AU vs. NYU

Deciding between American University and New York University? 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
New York University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • AU Washington, DC
  • NYU New York, NY
  • Setting
  • AU Large City
  • NYU Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • AU 12,321
  • NYU 56,832
  • Type
  • AU Private 4 Year
  • NYU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • AU #94
  • NYU #43
  • Religious Affiliation
  • AU United Methodist
  • NYU -
  • Status
  • AU Non-profit
  • NYU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • AU
  • NYU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • AU $58,771
  • NYU $62,796
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • AU $58,771
  • NYU $62,796
  • Room & Board
  • AU $17,982
  • NYU $23,530
  • Average Net Price
  • AU $39,676
  • NYU $30,325
  • Average Grant Aid
  • AU $36,349
  • NYU $53,901
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • AU 67%
  • NYU 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • AU 17,173
  • NYU 110,807
  • Admitted
  • AU 10,640
  • NYU 10,232
  • Acceptance Rate
  • AU 62%
  • NYU 9.2%
  • Enrolled
  • AU 15.6%
  • NYU 55.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • AU 1370
  • NYU 1520
  • Typical ACT score
  • AU 30
  • NYU 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • AU 3.7
  • NYU 3.79
  • Typical High School Grades
  • AU A-
  • NYU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • AU Very High
  • NYU Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • AU Low
  • NYU Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • AU 29/32
  • NYU 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • AU 1280/1460
  • NYU 1480/1560
  • Submit Test Scores
  • AU Test optional
  • NYU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • AU Jan 15, 2027
  • NYU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • AU 10:1
  • NYU 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • AU
    • Social Sciences (43%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
    • Psychology (3%)
  • NYU
    • Business (19%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (18%)
    • Social Sciences (14%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (10%)
    • Communication (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • AU 77%
  • NYU 86%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • AU $64,800
  • NYU $76,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • AU 80%
  • NYU 77%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • AU $24,250
  • NYU $23,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • AU $250
  • NYU $240

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • AU 37%
  • NYU 42%
  • % Women
  • AU 63%
  • NYU 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • AU High
  • NYU Very High
  • HBCU
  • AU No
  • NYU No
  • % White
  • AU 58%
  • NYU 34%
  • % Asian
  • AU 7%
  • NYU 20%
  • % Black
  • AU 7%
  • NYU 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • AU 12%
  • NYU 12%
  • % Native American
  • AU 0%
  • NYU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • AU 0%
  • NYU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • AU 5%
  • NYU 4%
  • % International
  • AU 7%
  • NYU 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • AU 4%
  • NYU 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • AU 3%
  • NYU 26%
  • % Out-of-State
  • AU 94%
  • NYU 49%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare American University in Washington, DC with New York University in New York, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

New York University is larger than AU based on total student enrollment (56,832 students vs. 12,321 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • American University is located in Washington, DC (Large City setting); New York University is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
  • American University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. New York University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: American University 10:1; New York University 8:1.

AU vs. NYU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AU or NYU? 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 New York University than AU ($30,325 vs. $39,676).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at American University are 23.6% lower than at New York University ($17,982 vs. $23,530).
  • New York University is 6.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than AU (about $4,025 more per year; $62,796.00 vs. $58,771.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 6.8% higher at NYU than at American University (about $4,025 more per year; $62,796.00 vs. $58,771.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at American University than at New York University (67% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by New York University students is 48.3% larger than aid received by American University students ($53,901 vs. $36,349).

AU vs. NYU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at New York University (1520) is 150 points higher than at AU (1370).
  • Incoming NYU students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 30 at AU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: American University 1280/1460; New York University 1480/1560.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: American University 29/32; New York University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: AU - Test optional; NYU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: AU Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman NYU students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at AU (3.7).
  • AU has a higher acceptance rate (62%) than NYU (9.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.6% at AU vs. 55.4% at NYU.

AU vs. NYU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for AU and NYU? 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).

  • New York University's six-year graduation rate (86%) is higher than American University's (77%).
  • Graduates from New York University earn a median of about $11,200 more per year than AU graduates about ten years after starting college ($76,000 vs. $64,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, New York University graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than AU graduates ($23,250 vs. $24,250).
  • Among borrowers, NYU graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than AU graduates ($240 vs. $250).
  • More AU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NYU 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.