Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
George Washington Georgetown Fordham Syracuse Mason Lafayette College DU Drexel William & Mary Elon University of Richmond Bucknell| American University | Arcadia University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
AU | Arcadia | ||
| Location | Washington, DC | Glenside, PA | ||
| Setting | Large City | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 13,885 | 3,026 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #93 | #502 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | United Methodist | Presbyterian Church (USA) | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | american.edu | arcadia.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
AU | Arcadia | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $53,070 | $46,430 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $53,070 | $46,430 | ||
| Room & Board | $15,706 | $13,720 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $41,369 | $29,692 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $27,138 | $30,934 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 66% | 99% |
Admission |
AU | Arcadia | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 19,510 | 6,321 | ||
| Admitted | 7,926 | 4,903 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 40.6% | 77.6% | ||
| Enrolled % | 22.2% | 10% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.7 | 3.42 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 29/32 | 24/29 | ||
| SAT Range | 1290/1430 | 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 | Jan 15, 2024 |
Academics |
AU | Arcadia | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 11:1 | 12:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
AU | Arcadia | ||
| Graduation Rate | 77% | 62% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $64,800 | $46,400 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 80% | 69% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,250 | $27,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $250 | $279 |
Diversity |
AU | Arcadia | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 37% | 32% | ||
| % Women | 63% | 68% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 58% | 68% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 9% | ||
| % Hispanic | 12% | 8% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 4% | ||
| % International | 7% | 3% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 4% | 2% |
Students |
AU | Arcadia | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 2% | 62% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 94% | 37% | ||
Campus |
AU | Arcadia | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- American University is larger than than Arcadia based on total student enrollment (13,885 students vs. 3,026 students)
AU vs. Arcadia Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, AU or Arcadia?
- American University is 14.3% more expensive to attend than Arcadia for in-state tuition ($53,070.00 vs. $46,430.00)
- Out of state tuition is 14.3% higher at AU than Arcadia University ($53,070.00 vs. $46,430.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Arcadia University than AU ($29,692 vs. $41,369)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Arcadia University are 14.5% lower than costs at American University ($13,720 vs. $15,706)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Arcadia University than American University (99% vs. 66%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Arcadia University students is 14% larger than aid received American University ($30,934 vs. $27,138)
AU vs. Arcadia Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, AU or Arcadia? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Arcadia or AU .
- The average SAT score at American University (1252) is 148 points higher than at Arcadia (1104)
- Incoming AU students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (28) than students at Arcadia (25)
- Accepted freshman AU students have a 0.28 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at Arcadia (3.42)
- Arcadia has a higher acceptance rate (77.6%) than AU (40.6%)
AU vs. Arcadia Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, AU 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 AU.
- The graduation rate at AU is higher than Arcadia University (77% vs. 62%)
- Graduates from American University earn on average $18,400 more per year than Arcadia graduates after ten years. ($64,800 vs. $46,400)
- American University students graduate with a $2,750 lower median federal student loan debt than Arcadia graduates. ($24,250 vs. $27,000)
- AU graduates are paying $29 less per month on federal student loans than Arcadia graduates. ($250 vs. $279)
- More AU 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/