AU vs. Arcadia

Should I go to American University or Arcadia University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if AU or Arcadia is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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American University vs. Arcadia University comparison
American University Arcadia University College 3 College 4
American University Arcadia University
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Overview

AU Arcadia
Location Washington, DC Glenside, PA
Setting Large City Large Suburban
Enrollment 13,885 3,026
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #93 #502
Religious Affiliation United Methodist Presbyterian Church (USA) - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website american.edu arcadia.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

AU Arcadia
Tuition (In State) $53,070 $46,430
Tuition (Out of State) $53,070 $46,430
Room & Board $15,706 $13,720
Avg Net Price $41,369 $29,692
Avg Grant Aid $27,138 $30,934
% Receiving Grant Aid 66% 99%

Admission

AU Arcadia
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 19,510 6,321
Admitted 7,926 4,903
Acceptance Rate 40.6% 77.6%
Enrolled % 22.2% 10%
Avg High School GPA 3.7 3.42
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Very High Difficult
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 29/32 24/29
SAT Range 1290/1430 1088/1320
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 15, 2025

Academics

AU Arcadia
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (43%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • Psychology (3%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (14%)
  • Biology (12%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Psychology (8%)

Outcomes

AU Arcadia
Graduation Rate 77% 62%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $64,800 $46,400
Making Student Loan Payments 80% 69%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,250 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $250 $279

Diversity

AU Arcadia
% Men 37% 32%
% Women 63% 68%
Racial Diversity High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 58% 68%
% Black 7% 9%
% Hispanic 12% 8%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 4%
% International 7% 3%
% Unknown Race 4% 2%

Students

AU Arcadia
% In-State 2% 62%
% Out-of-State 94% 37%

Campus

AU Arcadia
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • American University is larger than than Arcadia based on total student enrollment (13,885 students vs. 3,026 students)

AU vs. Arcadia Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AU or Arcadia?

  • American University is 14.3% more expensive to attend than Arcadia for in-state tuition ($53,070.00 vs. $46,430.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 14.3% higher at AU than Arcadia University ($53,070.00 vs. $46,430.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Arcadia University than AU ($29,692 vs. $41,369)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Arcadia University are 14.5% lower than costs at American University ($13,720 vs. $15,706)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Arcadia University than American University (99% vs. 66%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Arcadia University students is 14% larger than aid received American University ($30,934 vs. $27,138)

AU vs. Arcadia Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, AU or Arcadia? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Arcadia or AU .

  • The average SAT score at American University (1252) is 148 points higher than at Arcadia (1104)
  • Incoming AU students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (28) than students at Arcadia (25)
  • Accepted freshman AU students have a 0.28 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at Arcadia (3.42)
  • Arcadia has a higher acceptance rate (77.6%) than AU (40.6%)

AU vs. Arcadia Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, AU or Arcadia? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Arcadia and AU.

  • The graduation rate at AU is higher than Arcadia University (77% vs. 62%)
  • Graduates from American University earn on average $18,400 more per year than Arcadia graduates after ten years. ($64,800 vs. $46,400)
  • American University students graduate with a $2,750 lower median federal student loan debt than Arcadia graduates. ($24,250 vs. $27,000)
  • AU graduates are paying $29 less per month on federal student loans than Arcadia graduates. ($250 vs. $279)
  • More AU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Arcadia students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 69%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/