AU vs. NC State

Deciding between American University and North Carolina State University at Raleigh? 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
North Carolina State University at Raleigh

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • AU Washington, DC
  • NC State Raleigh, NC
  • Setting
  • AU Large City
  • NC State Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • AU 12,321
  • NC State 38,464
  • Type
  • AU Private 4 Year
  • NC State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • AU #94
  • NC State #124
  • Religious Affiliation
  • AU United Methodist
  • NC State -
  • Status
  • AU Non-profit
  • NC State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • AU
  • NC State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • AU $58,771
  • NC State $8,799
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • AU $58,771
  • NC State $32,847
  • Room & Board
  • AU $17,982
  • NC State $14,332
  • Average Net Price
  • AU $39,676
  • NC State $15,522
  • Average Grant Aid
  • AU $36,349
  • NC State $11,675
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • AU 67%
  • NC State 51%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • AU 17,173
  • NC State 44,047
  • Admitted
  • AU 10,640
  • NC State 18,385
  • Acceptance Rate
  • AU 62%
  • NC State 41.7%
  • Enrolled
  • AU 15.6%
  • NC State 31.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • AU 1370
  • NC State 1390
  • Typical ACT score
  • AU 30
  • NC State 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • AU 3.7
  • NC State 3.83
  • Typical High School Grades
  • AU A-
  • NC State A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • AU Very High
  • NC State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • AU Low
  • NC State Low
  • ACT Range
  • AU 29/32
  • NC State 28/32
  • SAT Range
  • AU 1280/1460
  • NC State 1300/1470
  • Submit Test Scores
  • AU Test optional
  • NC State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • AU Jan 15, 2027
  • NC State Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • AU 10:1
  • NC State 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • AU
    • Social Sciences (43%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
    • Psychology (3%)
  • NC State
    • Engineering (22%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Agriculture (9%)
    • Social Sciences (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • AU 77%
  • NC State 72%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • AU $64,800
  • NC State $57,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • AU 80%
  • NC State 76%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • AU $24,250
  • NC State $20,782
  • Median Loan Payment
  • AU $250
  • NC State $214

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • AU 37%
  • NC State 50%
  • % Women
  • AU 63%
  • NC State 50%
  • Racial Diversity
  • AU High
  • NC State Low
  • HBCU
  • AU No
  • NC State No
  • % White
  • AU 58%
  • NC State 74%
  • % Asian
  • AU 7%
  • NC State 5%
  • % Black
  • AU 7%
  • NC State 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • AU 12%
  • NC State 5%
  • % Native American
  • AU 0%
  • NC State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • AU 0%
  • NC State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • AU 5%
  • NC State 4%
  • % International
  • AU 7%
  • NC State 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • AU 4%
  • NC State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • AU 3%
  • NC State 86%
  • % Out-of-State
  • AU 94%
  • NC State 12%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare American University in Washington, DC with North Carolina State University at Raleigh in Raleigh, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

North Carolina State University at Raleigh is larger than AU based on total student enrollment (38,464 students vs. 12,321 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • American University is located in Washington, DC (Large City setting); North Carolina State University at Raleigh is in Raleigh, NC (Large City setting).
  • American University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: American University 10:1; North Carolina State University at Raleigh 15:1.

AU vs. NC State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AU or NC State? 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 North Carolina State University at Raleigh than AU ($15,522 vs. $39,676).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at North Carolina State University at Raleigh are 20.3% lower than at American University ($14,332 vs. $17,982).
  • American University is 567.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than NC State (about $49,972 more per year; $58,771.00 vs. $8,799.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 78.9% higher at AU than at North Carolina State University at Raleigh (about $25,924 more per year; $58,771.00 vs. $32,847.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at American University than at North Carolina State University at Raleigh (67% vs. 51%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by American University students is 211.3% larger than aid received by North Carolina State University at Raleigh students ($36,349 vs. $11,675).

AU vs. NC State Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at North Carolina State University at Raleigh (1390) is 20 points higher than at AU (1370).
  • Incoming AU students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 30) as students at NC State (30).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: American University 1280/1460; North Carolina State University at Raleigh 1300/1470.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: American University 29/32; North Carolina State University at Raleigh 28/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: AU - Test optional; NC State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: AU Jan 15, 2027; NC State Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman NC State students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.83) than students at AU (3.7).
  • AU has a higher acceptance rate (62%) than NC State (41.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.6% at AU vs. 31.8% at NC State.

AU vs. NC State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for AU and NC State? 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).

  • American University's six-year graduation rate (77%) is higher than North Carolina State University at Raleigh's (72%).
  • Graduates from American University earn a median of about $7,600 more per year than NC State graduates about ten years after starting college ($64,800 vs. $57,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, North Carolina State University at Raleigh graduates have a $3,468 lower median loan debt than AU graduates ($20,782 vs. $24,250).
  • Among borrowers, NC State graduates have an estimated $36 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than AU graduates ($214 vs. $250).
  • More AU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NC State students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 76%)

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.