AU vs. Fordham

Deciding between American University and Fordham University? 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
Fordham University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • AU Washington, DC
  • Fordham Bronx, NY
  • Setting
  • AU Large City
  • Fordham Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • AU 12,321
  • Fordham 16,150
  • Type
  • AU Private 4 Year
  • Fordham Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • AU #94
  • Fordham #133
  • Religious Affiliation
  • AU United Methodist
  • Fordham Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • AU Non-profit
  • Fordham Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • AU
  • Fordham

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • AU $58,771
  • Fordham $64,915
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • AU $58,771
  • Fordham $64,915
  • Room & Board
  • AU $17,982
  • Fordham $24,090
  • Average Net Price
  • AU $39,676
  • Fordham $48,190
  • Average Grant Aid
  • AU $36,349
  • Fordham $35,988
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • AU 67%
  • Fordham 95%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • AU 17,173
  • Fordham 43,364
  • Admitted
  • AU 10,640
  • Fordham 25,719
  • Acceptance Rate
  • AU 62%
  • Fordham 59.3%
  • Enrolled
  • AU 15.6%
  • Fordham 9.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • AU 1370
  • Fordham 1400
  • Typical ACT score
  • AU 30
  • Fordham 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • AU 3.7
  • Fordham 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • AU A-
  • Fordham A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • AU Very High
  • Fordham Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • AU Low
  • Fordham Low
  • ACT Range
  • AU 29/32
  • Fordham 30/33
  • SAT Range
  • AU 1280/1460
  • Fordham 1320/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • AU Test optional
  • Fordham Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • AU Jan 15, 2027
  • Fordham Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • AU 10:1
  • Fordham 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • AU
    • Social Sciences (43%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
    • Psychology (3%)
  • Fordham
    • Business (26%)
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Communication (13%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • English and Literature (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • AU 77%
  • Fordham 78%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • AU $64,800
  • Fordham $64,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • AU 80%
  • Fordham 77%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • AU $24,250
  • Fordham $26,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • AU $250
  • Fordham $268

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • AU 37%
  • Fordham 39%
  • % Women
  • AU 63%
  • Fordham 61%
  • Racial Diversity
  • AU High
  • Fordham High
  • HBCU
  • AU No
  • Fordham No
  • % White
  • AU 58%
  • Fordham 59%
  • % Asian
  • AU 7%
  • Fordham 10%
  • % Black
  • AU 7%
  • Fordham 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • AU 12%
  • Fordham 14%
  • % Native American
  • AU 0%
  • Fordham 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • AU 0%
  • Fordham 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • AU 5%
  • Fordham 3%
  • % International
  • AU 7%
  • Fordham 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • AU 4%
  • Fordham 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • AU 3%
  • Fordham 38%
  • % Out-of-State
  • AU 94%
  • Fordham 51%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare American University in Washington, DC with Fordham University in Bronx, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Fordham University is larger than AU based on total student enrollment (16,150 students vs. 12,321 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

AU vs. Fordham Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AU or Fordham? 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 American University than Fordham ($39,676 vs. $48,190).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at American University are 25.4% lower than at Fordham University ($17,982 vs. $24,090).
  • Fordham University is 10.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than AU (about $6,144 more per year; $64,915.00 vs. $58,771.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 10.5% higher at Fordham than at American University (about $6,144 more per year; $64,915.00 vs. $58,771.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Fordham University than at American University (95% vs. 67%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by American University students is 1% larger than aid received by Fordham University students ($36,349 vs. $35,988).

AU vs. Fordham Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Fordham University (1400) is 30 points higher than at AU (1370).
  • Incoming Fordham students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 30 at AU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: American University 1280/1460; Fordham University 1320/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: American University 29/32; Fordham University 30/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: AU - Test optional; Fordham - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: AU Jan 15, 2027; Fordham Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman AU students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at Fordham (3.67).
  • AU has a higher acceptance rate (62%) than Fordham (59.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.6% at AU vs. 9.7% at Fordham.

AU vs. Fordham Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for AU and Fordham? 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).

  • Fordham University's six-year graduation rate (78%) is higher than American University's (77%).
  • Graduates from American University earn a median of about $600 more per year than Fordham graduates about ten years after starting college ($64,800 vs. $64,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, American University graduates have a $1,750 lower median loan debt than Fordham graduates ($24,250 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers, AU graduates have an estimated $18 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Fordham graduates ($250 vs. $268).
  • More AU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fordham 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.