Arcadia vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley

Comparable Facts

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

Arcadia University is larger than Penn State Lehigh Valley based on total student enrollment (3,404 students vs. 867 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Arcadia vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Arcadia or Penn State Lehigh Valley? 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 Lehigh Valley than Arcadia ($19,066 vs. $30,037).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Lehigh Valley are 11.1% lower than at Arcadia University ($15,274 vs. $17,180).
• Arcadia University is 226.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Lehigh Valley (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 Lehigh Valley (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 Lehigh Valley (99% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Arcadia University students is 282.8% larger than aid received by Penn State Lehigh Valley students ($34,705 vs. $9,065).

Arcadia vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Lehigh Valley (1230) is 60 points higher than at Arcadia (1170).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Arcadia University 1065/1265; Penn State Lehigh Valley 1130/1320.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Arcadia - Test optional; Penn State Lehigh Valley - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Arcadia students have the same average high school GPA (3.42) as students at Penn State Lehigh Valley (3.42).
• Penn State Lehigh Valley has a higher acceptance rate (97.4%) than Arcadia (80.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 7.4% at Arcadia vs. 14% at Penn State Lehigh Valley.

Arcadia vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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