Arcadia vs. Penn State Greater Allegheny

Comparable Facts

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

Arcadia University is larger than Penn State Greater Allegheny based on total student enrollment (3,404 students vs. 352 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Arcadia University is located in Glenside, PA (Large Suburban setting); Penn State Greater Allegheny is in McKeesport, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Arcadia University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Greater Allegheny is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Arcadia University 10:1; Penn State Greater Allegheny 9:1.

Arcadia vs. Penn State Greater Allegheny Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Arcadia or Penn State Greater Allegheny? 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 Greater Allegheny than Arcadia ($15,574 vs. $30,037).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Greater Allegheny are 15.8% lower than at Arcadia University ($14,474 vs. $17,180).
• Arcadia University is 244.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Greater Allegheny (about $35,202 more per year; $49,610.00 vs. $14,408.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 105.6% higher at Arcadia than at Penn State Greater Allegheny (about $25,476 more per year; $49,610.00 vs. $24,134.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Arcadia University than at Penn State Greater Allegheny (99% vs. 86%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Arcadia University students is 212.1% larger than aid received by Penn State Greater Allegheny students ($34,705 vs. $11,121).

Arcadia vs. Penn State Greater Allegheny Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Greater Allegheny (1180) is 10 points higher than at Arcadia (1170).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Arcadia University 1065/1265; Penn State Greater Allegheny 1080/1280.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Arcadia - Test optional; Penn State Greater Allegheny - Test optional.
• Penn State Greater Allegheny has a higher acceptance rate (96.5%) than Arcadia (80.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 7.4% at Arcadia vs. 19.5% at Penn State Greater Allegheny.

Arcadia vs. Penn State Greater Allegheny Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Arcadia and Penn State Greater Allegheny? 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 Greater Allegheny's (47%).
• Graduates from Penn State Greater Allegheny 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 Greater Allegheny graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than Arcadia graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Penn State Greater Allegheny 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 Greater Allegheny 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.