Arcadia vs. Ship

Comparable Facts

Compare Arcadia University in Glenside, PA with Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania in Shippensburg, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania is larger than Arcadia based on total student enrollment (5,161 students vs. 3,404 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Arcadia University is located in Glenside, PA (Large Suburban setting); Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania is in Shippensburg, PA (Distant Town setting).
• Arcadia University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Arcadia University 10:1; Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania 18:1.

Arcadia vs. Ship Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Arcadia or Ship? 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 Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania than Arcadia ($23,772 vs. $30,037).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania are 22.4% lower than at Arcadia University ($13,340 vs. $17,180).
• Arcadia University is 261.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Ship (about $35,890 more per year; $49,610.00 vs. $13,720.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 210.6% higher at Arcadia than at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania (about $33,636 more per year; $49,610.00 vs. $15,974.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Arcadia University than at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania (99% vs. 90%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Arcadia University students is 413.7% larger than aid received by Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania students ($34,705 vs. $6,756).

Arcadia vs. Ship Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Arcadia or Ship? 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 Ship and Arcadia.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Arcadia University (1170) is 70 points higher than at Ship (1100).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Arcadia University 1065/1265; Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania 990/1210.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Arcadia - Test optional; Ship - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Arcadia students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at Ship (3.23).
• Ship has a higher acceptance rate (86.5%) than Arcadia (80.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 7.4% at Arcadia vs. 17.5% at Ship.

Arcadia vs. Ship Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Arcadia and Ship? 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 Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania's (60%).
• Graduates from Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania earn a median of about $800 more per year than Arcadia graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,200 vs. $46,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than Arcadia graduates ($25,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Ship graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Arcadia graduates ($258 vs. $279).
• More Ship graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Arcadia students, three years after graduation. (72% 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.