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George Washington Smith College Georgetown Fordham Bryn Mawr Syracuse Wellesley Mason Lafayette College DU Drexel William & Mary| American University | Mount Holyoke College | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
AU | MHC | ||
| Location | Washington, DC | South Hadley, MA | ||
| Setting | Large City | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 13,019 | 2,330 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #84 | #89 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | United Methodist | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | american.edu | mtholyoke.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
AU | MHC | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $55,724 | $63,904 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $55,724 | $63,904 | ||
| Room & Board | $17,012 | $18,838 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $40,189 | $35,782 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $31,402 | $41,823 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 62% | 75% |
Admission |
AU | MHC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 17,786 | 5,030 | ||
| Admitted | 8,427 | 1,926 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 47.4% | 38.3% | ||
| Enrolled % | 22% | 30.5% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.7 | 3.87 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Exceptional | Exceptional | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | High | ||
| ACT Range | 29/33 | 31/33 | ||
| SAT Range | 1300/1450 | 1350/1500 | ||
| 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 | MHC | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 10:1 | 9:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
AU | MHC | ||
| Graduation Rate | 77% | 85% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $64,800 | $50,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 80% | 77% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,250 | $21,206 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $250 | $219 |
Diversity |
AU | MHC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 15% | 1% | ||
| % Women | 25% | 4% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 58% | 45% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 6% | ||
| % Hispanic | 12% | 8% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 4% | ||
| % International | 7% | 26% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 4% | 1% |
Students |
AU | MHC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 2% | 17% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 94% | 58% | ||
Campus |
AU | MHC | ||
| 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 MHC based on total student enrollment (13,019 students vs. 2,330 students)
AU vs. MHC Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, AU or MHC?
- Mount Holyoke College is 14.7% more expensive to attend than AU for in-state tuition ($63,904.00 vs. $55,724.00)
- Out of state tuition is 14.7% higher at MHC than American University ($63,904.00 vs. $55,724.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Mount Holyoke College than AU ($35,782 vs. $40,189)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at American University are 10.7% lower than costs at Mount Holyoke College ($17,012 vs. $18,838)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Mount Holyoke College than American University (75% vs. 62%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Mount Holyoke College students is 33.2% larger than aid received American University ($41,823 vs. $31,402)
AU vs. MHC Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, AU or MHC? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between MHC or AU .
- Accepted 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 (47.4%) than MHC (38.3%)
AU vs. MHC Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, AU or MHC? 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 MHC and AU.
- The graduation rate at MHC is higher than American University (85% vs. 77%)
- Graduates from American University earn on average $14,800 more per year than MHC graduates after ten years. ($64,800 vs. $50,000)
- Mount Holyoke College students graduate with a $3,044 lower median federal student loan debt than AU graduates. ($21,206 vs. $24,250)
- MHC graduates are paying $31 less per month on federal student loans 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/