Point Park University vs Arcadia University
Point Park University and Arcadia University, both located in vibrant urban settings, offer distinct educational experiences. Point Park, nestled in the heart of Pittsburgh, boasts a diverse student body and a strong focus on career preparation, with popular majors in business, health sciences, and arts. Arcadia, situated in the charming town of Glenside, Pennsylvania, emphasizes liberal arts and sciences, with popular majors in psychology, biology, and business. While Point Park has a higher acceptance rate, Arcadia offers a more intimate learning environment with smaller class sizes. Both universities provide a supportive community and a variety of extracurricular activities, but their unique strengths and characteristics may appeal to different students. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover which university better aligns with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
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![]() Arcadia University |
![]() Point Park University |
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Overview |
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Location | Glenside, Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
Campus setting | Suburb: Large | City: Large |
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% | 73.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | Presbyterian | |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 82.4% | 82.3% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$30
Graduate:
$50
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SAT range | 1080 - 1280 | 950 - 1180 |
ACT range | 22 - 27 | 18 - 26 |
Students submitting SAT score | 30.0% | 72.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 5.0% | 23.0% |
Total number of applicants | 5,636 | 6,076 |
Total number of admissions given out | 4,645 | 5,002 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 390 | 601 |
Yield rate | 8.4% | 12.0% |
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 | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $70,220 | $42,060 |
Average net price | $26,949 | $25,004 |
Tuition | $45,520 | $33,870 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$9,000
Meal plan:
$5,170
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Room/dormitory:
$5,640
Meal plan:
$7,300
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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 $23,269 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
71.0%
Average amount $5,318 |
82.0%
Average amount $5,539 |
Students taking out private loans |
17.0%
Average amount $15,721 |
22.0%
Average amount $17,276 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
1,832
Men 33.9% Women 66.1% |
2,575
Men 37.0% Women 63.0% |
Graduate students |
1,232
Men 23.7% Women 76.3% |
930
Men 34.5% Women 65.5% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
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Low
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Out-of-state students | 40.5% | 43.5% |
International students | 2.2% | 2.5% |
Campus local/setting | Suburb: Large | City: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 1,036 | 998 |
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 | Pennsylvania Ohio Florida New York Maryland |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 10:1 | 12:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Middle States Commission on Higher Education | Middle States Commission on Higher Education |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 61.8% | 60.9% |
Dropout rate | 6.4% | 13.3% |
Transferred out | 31.5% | 25.0% |
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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Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Intelligence, Command Control and Information Operations (Master's Degrees)
Journalism (Master's Degrees)
Human Resources Management and Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services, Other (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other (Master's Degrees)
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication (Bachelor's Degrees)
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