Arcadia vs. Penn State Brandywine

Comparable Facts

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

Arcadia University is larger than Penn State Brandywine based on total student enrollment (3,404 students vs. 1,236 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Arcadia University is located in Glenside, PA (Large Suburban setting); Penn State Brandywine is in Media, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Arcadia University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Brandywine is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Arcadia University 10:1; Penn State Brandywine 15:1.

Arcadia vs. Penn State Brandywine Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Arcadia or Penn State Brandywine? 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 Brandywine than Arcadia ($22,710 vs. $30,037).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Brandywine are 15.8% lower than at Arcadia University ($14,474 vs. $17,180).
• Arcadia University is 226.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Brandywine (about $34,402 more per year; $49,610.00 vs. $15,208.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 95.4% higher at Arcadia than at Penn State Brandywine (about $24,218 more per year; $49,610.00 vs. $25,392.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Arcadia University than at Penn State Brandywine (99% vs. 73%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Arcadia University students is 280.8% larger than aid received by Penn State Brandywine students ($34,705 vs. $9,113).

Arcadia vs. Penn State Brandywine Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Brandywine (1200) is 30 points higher than at Arcadia (1170).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Arcadia University 1065/1265; Penn State Brandywine 1080/1310.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Arcadia - Test optional; Penn State Brandywine - Test optional.
• Penn State Brandywine has a higher acceptance rate (98.1%) than Arcadia (80.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 7.4% at Arcadia vs. 16.8% at Penn State Brandywine.

Arcadia vs. Penn State Brandywine Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Arcadia and Penn State Brandywine? 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 Brandywine's (37%).
• Graduates from Penn State Brandywine 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 Brandywine graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than Arcadia graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Penn State Brandywine 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 Brandywine 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.