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Arcadia University

Overview

At a Glance

School type

Private, not-for-profit, 4-year or above

School Size & Setting

Large | Suburb

Students-to-Faculty Ratio

8:1

Religious affliation

Presbyterian Church (USA)

Mission Statement

Founded in 1853, Arcadia is a private, coeducational, comprehensive University. Arcadia promises a distinctively global, integrative and personal learning experience that prepares its students to contribute and live in a diverse and dynamic world.

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cost & financial aid

Annual tuition & fees

Undergraduate

In state

$47,130

Out of state

$47,130
Graduate

In state

$27,674

Out of state

$27,674

Financial Aid: Undergraduates

Received financial aid
99%
Type of aid % of students receiving aid Average amount
Federal grants 34.0% $5,314
State/local grants 23.0% $4,382
Institutional grants 99.0% $28,117
Loans 78.0% $10,178

Other Estimated Costs

Housing

$13,720 per year

Books & Supplies

$1,500 per year

Personal Expenses

$1,100 per year

Pay For College with ROTC

Reserve Officers Training Corp (ROTC) is a college scholarship program that prepares students to become military officers

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Financial aid resources

Paying for college

Learn about different ways to cover costs, incluing financial aid, GI Bills, grants and scholarships

Applying for financial Aid

Review this step-by-step guide on everything you need to do to complete your application.

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Academics

Most Popular Undergraduate majors

  • Biology/Biological Sciences, General
  • Psychology, General
  • Business Administration and Management, General
  • Criminology
  • Computer and Information Sciences, General
Full List of Majors

Undergraduate Majors X

  • BIOLOGICAL AND BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES
    • Biology/Biological Sciences, General
      • A general program of biology at the introductory, basic level or a program in biology or the biological sciences that is undifferentiated as to title or content. Includes instruction in general biology and programs covering a variety of biological specializations. See other colleges that offer this major
  • BUSINESS, MANAGEMENT, MARKETING, AND RELATED SUPPORT SERVICES
    • Business Administration and Management, General
      • A program that generally prepares individuals to plan, organize, direct, and control the functions and processes of a firm or organization. Includes instruction in management theory, human resources management and behavior, accounting and other quantitative methods, purchasing and logistics, organization and production, marketing, and business decision-making. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Accounting
      • A program that prepares individuals to practice the profession of accounting and to perform related business functions. Includes instruction in accounting principles and theory, financial accounting, managerial accounting, cost accounting, budget control, tax accounting, legal aspects of accounting, auditing, reporting procedures, statement analysis, planning and consulting, business information systems, accounting research methods, professional standards and ethics, and applications to specific for-profit, public, and non-profit organizations. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Business/Managerial Economics
      • A program that focuses on the application of economics principles to the analysis of the organization and operation of business enterprises. Includes instruction in monetary theory, banking and financial systems, theory of competition, pricing theory, wage and salary/incentive theory, analysis of markets, and applications of econometrics and quantitative methods to the study of particular businesses and business problems. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Finance, General
      • A program that generally prepares individuals to plan, manage, and analyze the financial and monetary aspects and performance of business enterprises, banking institutions, or other organizations. Includes instruction in principles of accounting, financial instruments, capital planning, funds acquisition, asset and debt management, budgeting, financial analysis, and investments and portfolio management. See other colleges that offer this major
    • International Business/Trade/Commerce
      • A program that prepares individuals to manage international businesses and/or business operations. Includes instruction in the principles and processes of export sales, trade controls, foreign operations and related problems, monetary issues, international business policy, and applications to doing business in specific countries and markets. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Actuarial Science
      • A program that focuses on the mathematical and statistical analysis of risk, and their applications to insurance and other business management problems. Includes instruction in forecasting theory, quantitative and non-quantitative risk measurement methodologies, development of risk tables, secondary data analysis, and computer-assisted research methods. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Marketing/Marketing Management, General
      • A program that generally prepares individuals to undertake and manage the process of developing consumer audiences and moving products from producers to consumers. Includes instruction in buyer behavior and dynamics, principle of marketing research, demand analysis, cost-volume and profit relationships, pricing theory, marketing campaign and strategic planning, market segments, advertising methods, sales operations and management, consumer relations, retailing, and applications to specific products and markets. See other colleges that offer this major
  • COMPUTER AND INFORMATION SCIENCES AND SUPPORT SERVICES
    • Computer and Information Sciences, General
      • A general program that focuses on computing, computer science, and information science and systems. Such programs are undifferentiated as to title and content and are not to be confused with specific programs in computer science, information science, or related support services. See other colleges that offer this major
  • EDUCATION
    • Education, General
      • A program that focuses on the general theory and practice of learning and teaching, the basic principles of educational psychology, the art of teaching, the planning and administration of educational activities, school safety and health issues, and the social foundations of education. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Special Education and Teaching, General
      • A general program that focuses on the design and provision of teaching and other educational services to children or adults with special learning needs or disabilities, and that may prepare individuals to function as special education teachers in a collaborative or team environment. Includes instruction in diagnosing learning disabilities, developing individual education plans, teaching and supervising special education students, special education counseling, and applicable laws and policies. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Teacher Education, Multiple Levels
      • A program that prepares individuals to teach students at more than one educational level, such as a combined program in elementary/secondary, early childhood/elementary, elementary/middle school, or junior high/high school teacher education. See other colleges that offer this major
  • ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE/LETTERS
    • English Language and Literature, General
      • A general program that focuses on the English language, including its history, structure and related communications skills; and the literature and culture of English-speaking peoples. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Creative Writing
      • A program that focuses on the process and techniques of original composition in various literary forms such as the short story, poetry, the novel, and others. Includes instruction in technical and editorial skills, criticism, and the marketing of finished manuscripts. See other colleges that offer this major
  • FOREIGN LANGUAGES, LITERATURES, AND LINGUISTICS
    • Spanish Language and Literature
      • A program that focuses on the Spanish language and related dialects. Includes instruction in philology; Modern Castillan; Latin American and regional Spanish dialects; and applications in business, science/technology, and other settings. See other colleges that offer this major
  • HEALTH PROFESSIONS AND RELATED PROGRAMS
    • Health/Health Care Administration/Management
      • A program that prepares individuals to develop, plan, and manage health care operations and services within health care facilities and across health care systems. Includes instruction in planning, business management, financial management, public relations, human resources management, health care systems operation and management, health care resource allocation and policy making, health law and regulations, and applications to specific types of health care services. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Public Health, General
      • A program that generally prepares individuals to plan, manage, and evaluate public health care services; to function as public health professionals in public agencies, the private sector, and other settings; and to provide leadership in the field of public health. Includes instruction in epidemiology, biostatistics, public health principles, preventive medicine, health policy and regulations, health care services and related administrative functions, public health law enforcement, health economics and budgeting, public communications, and professional standards and ethics. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Art Therapy/Therapist
      • A program that prepares individuals, in consultation with other rehabilitation team members or in private practice, to use drawing and other art media forms to assess, treat, and rehabilitate individuals with mental, emotional, developmental, or physical disorders. Includes instruction in art, history and theory of art therapy, art therapeutic techniques, psychopathology, patient assessment and diagnosis, cultural diversity issues, legal and ethical practice issues, and professional standards and regulations. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Medical Illustration/Medical Illustrator
      • A program that prepares individuals to apply the principles and techniques of art and computer-assisted imaging, graphics, and animation to create visual materials to facilitate the recording and dissemination of biomedical knowledge for educational, research, and clinical purposes. Includes instruction in anatomy, physiology, pathology, histology, embryology, neuroanatomy, medical terminology, artistic media and techniques, illustration techniques, three-dimensional modeling, prosthetics, data display design, exhibit design and production, medical photography, multimedia, computer graphics and animation, digital imaging, business management, production technology, and instructional design. See other colleges that offer this major
  • HISTORY
    • History, General
      • A program that focuses on the general study and interpretation of the past, including the gathering, recording, synthesizing and criticizing of evidence and theories about past events. Includes instruction in historiography; historical research methods; studies of specific periods, issues and cultures; and applications to areas such as historic preservation, public policy, and records administration. See other colleges that offer this major
  • LEGAL PROFESSIONS AND STUDIES
    • International Law and Legal Studies
      • An advanced, professional study of the law affecting relations between nations, the behavior of international organizations, and the international activities of private citizens and organizations. See other colleges that offer this major
  • MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS
    • Mathematics, General
      • A general program that focuses on the analysis of quantities, magnitudes, forms, and their relationships, using symbolic logic and language. Includes instruction in algebra, calculus, functional analysis, geometry, number theory, logic, topology and other mathematical specializations. See other colleges that offer this major
  • MULTI/INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES
    • MULTI/INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES
      • Instructional programs that derive from two or more distinct programs to provide a cross-cutting focus on a subject concentration that is not subsumed under a single discipline or occupational field. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Biological and Physical Sciences
      • A program that is either a general synthesis of one or more of the biological and physical sciences, or a specialization which draws from the biological and physical sciences. See other colleges that offer this major
    • International/Globalization Studies
  • PARKS, RECREATION, LEISURE, FITNESS, AND KINESIOLOGY
    • Sport and Fitness Administration/Management
      • A program that prepares individuals to apply business, coaching and physical education principles to the organization, administration and management of athletic programs and teams, fitness/rehabilitation facilities and health clubs, sport recreation services, and related services. Includes instruction in program planning and development; business and financial management principles; sales, marketing and recruitment; event promotion, scheduling and management; facilities management; public relations; legal aspects of sports; and applicable health and safety standards. See other colleges that offer this major
  • PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGIOUS STUDIES
    • Philosophy
      • A program that focuses on ideas and their logical structure, including arguments and investigations about abstract and real phenomena. Includes instruction in logic, ethics, aesthetics, epistemology, metaphysics, symbolism, and history of philosophy, and applications to the theoretical foundations and methods of other disciplines. See other colleges that offer this major
  • PHYSICAL SCIENCES
    • Chemistry, General
      • A general program that focuses on the scientific study of the composition and behavior of matter, including its micro- and macro-structure, the processes of chemical change, and the theoretical description and laboratory simulation of these phenomena. See other colleges that offer this major
  • PSYCHOLOGY
    • Psychology, General
      • A general program that focuses on the scientific study of individual and collective behavior, the physical and environmental bases of behavior, and the analysis and treatment of behavior problems and disorders. Includes instruction in the principles of the various subfields of psychology, research methods, and psychological assessment and testing methods. See other colleges that offer this major
  • SOCIAL SCIENCES
    • Cultural Anthropology
      • A program that focuses on the study of culture and the relationship of culture to other aspects of social life. Includes instruction in cultural anthropology, anthropological theory, enthnography, linguistics, and quantitative and qualitative research methods. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Criminology
      • A program that focuses on the systematic study of crime as a sociopathological phenomenon, the behavior of criminals, and the social institutions evolved to respond to crime. Includes instruction in the theory of crime, psychological and social bases of criminal behavior, social value systems and the theory of punishment, criminal law and criminal justice systems, penology, rehabilitation and recidivism, studies of specific types of crime, social attitudes and policy, and applications to specific issues in law enforcement administration and policy. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Political Science and Government, General
      • A general program that focuses on the systematic study of political institutions and behavior. Includes instruction in political philosophy, political theory, comparative government and politics, political parties and interest groups, public opinion, political research methods, studies of the government and politics of specific countries, and studies of specific political institutions and processes. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Sociology, General
      • A program that focuses on the systematic study of human social institutions and social relationships. Includes instruction in social theory, sociological research methods, social organization and structure, social stratification and hierarchies, dynamics of social change, family structures, social deviance and control, and applications to the study of specific social groups, social institutions, and social problems. See other colleges that offer this major
  • VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS
    • Commercial and Advertising Art
      • A program in the applied visual arts that prepares individuals to use artistic techniques to effectively communicate ideas and information to business and consumer audiences via illustrations and other forms of digital or printed media. Includes instruction in concept design, layout, paste-up, and techniques such as engraving, etching, silkscreen, lithography, offset, drawing and cartooning, painting, collage, and computer graphics. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General
      • A program that focuses on the general study of dramatic works and their performance. Includes instruction in major works of dramatic literature, dramatic styles and types, and the principles of organizing and producing full live or filmed productions. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Acting
      • A program that prepares individuals to communicate dramatic information, ideas, moods, and feelings through the achievement of naturalistic and believable behavior in imaginary circumstances. Includes instruction in voice and acting speech, stage dialects, movement, improvisation, acting styles, theatre history, script interpretation, and actor coaching. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Photography
      • A program that focuses on the principles and techniques of communicating information, ideas, moods, and feelings through the creation of images on photographic film, plates, and digital images and that may prepare individuals to be professional photographic artists. Includes instruction in camera and equipment operation and maintenance, film and plate developing, light and composition, films and printing media, color and special effects, photographic art, photographic history, use of computer applications to record or enhance images and applications to the photography of various subjects. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Art/Art Studies, General
      • A general program that focuses on the introductory study and appreciation of the visual arts. Includes instruction in art, photography, and other visual communications media. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Art History, Criticism and Conservation
      • A program that focuses on the study of the historical development of art as social and intellectual phenomenon, the analysis of works of art, and art conservation. Includes instruction in the theory of art, art history research methods, connoisseurship, the preservation and conservation of works of art, and the study of specific periods, cultures, styles, and themes. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Painting
      • A program that prepares individuals creatively and technically to express emotions, ideas, or inner visions by the application of paints and related chemical color substances to canvases or other materials. Includes instruction in color and color mixing, surface preparation, composition, oil and acrylic media, watercolor media, painting techniques, and personal style development. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Ceramic Arts and Ceramics
      • A program that prepares individuals creatively and technically to express emotions, ideas, or inner visions by producing art works out of clay and similar materials. Includes instruction in handbuilt and wheelthrown techniques; molding; slips and glazes; trimming and decorating; firing and kiln operation; oxidation; mixed media; ceramic murals; and personal style development. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Jewelry Arts
      • A program that prepares individuals creatively and technically to express emotions, ideas, or inner visions by fashioning jewelry from gems, other stones, and precious metals. Includes instruction in design concepts, electroforming, enameling, gemology, lapidary technique and art, metal and non-metal casting and molding, metal coloring, metalsmithing and finishing, personal style development, photo etching, and stone cutting and polishing. See other colleges that offer this major

Most Popular Graduate programs

  • Physician Associate/Assistant
  • Public Health, General
  • Creative Writing
  • Applied Behavior Analysis
  • Counseling Psychology
Full List of Programs

Graduate ProgramsX

  • BUSINESS, MANAGEMENT, MARKETING, AND RELATED SUPPORT SERVICES
    • Business Administration and Management, General
      • A program that generally prepares individuals to plan, organize, direct, and control the functions and processes of a firm or organization. Includes instruction in management theory, human resources management and behavior, accounting and other quantitative methods, purchasing and logistics, organization and production, marketing, and business decision-making. See other colleges that offer this major
  • EDUCATION
    • Education, General
      • A program that focuses on the general theory and practice of learning and teaching, the basic principles of educational psychology, the art of teaching, the planning and administration of educational activities, school safety and health issues, and the social foundations of education. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Educational Leadership and Administration, General
      • A program that focuses on the general principles and techniques of administering a wide variety of schools and other educational organizations and facilities, supervising educational personnel at the school or staff level, and that may prepare individuals as general administrators and supervisors. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Special Education and Teaching, General
      • A general program that focuses on the design and provision of teaching and other educational services to children or adults with special learning needs or disabilities, and that may prepare individuals to function as special education teachers in a collaborative or team environment. Includes instruction in diagnosing learning disabilities, developing individual education plans, teaching and supervising special education students, special education counseling, and applicable laws and policies. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Secondary Education and Teaching
      • A program that prepares individuals to teach students in the secondary grades, which may include grades seven through twelve, depending on the school system or state regulations. May include preparation to teach a comprehensive curriculum or specific subject matter. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Educational Methods
      • A program that prepares individuals to connect education practices with scientific, engineering, and mathematical principles for PreK-12 students. Includes instruction in critical thinking, curriculum and instruction, history of STEM education, integrating STEM across curricula, learning sciences and technology, STEM education methods, and teacher leadership in STEM education. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Art Teacher Education
    • English/Language Arts Teacher Education
    • Health Teacher Education
    • Mathematics Teacher Education
    • Reading Teacher Education
    • Science Teacher Education/General Science Teacher Education
      • A program that prepares individuals to teach general science programs, or a combination of the biological and physical science subject matter areas, at various educational levels. See other colleges that offer this major
    • History Teacher Education
  • ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE/LETTERS
    • English Language and Literature, General
      • A general program that focuses on the English language, including its history, structure and related communications skills; and the literature and culture of English-speaking peoples. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Creative Writing
      • A program that focuses on the process and techniques of original composition in various literary forms such as the short story, poetry, the novel, and others. Includes instruction in technical and editorial skills, criticism, and the marketing of finished manuscripts. See other colleges that offer this major
  • HEALTH PROFESSIONS AND RELATED PROGRAMS
    • Physician Associate/Assistant
      • A program that prepares individuals to practice medicine, including diagnoses and treatment therapies, under the supervision of a physician. Includes instruction in the basic medical and clinical sciences and specialized preparation in fields such as family medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics, gynecology, general surgery, psychiatry, and behavioral medicine; the delivery of health care services to homebound patients, rural populations, and underserved populations; and community health services. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Trauma Counseling
      • A program that focuses on understanding elements of traumatic exposure, trauma-sensitive care, and crisis intervention. Includes instruction in disaster response, grief and loss counseling, crisis intervention and management, trauma counseling, neurobiology of trauma, PTSD and combat-related trauma, relational trauma and treatment of trauma-related disorders. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Public Health, General
      • A program that generally prepares individuals to plan, manage, and evaluate public health care services; to function as public health professionals in public agencies, the private sector, and other settings; and to provide leadership in the field of public health. Includes instruction in epidemiology, biostatistics, public health principles, preventive medicine, health policy and regulations, health care services and related administrative functions, public health law enforcement, health economics and budgeting, public communications, and professional standards and ethics. See other colleges that offer this major
  • HOMELAND SECURITY, LAW ENFORCEMENT, FIREFIGHTING AND RELATED PROTECTIVE SERVICES
    • Forensic Science and Technology
      • A program that focuses on the application of the physical, biomedical, and social sciences to the analysis and evaluation of physical evidence, human testimony and criminal suspects. Includes instruction in forensic medicine, forensic dentistry, anthropology, psychology, entomology, pathology, forensic laboratory technology and autopsy procedures, DNA and blood pattern analysis, crime scene analysis, crime scene photography, fingerprint technology, document analysis, witness and suspect examination procedures, applicable law and regulations, and professional standards and ethics. See other colleges that offer this major
  • LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES, GENERAL STUDIES AND HUMANITIES
    • Humanities/Humanistic Studies
      • A program that focuses on combined studies and research in the humanities subjects as distinguished from the social and physical sciences, emphasizing languages, literatures, art, music, philosophy and religion. See other colleges that offer this major
  • MULTI/INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES
    • MULTI/INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES
      • Instructional programs that derive from two or more distinct programs to provide a cross-cutting focus on a subject concentration that is not subsumed under a single discipline or occupational field. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution
      • A program that focuses on the origins, resolution and prevention of international and inter-group conflicts. Includes instruction in peace research methods and related social scientific and psychological knowledge bases. See other colleges that offer this major
  • PSYCHOLOGY
    • Counseling Psychology
      • A program that prepares individuals for the independent professional practice of psychological counseling, involving the rendering of therapeutic services to individuals and groups experiencing psychological problems and exhibiting distress symptoms. Includes instruction in counseling theory, therapeutic intervention strategies, patient/counselor relationships, testing and assessment methods and procedures, group therapy, marital and family therapy, child and adolescent therapy, supervised counseling practice, ethical standards, and applicable regulations. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Applied Behavior Analysis
      • A program that focuses on the application of principles of learning and behavior to enhance the development, abilities, and choices of children and adults; and that prepares individuals to address the behavioral needs of individuals, especially those with developmental disabilities and autism. Includes instruction in behavior analysis and learning, behavioral and functional assessment, developmental psychology, applied behavioral analysis in developmental disabilities and autism, applied behavioral analysis in mental health and aging, research methods, evaluation of interventions, and professional and ethical issues. See other colleges that offer this major
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Admissions

Undergraduate acceptance rate

Acceptance rate
77.57%
  • Apply 6,321
  • Accepted 4,903
  • Attend 489

Application Fee

Undergraduate
$30
Graduate
$50

Undergraduate application requirements

  • High school transcript

    Required
  • High school GPA

    Not applicable
  • Recommendation letter

    Not applicable
  • Admissions test
    (SAT or ACT)

    Not applicable
  • TOEFL
    (international students)

    Required
  • Completion of college
    prep program

    Required
  • Demonstration of
    competencies

    Required

Average Test Scores

SAT Math
530-640
ACT Composite
24-29
SAT Reading
558-680
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Student Life

Student Demographics

Female Students
68%
Male Students
32%

Student Ethnicities
  1. Caucasian56.11%
  2. Black11.5%
  3. Not Specified10.31%
  4. Asian8.66%
  5. Hispanic/Latino7.24%
  6. Two Or More Ethnicities5.68%
  7. American Indian/Alaska Native0.4%
  8. Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander0.1%

Student body breakdown

Total students enrolled

3,668

Undergraduate students

2,027

Graduate students

1,641

Full Time Students
72%
Part Time Students
28%

Student services

  • Meal plan
  • Counseling services
  • Remedial services
  • Work-study
  • Placement services
  • Study abroad
  • Weekend/evening classes
  • On-campus day care for student's children

Top five largest sports teams

Male sports:
  • Other Sports
  • Lacrosse
  • Baseball
  • Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)
  • Ice Hockey
Female sports:
  • Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)
  • Field Hockey
  • Soccer
  • Softball
  • Lacrosse
Full List of Athletics

Full List of Athletics X

    • Male

    • Other Sports
    • Lacrosse
    • Baseball
    • Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)
    • Soccer
    • Ice Hockey
    • Basketball
    • Volleyball
    • Swimming
    • Golf
    • Tennis
    • Female

    • Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)
    • Field Hockey
    • Soccer
    • Softball
    • Lacrosse
    • Swimming
    • Ice Hockey
    • Basketball
    • Tennis
    • Volleyball
    • Other Sports
    • Golf
No Information for this section