AU vs. MHC

Deciding between American University and Mount Holyoke 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
Mount Holyoke College

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • AU Washington, DC
  • MHC South Hadley, MA
  • Setting
  • AU Large City
  • MHC Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • AU 12,321
  • MHC 2,275
  • Type
  • AU Private 4 Year
  • MHC Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • AU #94
  • MHC #81
  • Religious Affiliation
  • AU United Methodist
  • MHC -
  • Status
  • AU Non-profit
  • MHC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • AU
  • MHC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • AU $58,771
  • MHC $67,018
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • AU $58,771
  • MHC $67,018
  • Room & Board
  • AU $17,982
  • MHC $19,684
  • Average Net Price
  • AU $39,676
  • MHC $32,526
  • Average Grant Aid
  • AU $36,349
  • MHC $52,418
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • AU 67%
  • MHC 77%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • AU 17,173
  • MHC 5,226
  • Admitted
  • AU 10,640
  • MHC 1,883
  • Acceptance Rate
  • AU 62%
  • MHC 36%
  • Enrolled
  • AU 15.6%
  • MHC 27.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • AU 1370
  • MHC 1460
  • Typical ACT score
  • AU 30
  • MHC 33
  • Average High School GPA
  • AU 3.7
  • MHC 3.87
  • Typical High School Grades
  • AU A-
  • MHC A
  • Admissions Standards
  • AU Very High
  • MHC Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • AU Low
  • MHC High
  • ACT Range
  • AU 29/32
  • MHC 32/35
  • SAT Range
  • AU 1280/1460
  • MHC 1380/1530
  • Submit Test Scores
  • AU Test optional
  • MHC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • AU Jan 15, 2027
  • MHC Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • AU 10:1
  • MHC 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • AU
    • Social Sciences (43%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
    • Psychology (3%)
  • MHC
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • AU 77%
  • MHC 85%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • AU $64,800
  • MHC $50,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • AU 80%
  • MHC 77%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • AU $24,250
  • MHC $21,206
  • Median Loan Payment
  • AU $250
  • MHC $219

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • AU 37%
  • MHC 1%
  • % Women
  • AU 63%
  • MHC 99%
  • Racial Diversity
  • AU High
  • MHC Very High
  • HBCU
  • AU No
  • MHC No
  • % White
  • AU 58%
  • MHC 45%
  • % Asian
  • AU 7%
  • MHC 10%
  • % Black
  • AU 7%
  • MHC 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • AU 12%
  • MHC 8%
  • % Native American
  • AU 0%
  • MHC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • AU 0%
  • MHC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • AU 5%
  • MHC 4%
  • % International
  • AU 7%
  • MHC 26%
  • % Unknown Race
  • AU 4%
  • MHC 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • AU 3%
  • MHC 19%
  • % Out-of-State
  • AU 94%
  • MHC 63%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare American University in Washington, DC with Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

American University is larger than MHC based on total student enrollment (12,321 students vs. 2,275 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • American University is located in Washington, DC (Large City setting); Mount Holyoke College is in South Hadley, MA (Large Suburban setting).
  • American University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Mount Holyoke College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: American University 10:1; Mount Holyoke College 9:1.

AU vs. MHC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AU or MHC? 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 Mount Holyoke College than AU ($32,526 vs. $39,676).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at American University are 8.6% lower than at Mount Holyoke College ($17,982 vs. $19,684).
  • Mount Holyoke College is 14% more expensive for in-state tuition than AU (about $8,247 more per year; $67,018.00 vs. $58,771.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 14% higher at MHC than at American University (about $8,247 more per year; $67,018.00 vs. $58,771.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Mount Holyoke College than at American University (77% vs. 67%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Mount Holyoke College students is 44.2% larger than aid received by American University students ($52,418 vs. $36,349).

AU vs. MHC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, AU or MHC? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between MHC and AU.

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Mount Holyoke College (1460) is 90 points higher than at AU (1370).
  • Incoming MHC students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (33 vs. 30 at AU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: American University 1280/1460; Mount Holyoke College 1380/1530.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: American University 29/32; Mount Holyoke College 32/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: AU - Test optional; MHC - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: AU Jan 15, 2027; MHC Jan 15, 2027.
  • Enrolled freshman MHC students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.87) than students at AU (3.7).
  • AU has a higher acceptance rate (62%) than MHC (36%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.6% at AU vs. 27.2% at MHC.

AU vs. MHC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for AU and MHC? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

  • Mount Holyoke College's six-year graduation rate (85%) is higher than American University's (77%).
  • Graduates from American University earn a median of about $14,800 more per year than MHC graduates about ten years after starting college ($64,800 vs. $50,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Mount Holyoke College graduates have a $3,044 lower median loan debt than AU graduates ($21,206 vs. $24,250).
  • Among borrowers, MHC graduates have an estimated $31 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than AU graduates ($219 vs. $250).
  • More AU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MHC 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.