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Seattle U UW-Seattle PLU George Fox University Ursinus College Whitworth University LVC WCU Penn State Abington Western Washington University University of Scranton Central Washington University| Arcadia University | Seattle Pacific University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Arcadia | SPU | ||
| Location | Glenside, PA | Seattle, WA | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 3,026 | 3,118 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #502 | #270 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | Presbyterian Church (USA) | Free Methodist | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | arcadia.edu | spu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Arcadia | SPU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $46,430 | $36,504 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $46,430 | $36,504 | ||
| Room & Board | $13,720 | $14,409 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $29,692 | $26,549 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $30,934 | $25,359 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 99% |
Admission |
Arcadia | SPU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 6,321 | 3,895 | ||
| Admitted | 4,903 | 3,533 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 77.6% | 90.7% | ||
| Enrolled % | 10% | 15.2% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.42 | 3.53 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Difficult | Challenging | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 24/29 | 20/27 | ||
| SAT Range | 1088/1320 | 1080/1350 | ||
| 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 | Jul 11, 2025 |
Academics |
Arcadia | SPU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 12:1 | 12:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Arcadia | SPU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 62% | 74% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $46,400 | $50,400 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 69% | 82% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $27,000 | $25,603 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $279 | $264 |
Diversity |
Arcadia | SPU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 32% | 31% | ||
| % Women | 68% | 69% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 68% | 61% | ||
| % Black | 9% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 8% | 10% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 8% | ||
| % International | 3% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 1% |
Students |
Arcadia | SPU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 62% | 71% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 37% | 26% | ||
Campus |
Arcadia | SPU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Seattle Pacific University is larger than than Arcadia based on total student enrollment (3,118 students vs. 3,026 students)
Arcadia vs. SPU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Arcadia or SPU?
- Arcadia University is 27.2% more expensive to attend than SPU for in-state tuition ($46,430.00 vs. $36,504.00)
- Out of state tuition is 27.2% higher at Arcadia than Seattle Pacific University ($46,430.00 vs. $36,504.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Seattle Pacific University than Arcadia ($26,549 vs. $29,692)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Arcadia University are 5% lower than costs at Seattle Pacific University ($13,720 vs. $14,409)
- The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Arcadia University as Seattle Pacific University (99% vs. 99%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Arcadia University students is 22% larger than aid received Seattle Pacific University ($30,934 vs. $25,359)
Arcadia vs. SPU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Arcadia or SPU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between SPU or Arcadia .
- The average SAT score at Seattle Pacific University (1145) is 41 points higher than at Arcadia (1104)
- Incoming SPU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at Arcadia (25)
- Accepted freshman SPU students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.53) than students at Arcadia (3.42)
- SPU has a higher acceptance rate (90.7%) than Arcadia (77.6%)
Arcadia vs. SPU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Arcadia or SPU? 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 SPU and Arcadia.
- The graduation rate at SPU is higher than Arcadia University (74% vs. 62%)
- Graduates from Seattle Pacific University earn on average $4,000 more per year than Arcadia graduates after ten years. ($50,400 vs. $46,400)
- Seattle Pacific University students graduate with a $1,397 lower median federal student loan debt than Arcadia graduates. ($25,603 vs. $27,000)
- SPU graduates are paying $15 less per month on federal student loans than Arcadia graduates. ($264 vs. $279)
- More SPU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Arcadia students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 69%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/