Head-to-head comparison
Arcadia University vs Juniata College: which has better ROI?
Option A Glenside, PA
Arcadia University
- Net price / year
- $29,466
- Earnings, 10 years
- $58,336
- Payback
- 11.8 yrs
Option B Huntingdon, PA
Juniata College
- Net price / year
- $23,988
- Earnings, 10 years
- $56,918
- Payback
- 11.2 yrs
Juniata College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $95,952 in 11.2 years versus 11.8 years at Arcadia University, on median earnings of $56,918 vs $58,336 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Arcadia University | Juniata College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $29,466 | $23,988 |
| Total net cost | $117,864 | $95,952 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $58,336 | $56,918 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 11.8 yrs | 11.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $81,656 | $75,208 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Arcadia University or Juniata College?
Juniata College, at $23,988 a year after aid versus $29,466 — a gap of $5,478 a year, or $21,912 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Arcadia University or Juniata College graduates earn more?
Arcadia University graduates report a median $58,336 ten years after entry, $1,418 more than the $56,918 at Juniata College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Arcadia University or Juniata College?
Completers at both borrow a median $27,000, so neither school has the debt advantage. That figure covers federal loans of students who finished — borrowers who leave early are not counted, and private loans sit outside it.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
74% of students finish at Juniata College, against 67% at Arcadia University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.