Arcadia vs. Wilkes

Should I go to Arcadia University or Wilkes University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Arcadia or Wilkes 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. Wilkes University comparison
Arcadia University Wilkes University College 3 College 4
Arcadia University Wilkes University
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Overview

Arcadia Wilkes
Location Glenside, PA Wilkes-Barre, PA
Setting Large Suburban Small City
Enrollment 3,026 5,207
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #502 #478
Religious Affiliation Presbyterian Church (USA) - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website arcadia.edu wilkes.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Arcadia Wilkes
Tuition (In State) $46,430 $39,134
Tuition (Out of State) $46,430 $39,134
Room & Board $13,720 $15,850
Avg Net Price $29,692 $27,918
Avg Grant Aid $30,934 $29,441
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 97%

Admission

Arcadia Wilkes
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,321 4,798
Admitted 4,903 4,517
Acceptance Rate 77.6% 94.1%
Enrolled % 10% 10.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.42 3.56
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Average
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 24/29 21/26
SAT Range 1088/1320 1060/1260
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

Academics

Arcadia Wilkes
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Visual and Performing Arts (14%)
  • Biology (12%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (13%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Engineering (11%)
  • Communication (8%)

Outcomes

Arcadia Wilkes
Graduation Rate 62% 58%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $46,400 $58,200
Making Student Loan Payments 69% 75%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $26,000
Median Loan Payment $279 $268

Diversity

Arcadia Wilkes
% Men 32% 31%
% Women 68% 69%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 68% 73%
% Black 9% 4%
% Hispanic 8% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 4%
% International 3% 9%
% Unknown Race 2% 2%

Students

Arcadia Wilkes
% In-State 62% 75%
% Out-of-State 37% 24%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Wilkes University is larger than than Arcadia based on total student enrollment (5,207 students vs. 3,026 students)

Arcadia vs. Wilkes Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Arcadia or Wilkes?

  • Arcadia University is 18.6% more expensive to attend than Wilkes for in-state tuition ($46,430.00 vs. $39,134.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 18.6% higher at Arcadia than Wilkes University ($46,430.00 vs. $39,134.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Wilkes University than Arcadia ($27,918 vs. $29,692)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Arcadia University are 15.5% lower than costs at Wilkes University ($13,720 vs. $15,850)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Arcadia University than Wilkes University (99% vs. 97%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Arcadia University students is 5.1% larger than aid received Wilkes University ($30,934 vs. $29,441)

Arcadia vs. Wilkes Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Arcadia University (1104) is 51 points higher than at Wilkes (1053)
  • Accepted freshman Wilkes students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.56) than students at Arcadia (3.42)
  • Wilkes has a higher acceptance rate (94.1%) than Arcadia (77.6%)

Arcadia vs. Wilkes Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Arcadia is higher than Wilkes University (62% vs. 58%)
  • Graduates from Wilkes University earn on average $11,800 more per year than Arcadia graduates after ten years. ($58,200 vs. $46,400)
  • Wilkes University students graduate with a $1,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Arcadia graduates. ($26,000 vs. $27,000)
  • Wilkes graduates are paying $11 less per month on federal student loans than Arcadia graduates. ($268 vs. $279)
  • More Wilkes graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Arcadia students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 69%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/