Arcadia vs. Penn State Erie-Behrend College

Comparable Facts

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

Arcadia University is larger than Penn State Erie-Behrend College based on total student enrollment (3,404 students vs. 3,336 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Arcadia University is located in Glenside, PA (Large Suburban setting); Penn State Erie Behrend College is in Erie, PA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Arcadia University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Erie Behrend College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Arcadia University 10:1; Penn State Erie Behrend College 12:1.

Arcadia vs. Penn State Erie-Behrend College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Arcadia or Penn State Erie-Behrend 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 Penn State Erie Behrend College than Arcadia ($23,764 vs. $30,037).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Erie Behrend College are 15.8% lower than at Arcadia University ($14,474 vs. $17,180).
• Arcadia University is 210.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Erie-Behrend College (about $33,638 more per year; $49,610.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 84% higher at Arcadia than at Penn State Erie Behrend College (about $22,652 more per year; $49,610.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Arcadia University than at Penn State Erie Behrend College (99% vs. 76%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Arcadia University students is 222.5% larger than aid received by Penn State Erie Behrend College students ($34,705 vs. $10,760).

Arcadia vs. Penn State Erie-Behrend College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Arcadia or Penn State Erie-Behrend 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 Penn State Erie-Behrend College and Arcadia.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Erie Behrend College (1220) is 50 points higher than at Arcadia (1170).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Arcadia University 1065/1265; Penn State Erie Behrend College 1120/1310.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsPenn State Erie Behrend College 25/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Arcadia - Test optional; Penn State Erie-Behrend College - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Penn State Erie-Behrend College students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.49) than students at Arcadia (3.42).
• Penn State Erie-Behrend College 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. 14.5% at Penn State Erie-Behrend College.

Arcadia vs. Penn State Erie-Behrend College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Arcadia and Penn State Erie-Behrend 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).

• Penn State Erie Behrend College's six-year graduation rate (66%) is higher than Arcadia University's (62%).
• Graduates from Penn State Erie Behrend College 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 Erie Behrend College graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than Arcadia graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Penn State Erie-Behrend College 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 Erie-Behrend College 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.