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Glenside , PA
Arcadia University is a private liberal arts university located in Glenside, Pennsylvania, just 12 miles north of Philadelphia. Established in 1853, Arcadia is known for its strong commitment to global education and experiential learning. The university offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs through its seven schools, including the College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Global Business, the School of Education, and the College of Health Sciences.
One of the unique aspects of Arcadia is its emphasis on study abroad experiences. All undergraduate students have the opportunity to spend a semester or year studying in one of over 130 programs worldwide. Additionally, the university operates its own campuses in London and Rome, where students can study for a full semester or take part in various short-term programs. This commitment to global education helps students gain a deeper understanding of different cultures and prepares them for a globally interconnected world.
Arcadia University is dedicated to providing its students with hands-on learning experiences that supplement classroom instruction. The university's career-focused curriculum integrates internships, research opportunities, and community service, allowing students to apply their knowledge and skills in real-world settings. Arcadia is also known for its strong sense of community, which is fostered through various extracurricular activities, clubs, and organizations. With a diverse and inclusive campus, Arcadia strives to create a supportive and intellectually stimulating environment for all of its students.
Arcadia University is a private university located in Glenside, PA and set in a suburban environment. This educational institution operates on a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 80%. The freshman retention rate at Arcadia University is 78.8% and the six-year graduation rate is 67%.
Learn more about what Arcadia University has to offer based on the most recent data this institution has reported.
Quick Facts
2,030
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
$49,980
Tuition
10:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
67%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
If you learn as much as possible about the institution's criteria for admission, your chances of getting accepted will greatly improve. What are the admission requirements for Arcadia University?
In 2025, the school accepted 8,153 new students. Arcadia University has an official test-optional admission policy but takes into consideration standardized test scores in cases when they are submitted by the candidate. Looking at entrance difficulty level for all or most incoming freshmen, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is moderately difficult to get into.
Test Scores
9% of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students submitted their SAT scores for admission, and 1% submitted ACT scores, out of the total number of those who submitted test scores. 7% of the new students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 47% between 1,200 and 1,399, 33% between 1,000 and 1,199, 11% of the students between 800 and 999, and 2% of the students between 600 and 799. The percent of incoming freshmen who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 29, 57 between 24-29 and 14 between 12-17.
The latest reported average GPA of the enrolled students was 3.33. That means that you need a GPA that's above average in order to get into Arcadia University.
Retention Rate
The percentage of new students at a college or university who stay on for their second year is known as the freshman retention rate. When you create your list of possible schools to attend, you should consider the freshman retention rate, among other things.
The freshman retention rate for Arcadia University was 78.8% in 2025, a clear indication of the excellence and value of the educational experience at this school.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. It provides valuable insight into the percentage of students who complete their studies within a designated timeframe. At this school, the rate of students graduating within six years is 67%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
It is always challenging to figure out which school is best for you. You can have a better understanding of the school's culture and way of life by learning more about the student body.
Main Student Body
In 2025, the institution enrolled 3,404 students.
The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 35% for that year. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the institution was 2,030, 98 of which were foreign students. The number of transfer students at this school was 141.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 839 male and 1,572 female full-time students in 2025, which speaks volumes for gender equality at this institution. 151 full-time graduate men and 396 full-time graduate women attended this school.
Student Population Diversity
Higer Education is committed to expanding the diversity of its student body and improving students' sense of inclusion and belonging. A heterogeneous student body brings together individuals from different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Learn more about all the ethnic communities you might encounter at this institution.
This school had 80 Asian students and 327 Afro-American students in 2025. 228 undergraduate students at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 65 as multirace. The school also had 1 student who identified as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and 10 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 72 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Before sending an application to any college or university, the financial component should be taken into account. The most recent data reported regarding the expenses for attending this school are detailed below.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some numbers that can help you better understand the estimated tuition fees for this university.
Tuition fees per academic year for full-time domestic students were $49,980 in 2025. Arcadia University is a private institution, so tuition is the same for all the accepted students. Fees per academic year required of full-time students came to a total of $960 in 2025.
Books and Supplies
Another important financial factor to consider is the approximate cost of books and supplies for a college or university. Most students have to set aside about $1,500 for books and supplies during their time at Arcadia University.
Boarding
Before you apply to a college or university, you should, among other things, think about the price of a dorm room and cafeteria meals. What do schools typically charge for room and board?
The cost of room and board (on campus) per academic year at Arcadia University was $17,660 in 2025. The cost of a dorm room only at this school in 2025 was $8,700 for one academic year.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 49,980 |
| Room and Board | $ 17,660 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,500 |
| Total Expense | $ 69,140 |
Financial Aid
There are different types of financial aid: grants, loans, scholarships, and work-study programs. Check out some recent data to get the info about need-based and non-need-based aid students could get at Arcadia University.
The most recent figures show that financial help was given to 569 freshmen.
Need-based
Need-based financial aid is exactly what it sounds like — it’s awarded based on the determined financial need.
1,859 students acquired some form of need-based financial aid. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution came to $3,735,275, and state $2,480,981. The students of Arcadia University received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $42,288,304, and external in the amount of $472,354.
$17,060
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based financial aid is any type of financial aid provided to a student who does not meet the criteria for need-based aid. The most popular forms of non-need-based financial aid for students are loans and grants, like Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
339 students, including freshmen, obtained institutional non-need-based financial aid at this institution in 2025. 122 full-time freshmen were awarded institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid. The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants was $8,360,803. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. $254,892 was the amount that the students at this institution got from external sources (like Kiwanis and National Merit).
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Majors
Faculty
10:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty or student-to-professor ratio represents the number of students compared to the number of professors at a school.
In 2025, this ratio at Arcadia University was 10:1. That means that there were 10 times more students than teachers at this school. The total number of faculty teaching at the institution is 397. This number included 150 male and 247 female faculty members. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school is telling of the importance gender equality has at Arcadia University.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
It is not all about learning and grades at Arcadia University: campus life is a crucial component of your educational experience. Find out some details about campus life at Arcadia University.
It has a campus size of 76 acres.
Student Organizations
Being a member of a student organization will make you connect better with your fellow students and enjoy your college years more.
The student organization that attracts the greatest number of students is Student Alumni Association, followed by Arcadia Christian Fellowship and Student Government. Other popular student organizations at this school are Residence Hall Council and Student Program Board.
For individuals with a passion for acting, there is a drama club available. For individuals with an interest in media and communication, Arcadia University publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
Arcadia University offers a number of services necessary for a pleasant and secure life on campus.
There are 24-hour emergency phone and alarm devices. The dormitory entrances at the school are electronically controlled. There is a 24-hour security patrol. The transport/escort service operates during late hours.
There is a medical clinic with personal/psychological counseling. All in all, campus life at Arcadia University is rich and vibrant and provides everything most students need.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Arcadia University.
Career Counselling
At Arcadia University, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. There is campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be highly beneficial for your future career. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
FAQ
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Arcadia University is located in Glenside, PA.
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The overall full-time tuition per academic year for Arcadia University is 49,980 USD, based on the most recent data.
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This school has an official test-optional admission policy but makes use of SAT, SAT Subject Tests, ACT, or other standardized test scores in admission decisions for the candidates who choose to submit them.
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The most recent data indicate that the acceptance rate for Arcadia University is 80%.
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According to the latest information, the freshman retention rate for Arcadia University is 78.8%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
