Arcadia vs. Sweet Briar College

Comparable Facts

Compare Arcadia University in Glenside, PA with Sweet Briar College in Sweet Briar, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Arcadia University is larger than Sweet Briar College based on total student enrollment (3,404 students vs. 444 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Arcadia University is located in Glenside, PA (Large Suburban setting); Sweet Briar College is in Sweet Briar, VA (Small Suburban setting).
• Arcadia University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Sweet Briar College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Arcadia University 10:1; Sweet Briar College 9:1.

Arcadia vs. Sweet Briar College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Arcadia or Sweet Briar College? 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 Sweet Briar College than Arcadia ($21,322 vs. $30,037).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Sweet Briar College are 11.4% lower than at Arcadia University ($15,230 vs. $17,180).
• Arcadia University is 89.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Sweet Briar College (about $23,450 more per year; $49,610.00 vs. $26,160.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 89.6% higher at Arcadia than at Sweet Briar College (about $23,450 more per year; $49,610.00 vs. $26,160.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Arcadia University as at Sweet Briar College (99% vs. 99%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Arcadia University students is 55% larger than aid received by Sweet Briar College students ($34,705 vs. $22,387).

Arcadia vs. Sweet Briar College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Arcadia or Sweet Briar College? 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 Sweet Briar College and Arcadia.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Sweet Briar College (1210) is 40 points higher than at Arcadia (1170).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Arcadia University 1065/1265; Sweet Briar College 1100/1310.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Arcadia - Test optional; Sweet Briar College - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Sweet Briar College students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.54) than students at Arcadia (3.42).
• Arcadia has a higher acceptance rate (80.2%) than Sweet Briar College (75.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 7.4% at Arcadia vs. 13.2% at Sweet Briar College.

Arcadia vs. Sweet Briar College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Arcadia and Sweet Briar College? 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).

• Sweet Briar College's six-year graduation rate (70%) is higher than Arcadia University's (62%).
• Graduates from Arcadia University earn a median of about $4,700 more per year than Sweet Briar College graduates about ten years after starting college ($46,400 vs. $41,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Sweet Briar College and Arcadia graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Sweet Briar College and Arcadia graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($279 vs. $279).
• More Sweet Briar College 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.