Arcadia University
Glenside, Pennsylvania · Private Nonprofit · 80.2% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 46/100 · Below Average Value
Arcadia University, a private nonprofit in Glenside, PA (suburban Philadelphia), scores 46 on the ROI index in Below Average Value tier. Sticker tuition is $49,610 -- the highest in this batch -- with a net price of $29,466, reflecting substantial aid leverage but still a high all-in cost. Median earnings at six years are $36,300, rising to $58,336 at 10 years. Payback period is 11.1 years -- one of the better numbers in this batch -- and completion rate is 66.7%. The damaging numbers: $27,000 median debt produces a 0.744 debt-to-earnings ratio (subscore 21), and the three-year repayment rate is 75%. Earnings premium is 19.8%. Enrollment is 1,948 with a 28% Pell rate. Arcadia is known for its study-abroad programming and has a strong physician-assistant graduate pipeline; the undergraduate ROI is held back by the high net price and the typical liberal-arts-bachelor earnings ceiling.
Arcadia University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $49,610/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $49,610/yr |
| Average net price | $29,466/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $117,864 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $58,336 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $36,300 |
| Median debt at graduation | $27,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $286 |
| Estimated payback period | 11.1 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 66.7% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,948 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Arcadia University is $49,610/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $29,466/year, or roughly $117,864 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $23,127/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $34,339/year.
The median graduate leaves with $27,000 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $286 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $58,336 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.74 - within the recommended range but worth monitoring.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $23,127 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $25,388 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $25,978 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $28,654 |
| $110,001+ | $34,339 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Households at $0-$30,000 pay $23,127 net -- a substantial discount from sticker but still steep against $36,300 six-year earnings. $30,001-$48,000 pays $25,388. The aid is good but the absolute price remains high.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
$48,001-$75,000 pays $25,978, $75,001-$110,000 pays $28,654 -- progressive curve. Middle-income mid-Atlantic families could compare with Pennsylvania state options or Temple/Penn State for materially lower cost.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Households above $110,000 pay $34,339 -- the top bracket. Total 4-year cost over $137,000 against $58,336 ten-year earnings produces a 2.4x ratio. At this price tier, the school's value proposition shifts to the grad-school feeder pipeline (PA programs especially) rather than direct undergraduate ROI.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Arcadia University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Biology | $73,377 | C |
| Psychology | $55,517 | D |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $37,489 | F |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $39,087 | F |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $86,116 | C+ |
| Political Science and Government | $47,772 | D |
| Communication and Media Studies | $40,740 | D |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | $27,390 | D |
| Mathematics | $66,995 | - |
| Sociology | $36,919 | - |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Computer and Information Sciences
Computer and Information Sciences has 15 graduates, $50,672 first-year earnings, $86,116 at four years, $27,000 median debt, 0.533 debt-to-earnings, and a C+ ROI grade. Strong four-year earnings growth (70%) reflects Philadelphia-area tech-industry placement. The C+ grade is held back by the moderate debt; absolute wages are competitive. One of Arcadia's stronger paths.
Accounting
Accounting has 3 graduates -- small sample -- with $46,846 first-year earnings, $73,901 at four years, $27,000 median debt, 0.576 debt-to-earnings, and a C ROI grade. The four-year earnings figure is unusually strong (58% growth) and points to CPA-track and corporate-finance placement in the Philly market. Small graduate count makes the figures noisy.
Biology
Biology has 66 graduates, $40,110 first-year earnings, $73,377 at four years, $27,000 median debt, 0.673 debt-to-earnings, and a C ROI grade. The 83% four-year earnings growth is exceptional and strongly suggests graduate-school feeder dynamics: graduates moving into MD, PA, PT, dental, and pharmacy programs see their earnings climb sharply once they complete the next degree. A defensible undergraduate path within a clear pre-health pipeline.
Political Science and Government
Political Science has 14 graduates, $33,823 first-year earnings, $47,772 at four years, $26,000 median debt, 0.769 debt-to-earnings, and a D ROI grade. Standard humanities-bachelor wage profile. Career paths typically route through law school, DC-area policy work, or graduate study -- the bachelor's alone produces moderate wages.
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
Drama and Theatre has 16 graduates, $17,203 first-year earnings, $39,087 at four years, $27,000 median debt, 1.569 debt-to-earnings, and an F ROI grade. The $17K first-year earnings and 1.57 debt-to-earnings are stark numbers. Students drawn to this program for artistic reasons should know the financial math is structurally weak; equivalent training at lower-cost institutions exists.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 72.0% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 74.8% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 74.4% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 78.8% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 80.2% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 515-615 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 550-650 |
| Enrollment | 1,948 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 28.3% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,854 |
Admission rate is 80.2%, with SAT mid-range 515-615 math, 550-650 reading, and ACT scores not reported. These are nationally moderate scores describing a well-prepared mid-Atlantic student body. The 80% admit rate combined with a 66.7% completion rate is a healthy pattern -- students who enroll are typically prepared to finish, and most do. Selectivity here is meaningful but not gating-tight.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Peer institutions include Bryn Athyn College of the New Church, Albright College, Bob Jones University, University of Mount Union, and St. Bonaventure University. Albright (PA peer) and Mount Union (Ohio peer) are the most relevant functional peers -- both small Mid-Atlantic/Midwest privates with similar ROI scores in the 40s. St. Bonaventure typically scores somewhat higher. Bryn Athyn and Bob Jones are religious-formation peers. Arcadia's 46 is consistent with the academic-private peer cluster.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arcadia University (this school) | 46 | $29,466 | $58,336 |
| Albright College | 56 | $20,024 | $58,700 |
| St Bonaventure University | 51 | $27,074 | $57,214 |
| Bob Jones University | 47 | $16,641 | $44,354 |
| University of Mount Union | 44 | $23,280 | $53,217 |
| Bryn Athyn College of the New Church | 34 | $20,586 | $40,457 |
Who Thrives Here
Fits Mid-Atlantic students seeking a small private with strong study-abroad programming and pre-health pathways, particularly those who can afford the $29K net price or whose family income produces meaningful aid. Enrollment of 1,948 keeps cohorts small; 28% Pell rate signals a moderately middle-class student body. Outcomes are reasonable for biology, computer-and-information-sciences, and accounting graduates and weaker for arts and political-science paths. The path-to-grad-school is a real Arcadia strength worth weighing.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The financial case for Arcadia University is mixed. At $29,466 per year net cost, graduates earn a median of $58,336 ten years after entry - a payback period of 11.1 years. That's below the average return for four-year institutions, and prospective students should carefully consider whether the investment aligns with their financial goals.
Areas of concern include weak earnings relative to cost and high debt relative to what graduates earn.
Median debt of $27,000 against $58,336 in earnings is reasonable, though major choice matters significantly. Students in higher-earning programs will see better returns.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.