AU vs. Queens College

Should I go to American University or CUNY Queens College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if AU or Queens College is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

Add a college to compare up to four schools

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

George Washington Brooklyn College Hunter Georgetown Baruch Fordham St John's Syracuse Lehman Mason Lafayette College Adelphi University
American University vs. CUNY Queens College comparison
American University CUNY Queens College College 3 College 4
American University CUNY Queens College
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

AU Queens College
Location Washington, DC Flushing, NY
Setting Large City Large City
Enrollment 13,019 16,481
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #84 #348
Religious Affiliation United Methodist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website american.edu cuny.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

AU Queens College
Tuition (In State) $55,724 $6,930
Tuition (Out of State) $55,724 $14,880
Room & Board $17,012 $16,464
Avg Net Price $40,189 $5,339
Avg Grant Aid $31,402 $8,904
% Receiving Grant Aid 62% 81%

Admission

AU Queens College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 17,786 20,800
Admitted 8,427 14,252
Acceptance Rate 47.4% 68.5%
Enrolled % 22% 14.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.7 3.0
Typical High School Grades A- B
Admissions Standards Exceptional Difficult
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 29/33
SAT Range 1300/1450 1100/1320
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, 2026

Academics

AU Queens College
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (43%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • Psychology (3%)
  • Social Sciences (27%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Psychology (14%)
  • English and Literature (6%)
  • Education (5%)

Outcomes

AU Queens College
Graduation Rate 77% 53%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $64,800 $50,800
Making Student Loan Payments 80% 56%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,250 $11,000
Median Loan Payment $250 $113

Diversity

AU Queens College
% Men 15% 5%
% Women 25% 10%
Racial Diversity High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 58% 29%
% Black 7% 9%
% Hispanic 12% 29%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 1%
% International 7% 5%
% Unknown Race 4% 0%

Students

AU Queens College
% In-State 2% 76%
% Out-of-State 94% 0%

Campus

AU Queens College
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • CUNY Queens College is larger than than AU based on total student enrollment (16,481 students vs. 13,019 students)

AU vs. Queens College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AU or Queens College?

  • American University is 704.1% more expensive to attend than Queens College for in-state tuition ($55,724.00 vs. $6,930.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 274.5% higher at AU than CUNY Queens College ($55,724.00 vs. $14,880.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at CUNY Queens College than AU ($5,339 vs. $40,189)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at CUNY Queens College are 3.3% lower than costs at American University ($16,464 vs. $17,012)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at CUNY Queens College than American University (81% vs. 62%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by American University students is 252.7% larger than aid received CUNY Queens College ($31,402 vs. $8,904)

AU vs. Queens College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, AU or Queens College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Queens College or AU .

  • The average SAT score at American University (1252) is 142 points higher than at Queens College (1110)
  • Accepted freshman AU students have a 0.7 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at Queens College (3.0)
  • Queens College has a higher acceptance rate (68.5%) than AU (47.4%)

AU vs. Queens College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, AU or Queens College? 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 Queens College and AU.

  • The graduation rate at AU is higher than CUNY Queens College (77% vs. 53%)
  • Graduates from American University earn on average $14,000 more per year than Queens College graduates after ten years. ($64,800 vs. $50,800)
  • CUNY Queens College students graduate with a $13,250 lower median federal student loan debt than AU graduates. ($11,000 vs. $24,250)
  • Queens College graduates are paying $137 less per month on federal student loans than AU graduates. ($113 vs. $250)
  • More AU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Queens College 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/