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NJIT George Washington TCNJ Penn State Seton Hall University Rutgers University-Camden SUNY Stony Brook Binghamton University UMass Montclair State University Rutgers University-Newark Pitt| American University | Rutgers University New Brunswick | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
AU | Rutgers | ||
| Location | Washington, DC | New Brunswick, NJ | ||
| Setting | Large City | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 13,019 | 50,617 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #84 | #113 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | United Methodist | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | american.edu | rutgers.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
AU | Rutgers | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $55,724 | $13,674 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $55,724 | $32,436 | ||
| Room & Board | $17,012 | $14,715 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $40,189 | $19,052 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $31,402 | $16,249 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 62% | 52% |
Admission |
AU | Rutgers | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 17,786 | 43,347 | ||
| Admitted | 8,427 | 28,326 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 47.4% | 65.3% | ||
| Enrolled % | 22% | 27.1% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.7 | 3.3 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Exceptional | Exceptional | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 29/33 | 28/33 | ||
| SAT Range | 1300/1450 | 1270/1480 | ||
| 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 | Rutgers | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 10:1 | 15:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
AU | Rutgers | ||
| Graduation Rate | 77% | 77% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $64,800 | $66,200 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 80% | 68% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,250 | $22,215 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $250 | $229 |
Diversity |
AU | Rutgers | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 15% | 10% | ||
| % Women | 25% | 18% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 58% | 42% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 7% | ||
| % Hispanic | 12% | 13% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 3% | ||
| % International | 7% | 7% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 4% | 2% |
Students |
AU | Rutgers | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 2% | 84% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 94% | 8% | ||
Campus |
AU | Rutgers | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Rutgers University New Brunswick is larger than than AU based on total student enrollment (50,617 students vs. 13,019 students)
AU vs. Rutgers Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, AU or Rutgers?
- American University is 307.5% more expensive to attend than Rutgers for in-state tuition ($55,724.00 vs. $13,674.00)
- Out of state tuition is 71.8% higher at AU than Rutgers University New Brunswick ($55,724.00 vs. $32,436.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Rutgers University New Brunswick than AU ($19,052 vs. $40,189)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rutgers University New Brunswick are 15.6% lower than costs at American University ($14,715 vs. $17,012)
- More students receive financial grant aid at American University than Rutgers University New Brunswick (62% vs. 52%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by American University students is 93.3% larger than aid received Rutgers University New Brunswick ($31,402 vs. $16,249)
AU vs. Rutgers Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, AU or Rutgers? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Rutgers or AU .
- The average SAT score at American University (1252) is 27 points higher than at Rutgers (1225)
- Accepted freshman AU students have a 0.4 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at Rutgers (3.3)
- Rutgers has a higher acceptance rate (65.3%) than AU (47.4%)
AU vs. Rutgers Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, AU or Rutgers? 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 Rutgers and AU.
- The graduation rate at AU is the same as at Rutgers University New Brunswick (77% vs. 77%)
- Graduates from Rutgers University New Brunswick earn on average $1,400 more per year than AU graduates after ten years. ($66,200 vs. $64,800)
- Rutgers University New Brunswick students graduate with a $2,035 lower median federal student loan debt than AU graduates. ($22,215 vs. $24,250)
- Rutgers graduates are paying $21 less per month on federal student loans than AU graduates. ($229 vs. $250)
- More AU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rutgers students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 68%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/