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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 academic institution uses 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%.
To find out more about what Arcadia University has to offer to its students, read on for the latest data reported by this school.
Quick Facts
2,030
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
$49,980
Tuition
10:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
67%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
You need to learn as much as you can about the entrance requirements of the school in order to maximize your chances of being accepted. Discover some relevant info about admission at Arcadia University.
In 2025, the school accepted 8,153 new students. Arcadia University has an official test-optional admission policy but considers standardized test scores if the applicant decides to submit them. 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
Out of the number of those who submitted test scores, the percentage of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students who submitted SAT scores was 9% and ACT scores 1%. 7% of the first-year 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% between 600 and 799. The percent of 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. Therefore, the chances are that you'll need a GPA higher than the average for acceptance,.
Retention Rate
What is the freshman retention rate? The freshman retention rate is the percentage of full-time students who entered the institution as freshmen in the previous academic year and returned for the fall term of the current academic year. This piece of data is important as it can reveal to the prospective students how many freshmen liked the school enough to return to it as sophomores.
The freshman retention rate for Arcadia University was 78.8% in 2025, a reflection of the high standards and excellent educational experience at this school.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. It reflects the proportion of students who obtain their degrees within the expected 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. Having a better insight into a school's student body helps you learn more about its culture and life.
Main Student Body
The overall number of students enrolled at Arcadia University in 2025 was 3,404.
The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 35% for that year. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the school was 2,030, 98 of which were international 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. There were 151 full-time graduate male and 396 full-time graduate female students at this school.
Student Population Diversity
Higher Education is dedicated to increasing student diversity and enhancing students' feelings of inclusion and belonging. Diversity promotes critical thinking, challenges preconceived notions, and encourages intellectual growth, so it helps students develop empathy and a broader understanding of the world. 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 undergraduates at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 65 identified with more than one race. The school also had 1 student who declared as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, as well as 10 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 72 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Before submitting an application to any college or university, the financial component should be taken into account. Here are some important data on Arcadia University costs that most students encounter at this school.
Tuition and Fees
If you were wondering how much the tuition cost for Arcadia University is, here are some recent data that will come in handy.
As a full-time domestic student, you were required to pay tuition of $49,980 in 2025. As this is a private institution, tuition is the same for all the accepted students. Fees per academic year required of full-time students amounted to $960 in 2025.
Books and Supplies
When you try to estimate the cost of attendance for a college or university, you need to take into account the cost of books and supplies you're going to need. The cost of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is estimated at about $1,500.
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 is the typical amount colleges and universities charge for room and board?
At Arcadia University, the 2025 annual cost of room and board (on campus) was $17,660. If you only wanted a dormitory room, it cost $8,700 for the 2025 academic year.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 49,980 |
| Room and Board | $ 17,660 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,500 |
| Total Expense | $ 69,140 |
Financial Aid
Getting some financial aid in forms of grants, loans, scholarships or work-study programs can be crucial for finishing your studies. Check out some recent data to get informed about need-based and non-need-based aid available at Arcadia University.
According to the most recent data, 569 freshmen were awarded financial aid.
Need-based
If you need help with paying for your studies and you meet certain eligibility requirements, you may be eligible for need-based aid.
1,859 students obtained some form of need-based financial aid. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution added up 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 aid is any type of financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid. Most students get non-need-based financial aid as Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the TEACH Grant.
Institutional non-need-based scholarships or grants were given to 339 students overall (including freshmen) at Arcadia University in 2025. Institutional grants or scholarships that are not based on financial need were given to 122 full-time freshman. The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need 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. The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $254,892 USD.
Open Applications
Find open programs by choosing your preferred academic interest from the list below, and select your desired term start. Get started with your application process and find more information using the Apply button.
The Common Application for Transfer (Common App for transfer)
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.
According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at Arcadia University was 10:1: that means 10 students per one teacher, which is considered a good ratio. This school has recently reported to have 397 faculty members. Out of that number, there were 150 men and 247 women. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school speaks volumes for gender equality at Arcadia University.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Not everything at Arcadia University is about learning and grades: campus life is an essential part of your educational experience. Check out some details about campus life at Arcadia University.
Its campus is 76 acres in size.
Student Organizations
Joining multiple student organizations can provide you a more interesting and dynamic experience.
The most popular student organization is Student Alumni Association, followed by Arcadia Christian Fellowship and Student Government. Other popular organizations among the students at Arcadia University are Residence Hall Council and Student Program Board.
For individuals with a penchant for acting, there is a drama club offering an opportunity to get involved. For students looking to explore media and communication, Arcadia University publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
At Arcadia University, there are many amenities that make life on campus pleasant and safe.
There are 24-hour emergency phone and alarm devices. The dormitory entrances are electronically operated. There is a security patrol that operates 24 hours a day. The late-night transport/escort service is available.
There is a medical clinic with personal/psychological counseling. All in all, campus life at Arcadia University is rich and vibrant and provides all you need for a comfortable stay.
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. The school has campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be a great asset 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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The most recent reported 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.