Arcadia University vs Bridgewater College
Arcadia University and Bridgewater College, both esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. Arcadia, located in Glenside, Pennsylvania, boasts a higher acceptance rate (75%) compared to Bridgewater's 68%. Arcadia's student body is more diverse, with international students comprising 10% of the population, while Bridgewater's international student population is 3%. Arcadia excels in Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, while Bridgewater shines in Biological and Biomedical Sciences. Both institutions boast impressive graduation rates, with Arcadia at 75% and Bridgewater at 68%. Delve into the comprehensive comparison table to discover more key differences and make an informed decision about your academic journey.
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![]() Arcadia University |
![]() Bridgewater College |
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Overview |
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Location | Glenside, Pennsylvania | Bridgewater, Virginia |
Campus setting | Suburb: Large | Suburb: Small |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 77.0% | 68.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | Presbyterian | Anabaptists |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 82.4% | 75.1% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$30
Graduate:
$50
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SAT range | 1080 - 1280 | 1065 - 1250 |
ACT range | 22 - 27 | 22 - 28 |
Students submitting SAT score | 30.0% | 17.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 5.0% | 3.0% |
Total number of applicants | 5,636 | 3,388 |
Total number of admissions given out | 4,645 | 2,544 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 390 | 398 |
Yield rate | 8.4% | 15.6% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Not required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Not required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Not required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $70,220 | $52,750 |
Average net price | $26,949 | $19,592 |
Tuition | $45,520 | $37,500 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$9,000
Meal plan:
$5,170
|
$13,360 |
Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
98.0%
Average amount $27,414 |
100.0%
Average amount $32,545 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
71.0%
Average amount $5,318 |
66.0%
Average amount $5,510 |
Students taking out private loans |
17.0%
Average amount $15,721 |
7.0%
Average amount $14,207 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
1,832
Men 33.9% Women 66.1% |
1,427
Men 46.3% Women 53.7% |
Graduate students |
1,232
Men 23.7% Women 76.3% |
36
Men 36.1% Women 63.9% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
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Low
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Out-of-state students | 40.5% | N/A |
International students | 2.2% | 1.8% |
Campus local/setting | Suburb: Large | Suburb: Small |
Dormitory capacity | 1,036 | 1,380 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Pennsylvania New Jersey New York Virginia Connecticut | N/A |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 10:1 | 13:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Middle States Commission on Higher Education | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 61.8% | 62.1% |
Dropout rate | 6.4% | 37.7% |
Transferred out | 31.5% | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Public Health (Master's Degrees)
Genetics (Master's Degrees)
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Doctoral Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Master's Degrees)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Master's Degrees)
Special Education and Teaching (Master's Degrees)
International Business (Bachelor's Degrees)
Health and Medical Administrative Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Bachelor's Degrees)
Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Bachelor's Degrees)
History (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Fine and Studio Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Sociology (Bachelor's Degrees)
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
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