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Arcadia University
Glenside, PA 1,799 Undergrads 64.1% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$61,240
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$25,866
After Aid
Median Earnings
$58,336
10yr Post-Entry
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$25,866
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$58,336
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate64.1%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients31.6%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time87.9%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS71.8%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
79.2%
SAT Avg
1,210
SAT Reading
25th: 55360075th: 650
SAT Math
25th: 53058075th: 660
ACT Composite
25th: 262575th: 30
ROI Sensitivity Analysis
This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.
Lifetime Value Added (NPV)
Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$504k
+$107k
+$19k
Median Cost$26k/yr
+$411k
+$14k
-$74k
Full Cost$61k/yr
+$283k
-$113k
-$201k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
47
∞
Median Cost$26k/yr
Never
-79%
Full Cost$61k/yr
Never
-91%
Analysis Assumptions:
- Starting Salary: Estimated from the 10-year median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).
- Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
- Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
- NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.
Social Impact ROINew
Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.
Donor Return-76%
Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.
Taxpayer Return-84%
Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator with your specific estimates of cost and salary.
Program ROI Analysis
Bachelor's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$66,246
Lifetime Value Added
-$3k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$72,595
Lifetime Value Added
+$45k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$51,035
Lifetime Value Added
-$124k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$26,358
Earnings (5yr)
$70,538
Lifetime Value Added
+$30k
Criminology
BachCIP: 4504
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$51,702
Lifetime Value Added
-$118k
Design and Applied Arts
BachCIP: 5004
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$39,369
Lifetime Value Added
-$201k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$18,385
Lifetime Value Added
-$402k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$38,833
Lifetime Value Added
-$225k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$26,975
Earnings (5yr)
$34,890
Lifetime Value Added
-$259k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
BachCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$61,820
Lifetime Value Added
-$37k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$48,973
Lifetime Value Added
-$141k
International Business
BachCIP: 5211
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$64,245
Lifetime Value Added
-$18k
International/Global Studies
BachCIP: 3020
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$52,123
Lifetime Value Added
-$115k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$43,798
Lifetime Value Added
-$161k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$41,025
Lifetime Value Added
-$186k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$27,488
Lifetime Value Added
-$308k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$54,051
Lifetime Value Added
-$99k
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication
BachCIP: 0907
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$29,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$288k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$35,810
Lifetime Value Added
-$233k
Special Education and Teaching
BachCIP: 1310
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$32,925
Lifetime Value Added
-$259k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$51,766
Lifetime Value Added
-$118k
Master's Degrees
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
MastCIP: 4228
Median Debt
$35,750
Earnings (5yr)
$57,972
Lifetime Value Added
+$27k
English Language and Literature, General
MastCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$47,260
Lifetime Value Added
-$46k
Genetics
MastCIP: 2608
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (5yr)
$95,202
Lifetime Value Added
+$351k
Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution
MastCIP: 3005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$33,993
Lifetime Value Added
-$182k
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$127,682
Lifetime Value Added
+$628k
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
MastCIP: 2313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$84,341
Lifetime Value Added
+$257k
Security Science and Technology
MastCIP: 4304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$65,139
Lifetime Value Added
+$92k
Special Education and Teaching
MastCIP: 1310
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$64,215
Lifetime Value Added
+$83k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
MastCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$33,223
Earnings (2yr)
$47,260
Lifetime Value Added
-$46k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
MastCIP: 1313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$72,944
Lifetime Value Added
+$159k
Doctoral Degrees
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
DocCIP: 5123
Median Debt
$87,258
Earnings (5yr)
$82,483
Lifetime Value Added
+$75k
Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate, accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.
For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results should not be compared with those Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors starting at age 18.