Avg
53%

6-Year Graduation by Group

Asian Students68.00%
White Students67.00%
Black Students55.00%
Hispanic Students64.00%
Women65.00%
Men62.00%

Arcadia Reviews

Student perspectives on academics, campus life, and housing fit

Be the first student to review this university.

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1,351 Arcadia Students Need Off-Campus Housing

With 3,142 students and only 1,085 dorm beds, 43% of Arcadia students live off campus.

1,890

Undergraduates

1,252

Graduate Students

1,351

Need Off-Campus Housing

Data Sources: U.S. Department of Education IPEDS, National Center for Education Statistics. University Apartments is not affiliated with Arcadia University.