Arcadia vs. Cedar Crest College

Comparable Facts

Compare Arcadia University in Glenside, PA with Cedar Crest College in Allentown, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Arcadia University is larger than Cedar Crest College based on total student enrollment (3,404 students vs. 1,290 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Arcadia University is located in Glenside, PA (Large Suburban setting); Cedar Crest College is in Allentown, PA (Midsize City setting).
• Arcadia University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Cedar Crest College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Arcadia University 10:1; Cedar Crest College 9:1.

Arcadia vs. Cedar Crest College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Arcadia or Cedar Crest College? 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 Cedar Crest College than Arcadia ($23,691 vs. $30,037).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cedar Crest College are 22% lower than at Arcadia University ($13,406 vs. $17,180).
• Arcadia University is 7.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cedar Crest College (about $3,296 more per year; $49,610.00 vs. $46,314.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 7.1% higher at Arcadia than at Cedar Crest College (about $3,296 more per year; $49,610.00 vs. $46,314.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Arcadia University as at Cedar Crest College (99% vs. 99%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Arcadia University students is 4.1% larger than aid received by Cedar Crest College students ($34,705 vs. $33,323).

Arcadia vs. Cedar Crest College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Arcadia or Cedar Crest College? 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 Cedar Crest College and Arcadia.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Arcadia University (1170) is 50 points higher than at Cedar Crest College (1120).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Arcadia University 1065/1265; Cedar Crest College 1000/1230.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Arcadia - Test optional; Cedar Crest College - Test-free.
• Accepted freshman Arcadia students have the same average high school GPA (3.42) as students at Cedar Crest College (3.42).
• Cedar Crest College has a higher acceptance rate (84.1%) than Arcadia (80.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 7.4% at Arcadia vs. 13.5% at Cedar Crest College.

Arcadia vs. Cedar Crest College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Arcadia and Cedar Crest College? 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).

• Arcadia University's six-year graduation rate (62%) is higher than Cedar Crest College's (50%).
• Graduates from Cedar Crest College earn a median of about $1,400 more per year than Arcadia graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,800 vs. $46,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Arcadia University graduates have a $750 lower median loan debt than Cedar Crest College graduates ($27,000 vs. $27,750).
• Among borrowers, Arcadia graduates have an estimated $7 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cedar Crest College graduates ($279 vs. $286).
• More Arcadia graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cedar Crest College students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 59%)

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.