Arcadia vs. Penn State Abington

Comparable Facts

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

Arcadia University is larger than Penn State Abington based on total student enrollment (3,404 students vs. 2,885 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Arcadia University is located in Glenside, PA (Large Suburban setting); Penn State Abington is in Abington, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Arcadia University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Abington is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Arcadia University 10:1; Penn State Abington 14:1.

Arcadia vs. Penn State Abington Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Arcadia or Penn State Abington? 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 Abington than Arcadia ($19,232 vs. $30,037).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Abington are 15.8% lower than at Arcadia University ($14,474 vs. $17,180).
• Arcadia University is 224.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Abington (about $34,342 more per year; $49,610.00 vs. $15,268.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 93.3% higher at Arcadia than at Penn State Abington (about $23,946 more per year; $49,610.00 vs. $25,664.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Arcadia University than at Penn State Abington (99% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Arcadia University students is 251.2% larger than aid received by Penn State Abington students ($34,705 vs. $9,883).

Arcadia vs. Penn State Abington Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Arcadia University (1170) is the same as at Penn State Abington (1170).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Arcadia University 1065/1265; Penn State Abington 1070/1265.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsPenn State Abington 23/27.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Arcadia - Test optional; Penn State Abington - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Arcadia students have the same average high school GPA (3.42) as students at Penn State Abington (3.42).
• Penn State Abington has a higher acceptance rate (96.8%) than Arcadia (80.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 7.4% at Arcadia vs. 11.2% at Penn State Abington.

Arcadia vs. Penn State Abington Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

• Arcadia University's six-year graduation rate (62%) is higher than Penn State Abington's (44%).
• Graduates from Penn State Abington 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 Abington graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than Arcadia graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Penn State Abington 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 Abington 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.