Arcadia vs. SPU

Should I go to Arcadia University or Seattle Pacific University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Arcadia or SPU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Arcadia University vs. Seattle Pacific University comparison
Arcadia University Seattle Pacific University College 3 College 4
Arcadia University Seattle Pacific University
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Overview

Arcadia SPU
Location Glenside, PA Seattle, WA
Setting Large Suburban Large City
Enrollment 3,026 3,118
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #502 #270
Religious Affiliation Presbyterian Church (USA) Free Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website arcadia.edu spu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Arcadia SPU
Tuition (In State) $46,430 $36,504
Tuition (Out of State) $46,430 $36,504
Room & Board $13,720 $14,409
Avg Net Price $29,692 $26,549
Avg Grant Aid $30,934 $25,359
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 99%

Admission

Arcadia SPU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,321 3,895
Admitted 4,903 3,533
Acceptance Rate 77.6% 90.7%
Enrolled % 10% 15.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.42 3.53
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Challenging
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 24/29 20/27
SAT Range 1088/1320 1080/1350
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 Jul 11, 2024

Academics

Arcadia SPU
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Visual and Performing Arts (14%)
  • Biology (12%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Business (13%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Psychology (8%)

Outcomes

Arcadia SPU
Graduation Rate 62% 74%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $46,400 $50,400
Making Student Loan Payments 69% 82%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $25,603
Median Loan Payment $279 $264

Diversity

Arcadia SPU
% Men 32% 31%
% Women 68% 69%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 68% 61%
% Black 9% 4%
% Hispanic 8% 10%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 8%
% International 3% 4%
% Unknown Race 2% 1%

Students

Arcadia SPU
% In-State 62% 71%
% Out-of-State 37% 26%

Campus

Arcadia SPU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Seattle Pacific University is larger than than Arcadia based on total student enrollment (3,118 students vs. 3,026 students)

Arcadia vs. SPU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Arcadia or SPU?

  • Arcadia University is 27.2% more expensive to attend than SPU for in-state tuition ($46,430.00 vs. $36,504.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 27.2% higher at Arcadia than Seattle Pacific University ($46,430.00 vs. $36,504.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Seattle Pacific University than Arcadia ($26,549 vs. $29,692)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Arcadia University are 5% lower than costs at Seattle Pacific University ($13,720 vs. $14,409)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Arcadia University as Seattle Pacific University (99% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Arcadia University students is 22% larger than aid received Seattle Pacific University ($30,934 vs. $25,359)

Arcadia vs. SPU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Arcadia or SPU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between SPU or Arcadia .

  • The average SAT score at Seattle Pacific University (1145) is 41 points higher than at Arcadia (1104)
  • Incoming SPU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at Arcadia (25)
  • Accepted freshman SPU students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.53) than students at Arcadia (3.42)
  • SPU has a higher acceptance rate (90.7%) than Arcadia (77.6%)

Arcadia vs. SPU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Arcadia or SPU? 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 SPU and Arcadia.

  • The graduation rate at SPU is higher than Arcadia University (74% vs. 62%)
  • Graduates from Seattle Pacific University earn on average $4,000 more per year than Arcadia graduates after ten years. ($50,400 vs. $46,400)
  • Seattle Pacific University students graduate with a $1,397 lower median federal student loan debt than Arcadia graduates. ($25,603 vs. $27,000)
  • SPU graduates are paying $15 less per month on federal student loans than Arcadia graduates. ($264 vs. $279)
  • More SPU 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/