AU vs. Rutgers

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

AU Rutgers
Location Washington, DC New Brunswick, NJ
Setting Large City Small City
Enrollment 13,885 50,637
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #93 #112
Religious Affiliation United Methodist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website american.edu rutgers.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

AU Rutgers
Tuition (In State) $53,070 $12,900
Tuition (Out of State) $53,070 $30,600
Room & Board $15,706 $13,909
Avg Net Price $41,369 $17,535
Avg Grant Aid $27,138 $12,785
% Receiving Grant Aid 66% 57%

Admission

AU Rutgers
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 19,510 41,654
Admitted 7,926 27,612
Acceptance Rate 40.6% 66.3%
Enrolled % 22.2% 28.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.7 3.3
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Very High Exceptional
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 29/32 28/33
SAT Range 1290/1430 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, 2025

Academics

AU Rutgers
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (43%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • Psychology (3%)
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • Engineering (8%)

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 37% 46%
% Women 63% 54%
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% 85%
% 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 (50,637 students vs. 13,885 students)

AU vs. Rutgers Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AU or Rutgers?

  • American University is 311.4% more expensive to attend than Rutgers for in-state tuition ($53,070.00 vs. $12,900.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 73.4% higher at AU than Rutgers University New Brunswick ($53,070.00 vs. $30,600.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Rutgers University New Brunswick than AU ($17,535 vs. $41,369)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rutgers University New Brunswick are 12.9% lower than costs at American University ($13,909 vs. $15,706)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at American University than Rutgers University New Brunswick (66% vs. 57%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by American University students is 112.3% larger than aid received Rutgers University New Brunswick ($27,138 vs. $12,785)

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 (66.3%) than AU (40.6%)

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/