St. Mary's vs. Arcadia

Comparable Facts

Compare St. Mary's College of Maryland in St. Mary's City, MD with Arcadia University in Glenside, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Arcadia University is larger than St. Mary's based on total student enrollment (3,404 students vs. 1,630 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• St. Mary's College of Maryland is located in St. Mary's City, MD (Distant Rural setting); Arcadia University is in Glenside, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• St. Mary's College of Maryland is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Arcadia University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: St. Mary's College of Maryland 10:1; Arcadia University 10:1.

St. Mary's vs. Arcadia Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, St. Mary's or Arcadia? 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 St. Mary's College of Maryland than Arcadia ($21,071 vs. $30,037).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at St. Mary's College of Maryland are 6.4% lower than at Arcadia University ($16,079 vs. $17,180).
• Arcadia University is 224.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than St. Mary's (about $34,312 more per year; $49,610.00 vs. $15,298.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 58.1% higher at Arcadia than at St. Mary's College of Maryland (about $18,236 more per year; $49,610.00 vs. $31,374.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Arcadia University than at St. Mary's College of Maryland (99% vs. 98%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Arcadia University students is 204.5% larger than aid received by St. Mary's College of Maryland students ($34,705 vs. $11,398).

St. Mary's vs. Arcadia Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, St. Mary's or Arcadia? 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 Arcadia and St. Mary's.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at St. Mary's College of Maryland (1240) is 70 points higher than at Arcadia (1170).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: St. Mary's College of Maryland 1143/1340; Arcadia University 1065/1265.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: St. Mary's College of Maryland 26/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: St. Mary's - Test optional; Arcadia - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: St. Mary's Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman St. Mary's students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.45) than students at Arcadia (3.42).
• Arcadia has a higher acceptance rate (80.2%) than St. Mary's (68.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.3% at St. Mary's vs. 7.4% at Arcadia.

St. Mary's vs. Arcadia Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for St. Mary's and Arcadia? 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).

• St. Mary's College of Maryland's six-year graduation rate (79%) is higher than Arcadia University's (62%).
• Graduates from St. Mary's College of Maryland earn a median of about $5,100 more per year than Arcadia graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,500 vs. $46,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, St. Mary's College of Maryland graduates have a $6,630 lower median loan debt than Arcadia graduates ($20,370 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, St. Mary's graduates have an estimated $69 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Arcadia graduates ($210 vs. $279).
• More St. Mary's 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.