Arcadia vs. Providence

Should I go to Arcadia University or Providence College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Arcadia or Providence is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Arcadia University vs. Providence College comparison
Arcadia University Providence College College 3 College 4
Arcadia University Providence College
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Overview

Arcadia Providence
Location Glenside, PA Providence, RI
Setting Large Suburban Midsize City
Enrollment 3,026 4,473
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #502 #121
Religious Affiliation Presbyterian Church (USA) Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website arcadia.edu providence.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Arcadia Providence
Tuition (In State) $46,430 $56,980
Tuition (Out of State) $46,430 $56,980
Room & Board $13,720 $16,540
Avg Net Price $29,692 $43,970
Avg Grant Aid $30,934 $30,971
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 81%

Admission

Arcadia Providence
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,321 11,129
Admitted 4,903 5,874
Acceptance Rate 77.6% 52.8%
Enrolled % 10% 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 24/29 28/32
SAT Range 1088/1320 1260/1420
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, 2025

Academics

Arcadia Providence
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Visual and Performing Arts (14%)
  • Biology (12%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Business (33%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Biology (6%)
  • English and Literature (6%)

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 32% 45%
% Women 68% 55%
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 62% 8%
% Out-of-State 37% 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 (4,473 students vs. 3,026 students)

Arcadia vs. Providence Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Arcadia or Providence?

  • Providence College is 22.7% more expensive to attend than Arcadia for in-state tuition ($56,980.00 vs. $46,430.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 22.7% higher at Providence than Arcadia University ($56,980.00 vs. $46,430.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Arcadia University than Providence ($29,692 vs. $43,970)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Arcadia University are 20.6% lower than costs at Providence College ($13,720 vs. $16,540)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Arcadia University than Providence College (99% vs. 81%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Providence College students is 0.1% larger than aid received Arcadia University ($30,971 vs. $30,934)

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 (77.6%) than Providence (52.8%)

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/