Scholarships and Grants for Undergraduates

All Arcadia merit scholarships are automatically renewable from year to year provided the student remains full-time and in good academic standing according to University guidelines.

Merit scholarships apply toward tuition costs only. If another scholarship, award, or funding from any outside entity/organization will cover all or part of a student's tuition costs, the merit scholarship will be replaced or reduced. For more information, email the Financial Aid Office at finaid@arcadia.edu.

These scholarships and grants are made possible through the generous gifts of alumni, parents, faculty, staff, and friends of Arcadia University. 

The Arcadia University Distinguished Scholarship

A merit-based scholarship, applicable toward tuition, that recognizes academic excellence, outstanding leadership, and community service of both first-year and transfer applicants. First-year students are evaluated on the basis of their grades, types of coursework taken, high school rank and involvement, award amounts go up to $28,000 annually for first-year students entering in the 2022-2023 academic year.  Transfer students are evaluated on the basis of their cumulative GPA and coursework and award amounts go up to $20,000 per year for full-time transfer students entering in either the 2022-23 academic year.   There is no special application required, all students who apply for full-time undergraduate admission will be automatically reviewed. 

Notes for Transfer Students:

• Members of Phi Theta Kappa entering the University are guaranteed a $1,500 per year for full-time undergraduate study. 
  • Student’s cumulative transfer GPA (from all institutions combined) must be a 3.5 and he/she needs to have completed at least 30 credits.
  • Completed coursework must be from at least two general academic disciplines, and, the student must have completed full-time course loads at his/her prior institution.

The Arcadia University Achievement Award

A merit-based scholarship that recognizes exceptional achievements. Awards range from $1,000 to $4,000 per academic year.  Students are evaluated on the basis of their involvement in school activities, community service, and volunteer work, or other notable achievements as recognized by the scholarship committee. No special application required, all first-year and transfer students who apply for full-time admission will be considered.

Portfolio Review Award & Acting Audition Award

• Prospective Fine Arts majors may receive a Portfolio Review Award based on the quality of their portfolio review and prospective B.F.A. in Acting majors may receive an Acting Audition Award based on the qualify of the audition.  These awards can range anywhere from $1,000-$4,000 annually.

Arcadia University Campus Achievement Award for Returning Students

A scholarship for full-time undergraduate students who have completed at least one semester of study at Arcadia.  To qualify, students must:

• Have financial need
• Show involvement and leadership on campus
• Have a minimum cumulative GPA of at least 3.0. 
• Additionally, the review committee looks for a demonstrated willingness to take student loans.  

Applications are available twice a year- for spring consideration the application goes live November 1 and is due December 1 for fall consideration, the application goes live May 1 and is due June 1. Applications are available for current Arcadia students and can be found on our Financial Aid Forms page.

Alumni Legacy Grant

This is an annual $2,000 grant, awarded to the dependent children, grandchildren, or great-grandchildren of Arcadia University and Beaver College alumni who enroll as full-time undergraduate students at Arcadia University.  Students must be "dependent" according to federal guidelines.  To be considered, students must indicate their relationship to alumni on their application for Admission and meet all admission requirements.

Arcadia University Sister Cities Scholarship Program

An annual academic, merit scholarship offered to new, full-time undergraduate students, first-year or transfer, who are residents of one of Philadelphia’s Sister Cities.  Students must be pursuing a first bachelor’s degree full-time and must meet Arcadia’s Undergraduate Admissions Requirements.  No special application required, all first-year and transfer students who apply for full-time admission will be considered if they are residents of one of the Sister Cities.

Special Notes

• The Sister Cities Program, which, through Citizen Diplomacy International (CDI) (formerly known as the International Visitors Counsel) links Philadelphia to the world. CDI developed special relationships with 11 Sister cities.
• The Arcadia University Sister City Scholarship Program provides a $15,000 annual award.
• More information on Philadelphia’s Sister Cities can be found online at their website.

The Philadelphia Scholar Award 

This award is made to five students each year from among the City of Philadelphia's 21 comprehensive public high schools. Nominations for this award are made by high school officials on the basis of academic success and promise. This $2,000 annual award is renewable.

Dual Enrollment Award

This $2,000 award is made to full-time undergraduate students enrolled at Arcadia as full-time undergraduate students and who took Dual Enrollment courses at Arcadia while in high school and obtained at least a 3.2 cumulative GPA in all Arcadia coursework.

Transfer Partner Scholarship

The Arcadia University Partner Scholarship is awarded to full-time transfer students that have successfully completed an approved Associate's degree through one of our Community College Dual Admission/Core-to-core agreements with a 3.5 cumulative GPA from all institutions attended.  Arcadia University has agreements with Bucks County Community College, Cecil College, Community College of Philadelphia, Delaware County Community College, Lehigh Carbon Community College, Montgomery County Community College, Northampton County College, and Rowan College at Burlington County.  The Arcadia University Partner Scholarship is an annual scholarship of $5,000 that a new incoming full-time transfer student can receive in addition to his/her Distinguished Scholarship.  Transfer students are reminded to submit their final transcripts, for the last courses they take, to their admission counselor for full evaluation of this award.

Other Awards

Distance Grant: This $2,000 award is made to full-time undergraduate students who have filed a FAFSA and are from one of the following states: AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NM,  NC, ND, OK, OR, PR, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WI or WY.  *New award Fall 2022, awarded to full-time undergraduate students starting fall 2022.

Sibling Grant:  (new for fall 2022!) This $2,000 award is made to full-time undergraduate students who have filed a FAFSA and have a sibling who is currently enrolled at Arcadia as an undergraduate student or a sibling that will be enrolling at Arcadia at the same time, also as an undergraduate student.  *New award Fall 2022, awarded to full-time undergraduate students starting fall 2022.

Funds from Outside Organizations

Students who receive outside scholarships must notify the Financial Aid. If another scholarship, award or funding from any outside entity/organization/employer (student or parent) will cover all or part of your tuition costs, the aid offer for the student will be reviewed and there is a chance that Arcadia scholarship & grant aid could be reduced.   

Arcadia University Grant

A need-based grant awarded to qualified full-time undergraduate students.  Domestic students are evaluated based on the information provided on the FAFSA form and the student's financial need. This grant can change from year to year based on changes to student financial need (impacted by changes to income, enrollment status and housing status). FAFSA is required for consideration and renewal of this award.