Arcadia vs. Elizabethtown College

Comparable Facts

Compare Arcadia University in Glenside, PA with Elizabethtown College in Elizabethtown, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Arcadia University is larger than Elizabethtown College based on total student enrollment (3,404 students vs. 2,283 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Arcadia University is located in Glenside, PA (Large Suburban setting); Elizabethtown College is in Elizabethtown, PA (Town Fringe setting).
• Arcadia University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Elizabethtown College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Arcadia University 10:1; Elizabethtown College 13:1.

Arcadia vs. Elizabethtown College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Arcadia or Elizabethtown College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Elizabethtown College than Arcadia ($27,760 vs. $30,037).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Elizabethtown College are 22.4% lower than at Arcadia University ($13,340 vs. $17,180).
• Arcadia University is 30.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Elizabethtown College (about $11,660 more per year; $49,610.00 vs. $37,950.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 30.7% higher at Arcadia than at Elizabethtown College (about $11,660 more per year; $49,610.00 vs. $37,950.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Elizabethtown College than at Arcadia University (100% vs. 99%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Arcadia University students is 50.5% larger than aid received by Elizabethtown College students ($34,705 vs. $23,064).

Arcadia vs. Elizabethtown College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Arcadia or Elizabethtown College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Elizabethtown College and Arcadia.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Elizabethtown College (1210) is 40 points higher than at Arcadia (1170).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Arcadia University 1065/1265; Elizabethtown College 1105/1310.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsElizabethtown College 26/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Arcadia - Test optional; Elizabethtown College - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Elizabethtown College students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.66) than students at Arcadia (3.42).
• Arcadia has a higher acceptance rate (80.2%) than Elizabethtown College (77.9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 7.4% at Arcadia vs. 17.6% at Elizabethtown College.

Arcadia vs. Elizabethtown College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Arcadia and Elizabethtown College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Elizabethtown College's six-year graduation rate (79%) is higher than Arcadia University's (62%).
• Graduates from Elizabethtown College earn a median of about $5,400 more per year than Arcadia graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,800 vs. $46,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Elizabethtown College and Arcadia graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Elizabethtown College and Arcadia graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($279 vs. $279).
• More Elizabethtown College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Arcadia students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 69%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.