AU vs. IIT

Deciding between American University and Illinois Institute of Technology? 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
Illinois Institute of Technology

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • AU Washington, DC
  • IIT Chicago, IL
  • Setting
  • AU Large City
  • IIT Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • AU 12,321
  • IIT 8,834
  • Type
  • AU Private 4 Year
  • IIT Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • AU #94
  • IIT #236
  • Religious Affiliation
  • AU United Methodist
  • IIT -
  • Status
  • AU Non-profit
  • IIT Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • AU
  • IIT

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • AU $58,771
  • IIT $52,386
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • AU $58,771
  • IIT $52,386
  • Room & Board
  • AU $17,982
  • IIT $17,356
  • Average Net Price
  • AU $39,676
  • IIT $24,796
  • Average Grant Aid
  • AU $36,349
  • IIT $44,547
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • AU 67%
  • IIT 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • AU 17,173
  • IIT 12,216
  • Admitted
  • AU 10,640
  • IIT 6,710
  • Acceptance Rate
  • AU 62%
  • IIT 54.9%
  • Enrolled
  • AU 15.6%
  • IIT 7.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • AU 1370
  • IIT 1310
  • Typical ACT score
  • AU 30
  • IIT 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • AU 3.7
  • IIT 3.84
  • Typical High School Grades
  • AU A-
  • IIT A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • AU Very High
  • IIT Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • AU Low
  • IIT Low
  • ACT Range
  • AU 29/32
  • IIT 26/32
  • SAT Range
  • AU 1280/1460
  • IIT 1180/1440
  • Submit Test Scores
  • AU Test optional
  • IIT Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • AU Jan 15, 2027
  • IIT Mar 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • AU 10:1
  • IIT 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • AU
    • Social Sciences (43%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
    • Psychology (3%)
  • IIT
    • Engineering (50%)
    • Architecture (20%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (8%)
    • Business (7%)
    • Biology (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • AU 77%
  • IIT 64%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • AU $64,800
  • IIT $79,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • AU 80%
  • IIT 81%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • AU $24,250
  • IIT $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • AU $250
  • IIT $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • AU 37%
  • IIT 62%
  • % Women
  • AU 63%
  • IIT 38%
  • Racial Diversity
  • AU High
  • IIT Very High
  • HBCU
  • AU No
  • IIT No
  • % White
  • AU 58%
  • IIT 33%
  • % Asian
  • AU 7%
  • IIT 13%
  • % Black
  • AU 7%
  • IIT 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • AU 12%
  • IIT 16%
  • % Native American
  • AU 0%
  • IIT 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • AU 0%
  • IIT 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • AU 5%
  • IIT 2%
  • % International
  • AU 7%
  • IIT 26%
  • % Unknown Race
  • AU 4%
  • IIT 4%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • AU 3%
  • IIT 67%
  • % Out-of-State
  • AU 94%
  • IIT 24%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare American University in Washington, DC with Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

American University is larger than IIT based on total student enrollment (12,321 students vs. 8,834 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • American University is located in Washington, DC (Large City setting); Illinois Institute of Technology is in Chicago, IL (Large City setting).
  • American University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Illinois Institute of Technology is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: American University 10:1; Illinois Institute of Technology 14:1.

AU vs. IIT Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AU or IIT? 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 Illinois Institute of Technology than AU ($24,796 vs. $39,676).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Illinois Institute of Technology are 3.5% lower than at American University ($17,356 vs. $17,982).
  • American University is 12.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than IIT (about $6,385 more per year; $58,771.00 vs. $52,386.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 12.2% higher at AU than at Illinois Institute of Technology (about $6,385 more per year; $58,771.00 vs. $52,386.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Illinois Institute of Technology than at American University (100% vs. 67%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois Institute of Technology students is 22.6% larger than aid received by American University students ($44,547 vs. $36,349).

AU vs. IIT Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at American University (1370) is 60 points higher than at IIT (1310).
  • Incoming AU students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 29 at IIT).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: American University 1280/1460; Illinois Institute of Technology 1180/1440.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: American University 29/32; Illinois Institute of Technology 26/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: AU - Test optional; IIT - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: AU Jan 15, 2027; IIT Mar 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman IIT students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.84) than students at AU (3.7).
  • AU has a higher acceptance rate (62%) than IIT (54.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.6% at AU vs. 7.7% at IIT.

AU vs. IIT Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for AU and IIT? 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 Illinois Institute of Technology's (64%).
  • Graduates from Illinois Institute of Technology earn a median of about $14,500 more per year than AU graduates about ten years after starting college ($79,300 vs. $64,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, American University graduates have a $2,750 lower median loan debt than IIT graduates ($24,250 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, AU graduates have an estimated $29 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than IIT graduates ($250 vs. $279).
  • More IIT graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AU students, three years after graduation. (81% 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.