AU vs. Hunter

Comparable Facts

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

CUNY Hunter College is larger than AU based on total student enrollment (22,538 students vs. 12,321 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• American University is located in Washington, DC (Large City setting); CUNY Hunter College is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
• American University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. CUNY Hunter College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: American University 10:1; CUNY Hunter College 14:1.

AU vs. Hunter Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AU or Hunter? 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 Hunter College than AU ($4,431 vs. $39,676).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at CUNY Hunter College are 34.2% lower than at American University ($11,832 vs. $17,982).
• American University is 696.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Hunter (about $51,389 more per year; $58,771.00 vs. $7,382.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 283.3% higher at AU than at CUNY Hunter College (about $43,439 more per year; $58,771.00 vs. $15,332.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at CUNY Hunter College than at American University (87% vs. 67%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by American University students is 272.6% larger than aid received by CUNY Hunter College students ($36,349 vs. $9,755).

AU vs. Hunter Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, AU or Hunter? 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 Hunter and AU.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at American University (1370) is 110 points higher than at Hunter (1260).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: American University 1280/1460; CUNY Hunter College 1100/1420.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: American University 29/32.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: AU - Test optional; Hunter - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: AU Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman AU students have the same average high school GPA (3.7) as students at Hunter (3.7).
• AU has a higher acceptance rate (62%) than Hunter (53.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.6% at AU vs. 16.7% at Hunter.

AU vs. Hunter Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for AU and Hunter? 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 Hunter College's (46%).
• Graduates from American University earn a median of about $16,000 more per year than Hunter graduates about ten years after starting college ($64,800 vs. $48,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, CUNY Hunter College graduates have a $12,702 lower median loan debt than AU graduates ($11,548 vs. $24,250).
• Among borrowers, Hunter graduates have an estimated $131 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than AU graduates ($119 vs. $250).
• More AU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Hunter students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 56%)

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.