Arcadia University

Statistics

Scholarships & Financial Aid

School Says - General Information
Founded in 1853, Arcadia is a top-ranked private university in metropolitan Philadelphia offering bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees to more than 4,000 students. Undergraduate and graduate students choose from among 75 fields of study and enjoy personal attention in the classroom with an average class size of 16 and a 13:1 student to faculty ratio.

The University's diverse student population represents a cross section of cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds and, at present, Arcadia students come from 46 states and 19 countries. With more than 80% of all full-time undergraduate students residing on campus, Arcadia offers a variety of activities including Division III athletics and more than 55 clubs and organizations.

Arcadia's commitment to students includes opportunities to explore global perspectives, integrate theory with real-world experiences, and benefit from the personal attention that is the hallmark of Arcadia's learning community. Known as the Arcadia Promise, this commitment affirms that students will have a distinctively global, integrative and personal learning experience that prepares them to contribute and prosper in a diverse and dynamic world.

In both 2008 and 2009, the Institute of International Education's Open Doors Report ranked Arcadia #1 in the nation for undergraduate participation in study abroad.

U.S. News & World Report ranks Arcadia University among the top master's universities in the North, as one of the top study abroad programs in the nation, and as a "top up-and-coming school."

School Says - Student Body
With more than 55 clubs and organizations at Arcadia, it's easy to get involved in campus life. Clubs and organizations give students the opportunity to meet people with similar interests and to develop leadership, organizational and management skills. Options include participating in student government, religious and cultural organizations, musical, academic and media-related groups, community service organizations; and athletics.

Arcadia is a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III and Middle Atlantic States Collegiate Athletic Corporation (MAC), the largest Division III Conference holding NCAA membership. Student-athletes compete in 14 intercollegiate sports. Men's sports include baseball, basketball, golf, soccer, swimming and tennis. Women's sports include basketball, field hockey, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis and volleyball. Men's lacrosse, equestrian and cheerleading are offered as club sports, while intramural sports offer other athletic opportunities.

School Says - Academics
The academic programs at Arcadia University take a personalized approach to education that emphasizes critical thinking and collaborative learning and promotes each student's unique intellectual and personal growth. Close interaction with faculty, including the ability to be a part of research both in the United States and abroad, further allows students to apply their classroom learning in real-world settings.

Arcadia operates on a two semester academic calendar.

School Says - Admissions
Prospective students are evaluated on the basis of their academic preparation, intellectual achievement, and potential for success. The admissions staff evaluates each application individually. The most important factors in an admissions decision are the student's academic transcript, including the quality of his or her secondary school program, GPA, and class rank. Arcadia also looks closely at standardized test scores, recommendations, and the student's involvement in extracurricular or community activities.

Prospective freshmen must submit a secondary school transcript, official scores from the SAT or ACT, a personal essay, and recommendations from a high school teacher and guidance counselor. The Priority Deadline for freshman applicant review for admission and ArcadiaÂ's premier scholarship programs is January 15 for the subsequent fall term.

Students are encouraged to follow a strong high school program of at least 19 academic units. Though not required, it is recommended that students visit the campus. Visit opportunities are varied and include large Open Houses, small frequent info sessions each day and on Saturday by appointment, and one-on-one meetings during the application process. Students applying for transfer admission may apply for the fall or spring semester, and must submit college transcripts from each school they have attended. Transfer students with fewer than 30 college credits are also required to submit their high school transcript and standardized test scores.

School Says - Campus Life
Located in metropolitan Philadelphia, Arcadia features a beautiful rolling campus built around the historic landmark Grey Towers Castle. The University is 12 miles from Center City Philadelphia and only 90 minutes from the Jersey shore and Pennsylvania's Pocono Mountains. Students have access to dozens of museums, galleries, performing arts centers, nightspots, and historic, government, and commercial sites.

School Says - Cost Aid
For 2009-2010, undergraduate tuition is $30,780 and room and board charges are $10,680 per year. Annual student fees are $480.Arcadia believes that a qualified student should not have to choose their college based on financial factors alone. With this philosophy in mind, Arcadia University helps qualified students find the financial assistance they need to attend college. On average, 98 percent of students at Arcadia receive financial aid, and over 97 percent receive grants and scholarships.

Aid is awarded on the basis of need, as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the Arcadia University Financial Aid Application, and is available in the form of grants, loans, and part-time campus employment or some combination of the three. Scholarships are presented annually to entering first-year and transfer students who have achieved academic distinction or have been recognized for outstanding extracurricular accomplishments. In 2009, Distinguished Scholarships, ranging up to $72,000 over four years, and Achievement Awards, ranging up to $52,000 over four years, recognize academic excellence, leadership, and extracurricular accomplishments. A limited number of full-tuition scholarships are available to the top entering first-year undergraduates in the applicant pool. To receive full consideration for financial aid, students should complete their applications and submit the FAFSA and the Arcadia University Financial Aid Application by March 1.

A financial aid calculator for students considering full-time undergraduate enrollment is available at www.arcadia.edu/calculator. This calculator allows students to estimate their eligibility for federal, state, and Arcadia University financial aid (including merit scholarships).

Students Say - Academics
Arcadia University near Philadelphia is "a gem in suburbia" that offers "a global learning experience." "Arcadia's all about study abroad" and the program is "huge." Regardless of major, "almost everyone at Arcadia" spends some time globetrotting. Destinations for "semesters, summers, or even community service trips" include China, South Africa, New Zealand, Ireland, and South Korea. Also, "freshman preview is an amazing, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity" that allows first-year students to spend a week in England, Scotland, or Spain. (Preview for transfer students is in Italy). Back on campus, "there are small class sizes, which make learning so easy." The "usually accessible" professors "genuinely care about their students and the subject that they teach." A host of excellent majors includes a "very hands-on" education program. Arcadia is "a good art school," too. Theater is particularly strong. Some students say that Arcadia is "good for science majors." Others disagree: "Arcadia is okay for science majors," they say, "but not a great place."

Students Say - Campus Life
This campus "in the suburbs of Philadelphia" is "beautiful." "Arcadia has a friggin' castle," observes a senior. "Enough said." Socially, "everyone knows everyone" and the "unnecessary drama" can occasionally feel like "a glorified high school." Cultural events are abundant. "The dance club (Knight Club) is very popular." "In the fall, we have Mr. Beaver, which is a male mock beauty pageant," explains a senior. It's "always fun." Thursday nights are the big party nights and "as big as a Friday or Saturday night" at other places. On the whole, though, "Arcadia is fairly low key" and "very far from a party school." There's no Greek system and the festivities that do occur "don't get very rowdy." Ordering pizza and watching movies is a "favorite pastime." Many students love the social scene. "This is exactly what I wanted from my school," declares a junior. Others complain about "weekend nothingness." They note that Arcadia has a large commuter population and a reputation as "a suitcase college." Of course, that term has a slightly different connotation here. "There are a huge number of students who are studying abroad," relates a sophomore. "At Arcadia, you get your typical college party life overseas." Also, the train station is "right down the street" from campus. The "20-minute train ride into Philly" is "great for weekend trips or anything fun."

Students Say - Student Body
Most students here are "pretty friendly" and come from middle class backgrounds. There are also "a good number of international students." Commuter students make up twenty percent of the population, and women noticeably outnumber men. "There are more squirrels than boys on campus," laments one female. "If you run into a guy, he is most likely a jock or gay." Indeed, Arcadia boasts "a highly tolerant campus" and a "very strong" gay community. There are also lots of "artsy" types who are "very outside the social norm." Other students are "ridiculously nerdy." Of course, there are plenty of perfectly normal people here, too. "You know: the ones that throw on sweats and leave their hair elegantly disheveled because that's the look these days." For the most part, though, "everyone has their own style." "There seems to be a higher ratio of weird people here at Arcadia than in the regular world."

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