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Fairfield University Holy Cross Fordham Bentley BC URI UConn Syracuse Villanova UMass Saint Joseph's University Seton Hall University| Arcadia University | Providence College | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Arcadia | Providence | ||
| Location | Glenside, PA | Providence, RI | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 3,142 | 4,635 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #471 | #119 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | Presbyterian Church (USA) | Roman Catholic | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | arcadia.edu | providence.edu | ||
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Costs |
Arcadia | Providence | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $47,590 | $59,830 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $47,590 | $59,830 | ||
| Room & Board | $16,250 | $17,150 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $26,994 | $46,645 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $34,234 | $30,040 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 82% |
Admission |
Arcadia | Providence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 6,688 | 12,469 | ||
| Admitted | 5,296 | 6,075 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 79.2% | 48.7% | ||
| Enrolled % | 7.9% | 19.7% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.42 | 3.47 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Difficult | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 26/30 | 28/32 | ||
| SAT Range | 1083/1310 | 1250/1400 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Jan 15, 2026 |
Academics |
Arcadia | Providence | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 11:1 | 11:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Arcadia | Providence | ||
| Graduation Rate | 62% | 85% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $46,400 | $68,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 69% | 80% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $27,000 | $27,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $279 | $279 |
Diversity |
Arcadia | Providence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 11% | 4% | ||
| % Women | 28% | 6% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 68% | 77% | ||
| % Black | 9% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 8% | 9% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 2% | ||
| % International | 3% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 5% |
Students |
Arcadia | Providence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 66% | 8% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 32% | 90% | ||
Campus |
Arcadia | Providence | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Providence College is larger than than Arcadia based on total student enrollment (4,635 students vs. 3,142 students)
Arcadia vs. Providence Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Arcadia or Providence?
- Providence College is 25.7% more expensive to attend than Arcadia for in-state tuition ($59,830.00 vs. $47,590.00)
- Out of state tuition is 25.7% higher at Providence than Arcadia University ($59,830.00 vs. $47,590.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Arcadia University than Providence ($26,994 vs. $46,645)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Arcadia University are 5.5% lower than costs at Providence College ($16,250 vs. $17,150)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Arcadia University than Providence College (100% vs. 82%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Arcadia University students is 14% larger than aid received Providence College ($34,234 vs. $30,040)
Arcadia vs. Providence Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Arcadia or Providence? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Providence or Arcadia .
- Accepted freshman Providence students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.47) than students at Arcadia (3.42)
- Arcadia has a higher acceptance rate (79.2%) than Providence (48.7%)
Arcadia vs. Providence Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Arcadia or Providence? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Providence and Arcadia.
- The graduation rate at Providence is higher than Arcadia University (85% vs. 62%)
- Graduates from Providence College earn on average $21,600 more per year than Arcadia graduates after ten years. ($68,000 vs. $46,400)
- Providence College and Arcadia graduates both have the same median student loan debt upon graduation ($27,000 vs. $27,000)
- Providence College and Arcadia graduates both have a median monthly student loan payment upon graduation ($279 vs. $279)
- More Providence graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Arcadia students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 69%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/