Accessible2025-2026 admissions cycle

Arcadia University acceptance rate and admissions profile

Arcadia University is a private college in Pennsylvania that admits most qualified applicants (around 80%), which puts it in the accessible range. A rate like this means it admits most qualified applicants; the bar is less about clearing a single cutoff and more about how your full profile compares to admitted students.

Use this page to see what Arcadia University weighs, where it ranks among Pennsylvania schools, and how a profile like yours is likely to land. Admitted students post a 75th-percentile SAT around 1230, a useful checkpoint for where your scores sit, though it is a reference range and not a cutoff.

Acceptance rate
80%
Accessible
Admitted SAT (75th pct)
1230
of admitted students
Type
Private
Pennsylvania
Selectivity in state
#38
of 62 in PA
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Will I get into Arcadia University?

Direct answers to what applicants ask about getting into Arcadia University, plus a free way to calculate your own odds.

What are my chances of getting into Arcadia University?

At Arcadia University, your real chance depends on far more than the published 80% admit rate. Your real odds depend on how your GPA, course rigor, test scores, and activities compare to its admitted students. Run your profile through the free CollegeCalcAI calculator to get a personalized acceptance percentage for Arcadia University in about three minutes, with no account needed to start.

Is Arcadia University hard to get into?

Arcadia University is accessible: it admits most qualified applicants, with about a 80% acceptance rate. Meeting the academic basics gives most qualified applicants a realistic shot.

What GPA do you need to get into Arcadia University?

There is no hard GPA cutoff at Arcadia University, but admitted students span a wide GPA range, with many in the 2.8 to 3.5 band. Arcadia University reads your GPA alongside the rigor of your courses, so a challenging schedule matters as much as the number itself.

What SAT score do you need for Arcadia University?

Arcadia University does not publish a required score, but the admitted-student 75th-percentile SAT is around 1230. A score at or above that range strengthens your application, while a lower score puts more weight on your rigor, activities, and essays. CollegeCalcAI shows how your exact score shifts your odds at Arcadia University.

Calculate your chances at Arcadia University

What Arcadia University looks for

What Arcadia University weighs most heavily in its admissions review, informed by its reported Common Data Set.

Arcadia University signals that it values rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and application essay above the rest of the file. Solid grades in a challenging schedule do most of the work here, with the rest of the application providing context. These ratings come from Arcadia University's reported Common Data Set, so the full chart below reflects what the school itself says it values, not a generic guess.

Rigor of secondary school record
Very important
Academic GPA
Very important
Class rank
Considered
Standardized test scores
Important
Application essay
Very important
Recommendations
Very important
Interview
Considered
Extracurricular activities
Considered
Talent / ability
Very important
Character / personal qualities
Very important
First-generation status
Considered
Volunteer work
Considered
Work experience
Considered
Level of applicant interest
Considered

SAT score positioning at Arcadia University

How common SAT scores sit relative to the admitted middle. This is context, not a probability — your full profile determines the real estimate.

SATWhere it sits at Arcadia University
1600Above the admitted 75th percentile
1500Above the admitted 75th percentile
1400Above the admitted 75th percentile
1300Above the admitted 75th percentile
1200In the competitive admitted range
1100Well below the admitted range
Colleges for a 1250 SAT →Colleges for a 26 ACT →See colleges by GPA →

How Arcadia University compares in Pennsylvania

Arcadia University ranks #38 most selective of 62 schools in Pennsylvania in our database.

Among the 62 Pennsylvania schools we track, Arcadia University ranks #38 most selective by acceptance rate. Schools like University of Pennsylvania (5%) and Swarthmore College (7%) sit nearby, which makes Pennsylvania a useful frame for calibrating a balanced list.

University of Pennsylvania
5%acceptance · PA
Swarthmore College
7%acceptance · PA
Carnegie Mellon University
12%acceptance · PA
Haverford College
12%acceptance · PA
Lehigh University
26%acceptance · PA
Villanova University
27%acceptance · PA
Franklin & Marshall College
28%acceptance · PA
Bucknell University
29%acceptance · PA
See all Pennsylvania schools →

Similar to Arcadia University

Schools with a similar selectivity profile, worth comparing as you build a balanced list.

If Arcadia University is on your list, schools with a similar admit profile are worth a look: Creighton University, Cornell College, and Guilford College. Running the same profile against each one in the free calculator is the fastest way to see where you are a reach, a match, or a likely.

Creighton University
80%acceptance · NE
Cornell College
80%acceptance · IA
Guilford College
80%acceptance · NC
Ripon College
80%acceptance · WI
Seton Hill University
80%acceptance · PA
Shaw University
80%acceptance · NC

Frequently asked questions

What does Arcadia University value most in applicants?

Based on its admissions profile, Arcadia University weighs rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and application essay most heavily. The full factor breakdown is on this page.

Does Arcadia University consider legacy or demonstrated interest?

Many private colleges weigh legacy relationships and demonstrated interest. Arcadia University's full factor profile is charted on this page, and CollegeCalcAI models a legacy effect scaled to a school's selectivity.

How can I improve my chances at Arcadia University?

Focus on the highest-leverage parts of your application: course rigor and GPA trajectory first, then test scores, then a focused leadership or activity spike. CollegeCalcAI's Power-Ups quantify how much each change would move your odds at Arcadia University specifically.

What are the admission requirements for Arcadia University?

Arcadia University reviews GPA, course rigor, test scores (where submitted), activities, and essays. With a more accessible acceptance rate, meeting the academic basics gives most qualified applicants a realistic shot.

Acceptance rate and admitted test ranges reflect publicly reported data (U.S. Department of Education / NCES IPEDS / Common Data Sets). Estimates from CollegeCalcAI are a planning tool computed by a fixed, transparent model, not a guarantee of any admission decision.