Arcadia University is best known for its study abroad programs, which rank #9 nationally according to U.S. News & World Report. Located in Glenside, Pennsylvania, just outside Philadelphia, the university is a mid-sized private institution that has built its reputation around global education, strong health science programs, and a distinctive campus anchored by a castle that’s a National Historic Landmark.
A National Leader in Study Abroad
Arcadia’s signature distinction is its commitment to international education. The university’s study abroad program consistently ranks among the top ten in the country, and global learning is woven into the undergraduate experience rather than treated as an optional add-on. Arcadia operates its own network of international programs, giving students access to destinations across Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, and Latin America. Many programs are designed so students can study abroad without falling behind on degree requirements or paying significantly more than a semester on campus.
This emphasis on global education shapes the campus culture. Incoming students are encouraged to think about international experiences from their first year, and the university offers short-term, semester, and full-year options to fit different schedules and budgets. For students who want a college experience with built-in international exposure, Arcadia’s infrastructure for study abroad is unusually well-developed compared to schools of similar size.
Health Science Programs
Arcadia has earned a strong reputation in graduate-level health sciences, particularly physical therapy and physician assistant studies. Its Doctor of Physical Therapy program is ranked #34 nationally by U.S. News, placing it among the more competitive programs in the field. The university is also ranked in physician assistant studies, making its health sciences college a draw for students pursuing clinical careers.
These programs tend to be selective and clinically focused, with fieldwork and hands-on training built into the curriculum. For undergraduates, Arcadia offers pre-professional tracks in biology, exercise science, and public health that feed into its graduate health programs, creating a pipeline for students who want to stay at the same institution through their professional degree.
Grey Towers Castle
One of the most visually distinctive things about Arcadia is its campus centerpiece: Grey Towers Castle, a 40-room stone mansion modeled after Alnwick Castle in England. Built in the 1890s by architect Horace Trumbauer for sugar refinery co-owner William Welsh Harrison, the castle was constructed from greystone quarried in nearby Chestnut Hill with Indiana limestone trim. It was completed around 1898 and was one of the largest private homes in the country at the time.
Grey Towers Castle was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1985. Today it serves as a working part of the campus. Admissions visitors check in at the castle, and campus tours include its lower level. The building gives Arcadia a look and feel that’s unusual for a suburban university, and it’s often the first thing prospective students and visitors remember about the campus.
Size, Location, and Rankings
Arcadia is ranked #76 among Regional Universities in the North by U.S. News. It’s a smaller university, which translates to smaller class sizes and more direct access to faculty. The campus sits in a residential neighborhood in Glenside, about 25 minutes from downtown Philadelphia by regional rail. That proximity gives students access to internships, clinical placements, and cultural opportunities in a major city without being on an urban campus.
The university reports that roughly 94% to 95% of recent graduates secured post-graduate opportunities, whether employment or graduate school enrollment, within six to nine months of earning their degrees. That outcome rate reflects the practical orientation of many of Arcadia’s programs, particularly in health sciences, education, and business.
Who Arcadia Is a Good Fit For
Arcadia tends to attract students who want a smaller campus community with strong international opportunities. If studying abroad is a priority, few schools of this size offer the same level of institutional support and program variety. Students interested in physical therapy, physician assistant studies, or other health professions will find nationally recognized graduate programs. And those who value a campus with character will find Grey Towers Castle hard to forget.
The combination of global focus, health science strength, and a distinctive campus in the Philadelphia suburbs is what sets Arcadia apart from other regional universities in the Northeast.