Arcadia University — ROI, Cost & Payback
Arcadia University charges a net price of $29,466/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $117,864. Graduates earn a median $58,336 ten years after entry, $9,976/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 11.8 years — a 20-year net return of $81,656, a slow but positive payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Arcadia University's 11.8-year payback ranks #859 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 33% of them, and #83 of 169 in Pennsylvania.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $29,466/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $117,864 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $58,336 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $9,976/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $27,000 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 11.8 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $81,656 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Arcadia University's own numbers. Net price $29,466 × 4 years = $117,864 total. Median earnings $58,336 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $9,976 a year of premium. $117,864 ÷ $9,976 = 11.8 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $81,656. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
How much debt do Arcadia University students graduate with?
A median $27,000 in federal loans among completers, or 46% of the $58,336 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Arcadia University students graduate?
67% finish their degree — 33% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $117,864 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $175,916 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Arcadia University expensive compared with other Pennsylvania colleges?
Its $29,466 net price runs $7,725 above the $21,741 median across the 169 Pennsylvania colleges we profile, or $30,900 more across the full degree.