AU vs. MHC

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

 AU MHC
Location Washington, DC South Hadley, MA
Setting Large City Large Suburban
Enrollment 13,885 2,392
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #93 #85
Religious Affiliation United Methodist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website american.edu mtholyoke.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 AU MHC
Tuition (In State) $53,070 $58,280
Tuition (Out of State) $53,070 $58,280
Room & Board $15,706 $17,180
Avg Net Price $41,369 $35,765
Avg Grant Aid $27,138 $39,304
% Receiving Grant Aid 66% 80%

Admission

 AU MHC
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 19,510 4,894
Admitted 7,926 1,946
Acceptance Rate 40.6% 39.8%
Enrolled % 22.2% 28%
Avg High School GPA 3.7 3.87
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Very High Elite
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 29/32 30/34
SAT Range 1290/1430 1350/1540
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 Jan 15, 2025

Academics

 AU MHC
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (43%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • Psychology (3%)
  • Social Sciences (27%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • English and Literature (9%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Foreign Languages (7%)

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 37% 1%
% Women 63% 99%
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% 16%
% Out-of-State 94% 60%

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 (13,885 students vs. 2,392 students)

AU vs. MHC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AU or MHC?

  • Mount Holyoke College is 9.8% more expensive to attend than AU for in-state tuition ($58,280.00 vs. $53,070.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 9.8% higher at MHC than American University ($58,280.00 vs. $53,070.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Mount Holyoke College than AU ($35,765 vs. $41,369)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at American University are 9.4% lower than costs at Mount Holyoke College ($15,706 vs. $17,180)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Mount Holyoke College than American University (80% vs. 66%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Mount Holyoke College students is 44.8% larger than aid received American University ($39,304 vs. $27,138)

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 (40.6%) than MHC (39.8%)

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/