Arcadia vs. PennWest California

Should I go to Arcadia University or PennWest California? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Arcadia or PennWest California 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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Arcadia University vs. PennWest California comparison
Arcadia University PennWest California College 3 College 4
Arcadia University PennWest California
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Overview

Arcadia PennWest California
Location Glenside, PA California, PA
Setting Large Suburban Town Fringe
Enrollment 3,026 6,509
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #502 #1033
Religious Affiliation Presbyterian Church (USA) - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website arcadia.edu calu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Arcadia PennWest California
Tuition (In State) $46,430 $7,716
Tuition (Out of State) $46,430 $11,574
Room & Board $13,720 $10,416
Avg Net Price $29,692 -
Avg Grant Aid $30,934 $0
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 0%

Admission

Arcadia PennWest California
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,321 -
Admitted 4,903 -
Acceptance Rate 77.6%
Enrolled % 10%
Avg High School GPA 3.42 3.31
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 24/29 18/24
SAT Range 1088/1320 940/1150
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 22, 2025

Academics

Arcadia PennWest California
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 19:1
Popular Majors
  • Visual and Performing Arts (14%)
  • Biology (12%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (11%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (7%)

Outcomes

Arcadia PennWest California
Graduation Rate 62% 53%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $46,400 $42,500
Making Student Loan Payments 69% 64%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $279 $258

Diversity

Arcadia PennWest California
% Men 32% 39%
% Women 68% 61%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 68% 77%
% Black 9% 12%
% Hispanic 8% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 3%
% International 3% 1%
% Unknown Race 2% 2%

Students

Arcadia PennWest California
% In-State 62% 86%
% Out-of-State 37% 13%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • PennWest California is larger than than Arcadia based on total student enrollment (6,509 students vs. 3,026 students)

Arcadia vs. PennWest California Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Arcadia or PennWest California?

  • Arcadia University is 501.7% more expensive to attend than PennWest California for in-state tuition ($46,430.00 vs. $7,716.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 301.2% higher at Arcadia than PennWest California ($46,430.00 vs. $11,574.00)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at PennWest California are 31.7% lower than costs at Arcadia University ($10,416 vs. $13,720)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Arcadia University than PennWest California (99% vs. 0%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Arcadia University students is ?% larger than aid received PennWest California ($30,934 vs. $0)

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

  • The average SAT score at Arcadia University (1104) is 182 points higher than at PennWest California (922)
  • Incoming Arcadia students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at PennWest California (20)
  • Accepted freshman Arcadia students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at PennWest California (3.31)

Arcadia vs. PennWest California Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Arcadia or PennWest California? 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 PennWest California and Arcadia.

  • The graduation rate at Arcadia is higher than PennWest California (62% vs. 53%)
  • Graduates from Arcadia University earn on average $3,900 more per year than PennWest California graduates after ten years. ($46,400 vs. $42,500)
  • PennWest California students graduate with a $2,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Arcadia graduates. ($25,000 vs. $27,000)
  • PennWest California graduates are paying $21 less per month on federal student loans than Arcadia graduates. ($258 vs. $279)
  • More Arcadia graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PennWest California students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 64%)

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