AU vs. Penn State Hazleton

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

AU Penn State Hazleton
Location Washington, DC Hazleton, PA
Setting Large City Small Suburban
Enrollment 13,019 510
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #84
Religious Affiliation United Methodist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website american.edu psu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

AU Penn State Hazleton
Tuition (In State) $55,724 $14,624
Tuition (Out of State) $55,724 $24,562
Room & Board $17,012 $12,022
Avg Net Price $40,189 $19,920
Avg Grant Aid $31,402 $10,808
% Receiving Grant Aid 62% 93%

Admission

AU Penn State Hazleton
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 17,786 714
Admitted 8,427 650
Acceptance Rate 47.4% 91%
Enrolled % 22% 30.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.7 -
Typical High School Grades A- -
Admissions Standards Exceptional Difficult
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 29/33
SAT Range 1300/1450 1060/1320
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

Academics

AU Penn State Hazleton
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (43%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • Psychology (3%)
  • Health Professions (42%)
  • Business (26%)
  • Engineering Technology (14%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (12%)
  • Psychology (4%)

Outcomes

AU Penn State Hazleton
Graduation Rate 77% 52%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $64,800 $55,300
Making Student Loan Payments 80% 69%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,250 $26,818
Median Loan Payment $250 $277

Diversity

AU Penn State Hazleton
% Men 15% 0%
% Women 25% 0%
Racial Diversity High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 58% 60%
% Black 7% 12%
% Hispanic 12% 19%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 3%
% International 7% 2%
% Unknown Race 4% 1%

Students

AU Penn State Hazleton
% In-State 2% 79%
% Out-of-State 94% 19%

Campus

AU Penn State Hazleton
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 Penn State Hazleton based on total student enrollment (13,019 students vs. 510 students)

AU vs. Penn State Hazleton Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AU or Penn State Hazleton?

  • American University is 281% more expensive to attend than Penn State Hazleton for in-state tuition ($55,724.00 vs. $14,624.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 126.9% higher at AU than Penn State Hazleton ($55,724.00 vs. $24,562.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Penn State Hazleton than AU ($19,920 vs. $40,189)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Hazleton are 41.5% lower than costs at American University ($12,022 vs. $17,012)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Penn State Hazleton than American University (93% vs. 62%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by American University students is 190.5% larger than aid received Penn State Hazleton ($31,402 vs. $10,808)

AU vs. Penn State Hazleton Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, AU or Penn State Hazleton? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Penn State Hazleton or AU .

  • The average SAT score at American University (1252) is 300 points higher than at Penn State Hazleton (952)
  • Incoming AU students have a 7 point higher average ACT score (28) than students at Penn State Hazleton (21)
  • Penn State Hazleton has a higher acceptance rate (91%) than AU (47.4%)

AU vs. Penn State Hazleton Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, AU or Penn State Hazleton? 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 Penn State Hazleton and AU.

  • The graduation rate at AU is higher than Penn State Hazleton (77% vs. 52%)
  • Graduates from American University earn on average $9,500 more per year than Penn State Hazleton graduates after ten years. ($64,800 vs. $55,300)
  • American University students graduate with a $2,568 lower median federal student loan debt than Penn State Hazleton graduates. ($24,250 vs. $26,818)
  • AU graduates are paying $27 less per month on federal student loans than Penn State Hazleton graduates. ($250 vs. $277)
  • More AU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Hazleton students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 69%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/