Arcadia Welcomes Largest Incoming Class in Seven Years

Arcadia University welcomed its largest class of first-year and transfer students in several years. A total of 718 first-year and transfer students-598 first-year, 120 transfer-are now members of the Arcadia community, the highest number of first-year students in seven years and the highest number of transfer students in 10 years.

The Arcadia Class of 2028 includes:

• Students from 31 different states and five countries, including China, South Korea, and Australia
• 20.9% of students are Black, non-Hispanic (highest rate in 10 years)
• 17.1% are Hispanic (highest rate in 10 years)
• 34.1% self reporting as first-generation students
• 65 students with a different first language than English
• 18 students from Jiangsu University in China
• 27.9% of incoming first-year students are recruited student athletes

Overall enrollment is up at Arcadia for the second year in a row: 8% above the previous year, and 12% from 2022. Undergraduate enrollment is up 6% from previous year, the highest since 2019. In addition, undergraduate retention (first-to-second year, second-to-third, and third-to-fourth) is at, or near, 10-year highs.

Over the past year, Arcadia expanded its undergraduate academic program offerings to meet the needs of today's students, and many students opted to enroll in these programs this fall. The 2025 U.S. News & World Report rankings note that Arcadia remains the #1-ranked college or university in Pennsylvania and among the best in the country in study abroad for the sixth consecutive year, and The Princeton Review placed Arcadia as among the region's best colleges for the 10th year in a row. In addition, U.S. News notes the excellence in Arcadia's Health Sciences program, ranking the Physical Therapy programs as #1 in the Philadelphia region and #2 in the Commonwealth.

Arcadia welcomed its new class with a Welcome Week, highlighted by Opening Convocation, a formal academic ceremony that serves as the official kickoff to the academic year. Arcadia's new students also participated in two community service projects: packaging meals for families in need through the organization Rise Against Hunger and creating back-to-school cards for young children across the region with Cradles to Crayons Philadelphia.