AU vs. Meredith

Should I go to American University or Meredith College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if AU or Meredith 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.
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American University vs. Meredith College comparison
American University Meredith College College 3 College 4
American University Meredith College
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Overview

 AU Meredith
Location Washington, DC Raleigh, NC
Setting Large City Large City
Enrollment 13,885 1,587
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #93 #396
Religious Affiliation United Methodist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website american.edu meredith.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 AU Meredith
Tuition (In State) $53,070 $42,420
Tuition (Out of State) $53,070 $42,420
Room & Board $15,706 $12,544
Avg Net Price $41,369 $23,259
Avg Grant Aid $27,138 $29,825
% Receiving Grant Aid 66% 100%

Admission

 AU Meredith
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 19,510 1,775
Admitted 7,926 1,299
Acceptance Rate 40.6% 73.2%
Enrolled % 22.2% 25.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.7 3.52
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Very High Challenging
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 29/32 22/28
SAT Range 1290/1430 1140/1320
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, 2025 Feb 15, 2025

Academics

 AU Meredith
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 10:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (43%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • Psychology (3%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (18%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Work and Family Studies (10%)
  • Communication (6%)

Outcomes

 AU Meredith
Graduation Rate 77% 59%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $64,800 $40,000
Making Student Loan Payments 80% 65%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,250 $26,000
Median Loan Payment $250 $268

Diversity

 AU Meredith
% Men 37% 2%
% Women 63% 98%
Racial Diversity High Low
HBCU No No
% White 58% 71%
% Black 7% 10%
% Hispanic 12% 3%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 4%
% International 7% 5%
% Unknown Race 4% 2%

Students

 AU Meredith
% In-State 2% 80%
% Out-of-State 94% 13%

Campus

 AU Meredith
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 Meredith based on total student enrollment (13,885 students vs. 1,587 students)

AU vs. Meredith Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AU or Meredith?

  • American University is 25.1% more expensive to attend than Meredith for in-state tuition ($53,070.00 vs. $42,420.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 25.1% higher at AU than Meredith College ($53,070.00 vs. $42,420.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Meredith College than AU ($23,259 vs. $41,369)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Meredith College are 25.2% lower than costs at American University ($12,544 vs. $15,706)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Meredith College than American University (100% vs. 66%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Meredith College students is 9.9% larger than aid received American University ($29,825 vs. $27,138)

AU vs. Meredith Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at American University (1252) is 216 points higher than at Meredith (1036)
  • Incoming AU students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (28) than students at Meredith (23)
  • Accepted freshman AU students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at Meredith (3.52)
  • Meredith has a higher acceptance rate (73.2%) than AU (40.6%)

AU vs. Meredith Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, AU or Meredith? 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 Meredith and AU.

  • The graduation rate at AU is higher than Meredith College (77% vs. 59%)
  • Graduates from American University earn on average $24,800 more per year than Meredith graduates after ten years. ($64,800 vs. $40,000)
  • American University students graduate with a $1,750 lower median federal student loan debt than Meredith graduates. ($24,250 vs. $26,000)
  • AU graduates are paying $18 less per month on federal student loans than Meredith graduates. ($250 vs. $268)
  • More AU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Meredith students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 65%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/