AU vs. Baruch

Deciding between American University and CUNY Bernard M Baruch College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

American University
CUNY Bernard M Baruch College

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • AU Washington, DC
  • Baruch New York, NY
  • Setting
  • AU Large City
  • Baruch Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • AU 12,321
  • Baruch 20,081
  • Type
  • AU Private 4 Year
  • Baruch Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • AU #94
  • Baruch #186
  • Religious Affiliation
  • AU United Methodist
  • Baruch -
  • Status
  • AU Non-profit
  • Baruch Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • AU
  • Baruch

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • AU $58,771
  • Baruch $7,464
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • AU $58,771
  • Baruch $15,414
  • Room & Board
  • AU $17,982
  • Baruch $18,832
  • Average Net Price
  • AU $39,676
  • Baruch $4,326
  • Average Grant Aid
  • AU $36,349
  • Baruch $10,114
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • AU 67%
  • Baruch 89%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • AU 17,173
  • Baruch 28,111
  • Admitted
  • AU 10,640
  • Baruch 13,357
  • Acceptance Rate
  • AU 62%
  • Baruch 47.5%
  • Enrolled
  • AU 15.6%
  • Baruch 19%
  • Typical SAT score
  • AU 1370
  • Baruch 1250
  • Typical ACT score
  • AU 30
  • Baruch
  • Average High School GPA
  • AU 3.7
  • Baruch 3.7
  • Typical High School Grades
  • AU A-
  • Baruch A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • AU Very High
  • Baruch Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • AU Low
  • Baruch Low
  • ACT Range
  • AU 29/32
  • Baruch
  • SAT Range
  • AU 1280/1460
  • Baruch 1100/1400
  • Submit Test Scores
  • AU Test optional
  • Baruch Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • AU Jan 15, 2027
  • Baruch Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • AU 10:1
  • Baruch 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • AU
    • Social Sciences (43%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
    • Psychology (3%)
  • Baruch
    • Business (78%)
    • Social Sciences (5%)
    • Psychology (5%)
    • English and Literature (3%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (3%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • AU 77%
  • Baruch 63%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • AU $64,800
  • Baruch $61,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • AU 80%
  • Baruch 66%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • AU $24,250
  • Baruch $10,800
  • Median Loan Payment
  • AU $250
  • Baruch $111

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • AU 37%
  • Baruch 49%
  • % Women
  • AU 63%
  • Baruch 51%
  • Racial Diversity
  • AU High
  • Baruch Very High
  • HBCU
  • AU No
  • Baruch No
  • % White
  • AU 58%
  • Baruch 23%
  • % Asian
  • AU 7%
  • Baruch 32%
  • % Black
  • AU 7%
  • Baruch 9%
  • % Hispanic
  • AU 12%
  • Baruch 22%
  • % Native American
  • AU 0%
  • Baruch 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • AU 0%
  • Baruch 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • AU 5%
  • Baruch 2%
  • % International
  • AU 7%
  • Baruch 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • AU 4%
  • Baruch 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • AU 3%
  • Baruch 81%
  • % Out-of-State
  • AU 94%
  • Baruch 0%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • AU Yes
  • Baruch Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • AU No
  • Baruch No
  • Meal Plan
  • AU Yes
  • Baruch No
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • AU Yes
  • Baruch Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • AU Yes
  • Baruch Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare American University in Washington, DC with CUNY Bernard M Baruch College in New York, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

CUNY Bernard M Baruch College is larger than AU based on total student enrollment (20,081 students vs. 12,321 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • American University is located in Washington, DC (Large City setting); CUNY Bernard M Baruch College is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
  • American University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. CUNY Bernard M Baruch College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: American University 10:1; CUNY Bernard M Baruch College 19:1.

AU vs. Baruch Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AU or Baruch? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at CUNY Bernard M Baruch College than AU ($4,326 vs. $39,676).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at American University are 4.5% lower than at CUNY Bernard M Baruch College ($17,982 vs. $18,832).
  • American University is 687.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Baruch (about $51,307 more per year; $58,771.00 vs. $7,464.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 281.3% higher at AU than at CUNY Bernard M Baruch College (about $43,357 more per year; $58,771.00 vs. $15,414.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at CUNY Bernard M Baruch College than at American University (89% vs. 67%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by American University students is 259.4% larger than aid received by CUNY Bernard M Baruch College students ($36,349 vs. $10,114).

AU vs. Baruch Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, AU or Baruch? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Baruch and AU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at American University (1370) is 120 points higher than at Baruch (1250).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: American University 1280/1460; CUNY Bernard M Baruch College 1100/1400.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: American University 29/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: AU - Test optional; Baruch - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: AU Jan 15, 2027; Baruch Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman AU students have the same average high school GPA (3.7) as students at Baruch (3.7).
  • AU has a higher acceptance rate (62%) than Baruch (47.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.6% at AU vs. 19% at Baruch.

AU vs. Baruch Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for AU and Baruch? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • American University's six-year graduation rate (77%) is higher than CUNY Bernard M Baruch College's (63%).
  • Graduates from American University earn a median of about $3,000 more per year than Baruch graduates about ten years after starting college ($64,800 vs. $61,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, CUNY Bernard M Baruch College graduates have a $13,450 lower median loan debt than AU graduates ($10,800 vs. $24,250).
  • Among borrowers, Baruch graduates have an estimated $139 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than AU graduates ($111 vs. $250).
  • More AU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Baruch students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 66%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.