Arcadia vs. Penn State

Deciding between Arcadia University and Penn State Main Campus? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Arcadia University
Penn State Main Campus

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Arcadia Glenside, PA
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • Arcadia Large Suburban
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Arcadia 3,404
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • Arcadia Private 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Arcadia #527
  • Penn State #185
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Arcadia Presbyterian Church (USA)
  • Penn State -
  • Status
  • Arcadia Non-profit
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Arcadia
  • Penn State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Arcadia $49,610
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Arcadia $49,610
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & Board
  • Arcadia $17,180
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average Net Price
  • Arcadia $30,037
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Arcadia $34,705
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Arcadia 99%
  • Penn State 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Arcadia 10,163
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • Arcadia 8,153
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Arcadia 80.2%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Arcadia 7.4%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Arcadia 1170
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • Arcadia
  • Penn State 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • Arcadia 3.42
  • Penn State -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Arcadia B+
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Arcadia Average
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Arcadia
  • Penn State Low
  • ACT Range
  • Arcadia
  • Penn State 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • Arcadia 1065/1265
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Arcadia Test optional
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Arcadia
  • Penn State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Arcadia 10:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Arcadia
    • Visual and Performing Arts (14%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Arcadia 62%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Arcadia $46,400
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Arcadia 69%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Arcadia $27,000
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Arcadia $279
  • Penn State $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Arcadia 34%
  • Penn State 52%
  • % Women
  • Arcadia 66%
  • Penn State 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Arcadia Medium
  • Penn State Medium
  • HBCU
  • Arcadia No
  • Penn State No
  • % White
  • Arcadia 68%
  • Penn State 69%
  • % Asian
  • Arcadia 5%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Black
  • Arcadia 9%
  • Penn State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Arcadia 8%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Native American
  • Arcadia 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Arcadia 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Arcadia 4%
  • Penn State 3%
  • % International
  • Arcadia 3%
  • Penn State 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Arcadia 2%
  • Penn State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Arcadia 64%
  • Penn State 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Arcadia 36%
  • Penn State 40%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Arcadia Yes
  • Penn State Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Arcadia No
  • Penn State Yes
  • Meal Plan
  • Arcadia Yes
  • Penn State Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Arcadia No
  • Penn State Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Arcadia No
  • Penn State Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Arcadia University in Glenside, PA with Penn State Main Campus in University Park, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Penn State Main Campus is larger than Arcadia based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 3,404 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Arcadia University is located in Glenside, PA (Large Suburban setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • Arcadia University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Arcadia University 10:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

Arcadia vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Arcadia or Penn State? 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 Penn State Main Campus than Arcadia ($27,889 vs. $30,037).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 15.8% lower than at Arcadia University ($14,474 vs. $17,180).
  • Arcadia University is 140.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State (about $28,966 more per year; $49,610.00 vs. $20,644.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 18.7% higher at Arcadia than at Penn State Main Campus (about $7,820 more per year; $49,610.00 vs. $41,790.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Arcadia University than at Penn State Main Campus (99% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Arcadia University students is 206.1% larger than aid received by Penn State Main Campus students ($34,705 vs. $11,336).

Arcadia vs. Penn State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Arcadia or Penn State? 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 Penn State and Arcadia.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Main Campus (1330) is 160 points higher than at Arcadia (1170).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Arcadia University 1065/1265; Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsPenn State Main Campus 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Arcadia - Test optional; Penn State - Test optional.
  • Arcadia has a higher acceptance rate (80.2%) than Penn State (60.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 7.4% at Arcadia vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

Arcadia vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Arcadia and Penn State? 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).

  • Penn State Main Campus's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than Arcadia University's (62%).
  • Graduates from Penn State Main Campus earn a median of about $8,900 more per year than Arcadia graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $46,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Main Campus graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than Arcadia graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Penn State graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Arcadia graduates ($277 vs. $279).
  • More Arcadia graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State students, three years after graduation. (69% 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.