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George Washington Georgetown Fordham Syracuse Mason Lafayette College DU Drexel William & Mary Elon University of Richmond Bucknell| American University | Bridgewater College | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
AU | BC | ||
| Location | Washington, DC | Bridgewater, VA | ||
| Setting | Large City | Small Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 13,019 | 1,436 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #84 | #603 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | United Methodist | Church of Brethren | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | american.edu | bridgewater.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
AU | BC | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $55,724 | $40,300 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $55,724 | $40,300 | ||
| Room & Board | $17,012 | $14,370 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $40,189 | $19,660 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $31,402 | $36,350 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 62% | 100% |
Admission |
AU | BC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 17,786 | 3,984 | ||
| Admitted | 8,427 | 3,618 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 47.4% | 90.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 22% | 11.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.7 | 3.61 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Exceptional | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 29/33 | 28/29 | ||
| SAT Range | 1300/1450 | 1070/1375 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Jan 15, 2025 | May 1, 2025 |
Academics |
AU | BC | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 10:1 | 12:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
AU | BC | ||
| Graduation Rate | 77% | 59% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $64,800 | $43,100 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 80% | 77% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,250 | $27,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $250 | $279 |
Diversity |
AU | BC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 15% | 1% | ||
| % Women | 25% | 2% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 58% | 73% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 11% | ||
| % Hispanic | 12% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 5% | ||
| % International | 7% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 4% | 4% |
Students |
AU | BC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 2% | 69% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 94% | 25% | ||
Campus |
AU | BC | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- American University is larger than than BC based on total student enrollment (13,019 students vs. 1,436 students)
AU vs. BC Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, AU or BC?
- American University is 38.3% more expensive to attend than BC for in-state tuition ($55,724.00 vs. $40,300.00)
- Out of state tuition is 38.3% higher at AU than Bridgewater College ($55,724.00 vs. $40,300.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bridgewater College than AU ($19,660 vs. $40,189)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bridgewater College are 18.4% lower than costs at American University ($14,370 vs. $17,012)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Bridgewater College than American University (100% vs. 62%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Bridgewater College students is 15.8% larger than aid received American University ($36,350 vs. $31,402)
AU vs. BC Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, AU or BC? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between BC or AU .
- The average SAT score at American University (1252) is 218 points higher than at BC (1034)
- Incoming AU students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (28) than students at BC (24)
- Accepted freshman AU students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at BC (3.61)
- BC has a higher acceptance rate (90.8%) than AU (47.4%)
AU vs. BC Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, AU or BC? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between BC and AU.
- The graduation rate at AU is higher than Bridgewater College (77% vs. 59%)
- Graduates from American University earn on average $21,700 more per year than BC graduates after ten years. ($64,800 vs. $43,100)
- American University students graduate with a $2,750 lower median federal student loan debt than BC graduates. ($24,250 vs. $27,000)
- AU graduates are paying $29 less per month on federal student loans than BC graduates. ($250 vs. $279)
- More AU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former BC students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 77%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/