Emerson vs. Arcadia

Should I go to Emerson College or Arcadia University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Emerson or Arcadia 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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Emerson College vs. Arcadia University comparison
Emerson College Arcadia University College 3 College 4
Emerson College Arcadia University
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Overview

Emerson Arcadia
Location Boston, MA Glenside, PA
Setting Large City Large Suburban
Enrollment 5,891 3,026
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #235 #502
Religious Affiliation - Presbyterian Church (USA) - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website emerson.edu arcadia.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Emerson Arcadia
Tuition (In State) $52,288 $46,430
Tuition (Out of State) $52,288 $46,430
Room & Board $19,528 $13,720
Avg Net Price $51,432 $29,692
Avg Grant Aid $24,360 $30,934
% Receiving Grant Aid 78% 99%

Admission

Emerson Arcadia
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 12,109 6,321
Admitted 5,176 4,903
Acceptance Rate 42.7% 77.6%
Enrolled % 19.4% 10%
Avg High School GPA 3.73 3.42
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Very High Difficult
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 30/32 24/29
SAT Range 1250/1430 1088/1320
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 Feb 20, 2025

Academics

Emerson Arcadia
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Communication (33%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (29%)
  • English and Literature (19%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Health Professions (2%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (14%)
  • Biology (12%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Psychology (8%)

Outcomes

Emerson Arcadia
Graduation Rate 81% 62%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $49,200 $46,400
Making Student Loan Payments 80% 69%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,500 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $242 $279

Diversity

Emerson Arcadia
% Men 28% 32%
% Women 72% 68%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 67% 68%
% Black 3% 9%
% Hispanic 11% 8%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 4%
% International 7% 3%
% Unknown Race 3% 2%

Students

Emerson Arcadia
% In-State 14% 62%
% Out-of-State 69% 37%

Campus

Emerson Arcadia
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

  • Emerson College is larger than than Arcadia based on total student enrollment (5,891 students vs. 3,026 students)

Emerson vs. Arcadia Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Emerson or Arcadia?

  • Emerson College is 12.6% more expensive to attend than Arcadia for in-state tuition ($52,288.00 vs. $46,430.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 12.6% higher at Emerson than Arcadia University ($52,288.00 vs. $46,430.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Arcadia University than Emerson ($29,692 vs. $51,432)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Arcadia University are 42.3% lower than costs at Emerson College ($13,720 vs. $19,528)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Arcadia University than Emerson College (99% vs. 78%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Arcadia University students is 27% larger than aid received Emerson College ($30,934 vs. $24,360)

Emerson vs. Arcadia Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Emerson or Arcadia? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Arcadia or Emerson .

  • The average SAT score at Emerson College (1211) is 107 points higher than at Arcadia (1104)
  • Incoming Emerson students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at Arcadia (25)
  • Accepted freshman Emerson students have a 0.31 point higher average high school GPA (3.73) than students at Arcadia (3.42)
  • Arcadia has a higher acceptance rate (77.6%) than Emerson (42.7%)

Emerson vs. Arcadia Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Emerson or Arcadia? 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 Arcadia and Emerson.

  • The graduation rate at Emerson is higher than Arcadia University (81% vs. 62%)
  • Graduates from Emerson College earn on average $2,800 more per year than Arcadia graduates after ten years. ($49,200 vs. $46,400)
  • Emerson College students graduate with a $3,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Arcadia graduates. ($23,500 vs. $27,000)
  • Emerson graduates are paying $37 less per month on federal student loans than Arcadia graduates. ($242 vs. $279)
  • More Emerson 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/