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UT Nova Eckerd College UCF USF Main Campus FAU Ursinus College FGCU LVC Southeastern University WCU Penn State Abington| Florida Southern College | Arcadia University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Florida Southern | Arcadia | ||
| Location | Lakeland, FL | Glenside, PA | ||
| Setting | Small City | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 3,194 | 3,142 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #294 | #471 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | United Methodist | Presbyterian Church (USA) | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | flsouthern.edu | arcadia.edu | ||
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Costs |
Florida Southern | Arcadia | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $41,500 | $47,590 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $41,500 | $47,590 | ||
| Room & Board | $13,800 | $16,250 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $30,462 | $26,994 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $26,704 | $34,234 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 100% |
Admission |
Florida Southern | Arcadia | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 10,874 | 6,688 | ||
| Admitted | 6,423 | 5,296 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 59.1% | 79.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 10% | 7.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.73 | 3.42 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Difficult | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 25/30 | 26/30 | ||
| SAT Range | 1170/1310 | 1083/1310 | ||
| 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 | May 1, 2026 |
Academics |
Florida Southern | Arcadia | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 10:1 | 11:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Florida Southern | Arcadia | ||
| Graduation Rate | 55% | 62% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $42,700 | $46,400 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 65% | 69% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,000 | $27,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $248 | $279 |
Diversity |
Florida Southern | Arcadia | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 6% | 11% | ||
| % Women | 12% | 28% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 74% | 68% | ||
| % Black | 6% | 9% | ||
| % Hispanic | 11% | 8% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 4% | ||
| % International | 4% | 3% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 2% |
Students |
Florida Southern | Arcadia | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 62% | 66% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 36% | 32% | ||
Campus |
Florida Southern | Arcadia | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Florida Southern College is larger than than Arcadia based on total student enrollment (3,194 students vs. 3,142 students)
Florida Southern vs. Arcadia Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Florida Southern or Arcadia?
- Arcadia University is 14.7% more expensive to attend than Florida Southern for in-state tuition ($47,590.00 vs. $41,500.00)
- Out of state tuition is 14.7% higher at Arcadia than Florida Southern College ($47,590.00 vs. $41,500.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Arcadia University than Florida Southern ($26,994 vs. $30,462)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Florida Southern College are 17.8% lower than costs at Arcadia University ($13,800 vs. $16,250)
- The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Florida Southern College as Arcadia University (100% vs. 100%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Arcadia University students is 28.2% larger than aid received Florida Southern College ($34,234 vs. $26,704)
Florida Southern vs. Arcadia Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Florida Southern or Arcadia? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Arcadia or Florida Southern .
- The average SAT score at Florida Southern College (1172) is 68 points higher than at Arcadia (1104)
- Incoming Florida Southern students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at Arcadia (25)
- Accepted freshman Florida Southern 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 (79.2%) than Florida Southern (59.1%)
Florida Southern vs. Arcadia Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Florida Southern 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 Florida Southern.
- The graduation rate at Arcadia is higher than Florida Southern College (62% vs. 55%)
- Graduates from Arcadia University earn on average $3,700 more per year than Florida Southern graduates after ten years. ($46,400 vs. $42,700)
- Florida Southern College students graduate with a $3,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Arcadia graduates. ($24,000 vs. $27,000)
- Florida Southern graduates are paying $31 less per month on federal student loans than Arcadia graduates. ($248 vs. $279)
- More Arcadia graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Florida Southern students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 65%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/