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George Washington Dickinson College Gettysburg College Georgetown Fordham Syracuse Lafayette College Mason DU Drexel William & Mary Elon| American University | Franklin and Marshall College | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
AU | F&M | ||
| Location | Washington, DC | Lancaster, PA | ||
| Setting | Large City | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 13,019 | 1,911 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #84 | #61 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | United Methodist | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | american.edu | fandm.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
AU | F&M | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $55,724 | $68,180 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $55,724 | $68,180 | ||
| Room & Board | $17,012 | $15,568 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $40,189 | $37,475 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $31,402 | $45,764 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 62% | 68% |
Admission |
AU | F&M | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 17,786 | 9,231 | ||
| Admitted | 8,427 | 2,938 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 47.4% | 31.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 22% | 18.8% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.7 | - | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | - | ||
| Admissions Standards | Exceptional | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | High | ||
| ACT Range | 29/33 | 29/32 | ||
| SAT Range | 1300/1450 | 1298/1460 | ||
| 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 | Jan 15, 2026 |
Academics |
AU | F&M | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 10:1 | 9:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
AU | F&M | ||
| Graduation Rate | 77% | 85% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $64,800 | $61,900 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 80% | 88% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,250 | $22,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $250 | $227 |
Diversity |
AU | F&M | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 15% | 0% | ||
| % Women | 25% | 0% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 58% | 59% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 6% | ||
| % Hispanic | 12% | 8% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 2% | ||
| % International | 7% | 14% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 4% | 6% |
Students |
AU | F&M | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 2% | 25% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 94% | 59% | ||
Campus |
AU | F&M | ||
| 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 F&M based on total student enrollment (13,019 students vs. 1,911 students)
AU vs. F&M Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, AU or F&M?
- Franklin and Marshall College is 22.4% more expensive to attend than AU for in-state tuition ($68,180.00 vs. $55,724.00)
- Out of state tuition is 22.4% higher at F&M than American University ($68,180.00 vs. $55,724.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Franklin and Marshall College than AU ($37,475 vs. $40,189)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Franklin and Marshall College are 9.3% lower than costs at American University ($15,568 vs. $17,012)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Franklin and Marshall College than American University (68% vs. 62%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Franklin and Marshall College students is 45.7% larger than aid received American University ($45,764 vs. $31,402)
AU vs. F&M Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, AU or F&M? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between F&M or AU .
- AU has a higher acceptance rate (47.4%) than F&M (31.8%)
AU vs. F&M Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, AU or F&M? 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 F&M and AU.
- The graduation rate at F&M is higher than American University (85% vs. 77%)
- Graduates from American University earn on average $2,900 more per year than F&M graduates after ten years. ($64,800 vs. $61,900)
- Franklin and Marshall College students graduate with a $2,250 lower median federal student loan debt than AU graduates. ($22,000 vs. $24,250)
- F&M graduates are paying $23 less per month on federal student loans than AU graduates. ($227 vs. $250)
- More F&M graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AU students, three years after graduation. (88% vs. 80%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/