AU vs. F&M

Deciding between American University and Franklin and Marshall 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
Franklin and Marshall College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • AU Washington, DC
  • F&M Lancaster, PA
  • Setting
  • AU Large City
  • F&M Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • AU 12,321
  • F&M 1,808
  • Type
  • AU Private 4 Year
  • F&M Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • AU #94
  • F&M #60
  • Religious Affiliation
  • AU United Methodist
  • F&M -
  • Status
  • AU Non-profit
  • F&M Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • AU
  • F&M

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • AU $58,771
  • F&M $70,794
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • AU $58,771
  • F&M $70,794
  • Room & Board
  • AU $17,982
  • F&M $16,188
  • Average Net Price
  • AU $39,676
  • F&M $43,987
  • Average Grant Aid
  • AU $36,349
  • F&M $41,901
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • AU 67%
  • F&M 80%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • AU 17,173
  • F&M 9,881
  • Admitted
  • AU 10,640
  • F&M 2,785
  • Acceptance Rate
  • AU 62%
  • F&M 28.2%
  • Enrolled
  • AU 15.6%
  • F&M 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • AU 1370
  • F&M 1390
  • Typical ACT score
  • AU 30
  • F&M 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • AU 3.7
  • F&M -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • AU A-
  • F&M -
  • Admissions Standards
  • AU Very High
  • F&M Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • AU Low
  • F&M High
  • ACT Range
  • AU 29/32
  • F&M 30/33
  • SAT Range
  • AU 1280/1460
  • F&M 1310/1463
  • Submit Test Scores
  • AU Test optional
  • F&M Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • AU Jan 15, 2027
  • F&M Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • AU 10:1
  • F&M 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • AU
    • Social Sciences (43%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
    • Psychology (3%)
  • F&M
    • Social Sciences (29%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • General Studies (7%)
    • Psychology (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • AU 77%
  • F&M 85%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • AU $64,800
  • F&M $61,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • AU 80%
  • F&M 88%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • AU $24,250
  • F&M $22,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • AU $250
  • F&M $227

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • AU 37%
  • F&M 49%
  • % Women
  • AU 63%
  • F&M 51%
  • Racial Diversity
  • AU High
  • F&M High
  • HBCU
  • AU No
  • F&M No
  • % White
  • AU 58%
  • F&M 59%
  • % Asian
  • AU 7%
  • F&M 5%
  • % Black
  • AU 7%
  • F&M 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • AU 12%
  • F&M 8%
  • % Native American
  • AU 0%
  • F&M 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • AU 0%
  • F&M 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • AU 5%
  • F&M 2%
  • % International
  • AU 7%
  • F&M 14%
  • % Unknown Race
  • AU 4%
  • F&M 6%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • AU 3%
  • F&M 29%
  • % Out-of-State
  • AU 94%
  • F&M 55%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare American University in Washington, DC with Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

American University is larger than F&M based on total student enrollment (12,321 students vs. 1,808 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • American University is located in Washington, DC (Large City setting); Franklin and Marshall College is in Lancaster, PA (Small City setting).
  • American University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Franklin and Marshall College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: American University 10:1; Franklin and Marshall College 9:1.

AU vs. F&M Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AU or F&M? 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 F&M ($39,676 vs. $43,987).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Franklin and Marshall College are 10% lower than at American University ($16,188 vs. $17,982).
  • Franklin and Marshall College is 20.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than AU (about $12,023 more per year; $70,794.00 vs. $58,771.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 20.5% higher at F&M than at American University (about $12,023 more per year; $70,794.00 vs. $58,771.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Franklin and Marshall College than at American University (80% vs. 67%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Franklin and Marshall College students is 15.3% larger than aid received by American University students ($41,901 vs. $36,349).

AU vs. F&M Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, AU or F&M? 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 F&M and AU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Franklin and Marshall College (1390) is 20 points higher than at AU (1370).
  • Incoming F&M 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; Franklin and Marshall College 1310/1463.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: American University 29/32; Franklin and Marshall College 30/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: AU - Test optional; F&M - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: AU Jan 15, 2027; F&M Jan 15, 2027.
  • AU has a higher acceptance rate (62%) than F&M (28.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.6% at AU vs. 17.1% at F&M.

AU vs. F&M Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for AU and F&M? 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).

  • Franklin and Marshall College's six-year graduation rate (85%) is higher than American University's (77%).
  • Graduates from American University earn a median of about $2,900 more per year than F&M graduates about ten years after starting college ($64,800 vs. $61,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Franklin and Marshall College graduates have a $2,250 lower median loan debt than AU graduates ($22,000 vs. $24,250).
  • Among borrowers, F&M graduates have an estimated $23 lower median monthly federal student loan payment 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.