AU vs. Smith College

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

AU Smith College
Location Washington, DC Northampton, MA
Setting Large City Large Suburban
Enrollment 13,885 2,873
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #93 #68
Religious Affiliation United Methodist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website american.edu smith.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

AU Smith College
Tuition (In State) $53,070 $58,480
Tuition (Out of State) $53,070 $58,480
Room & Board $15,706 $20,340
Avg Net Price $41,369 $30,790
Avg Grant Aid $27,138 $49,109
% Receiving Grant Aid 66% 64%

Admission

AU Smith College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 19,510 7,269
Admitted 7,926 1,662
Acceptance Rate 40.6% 22.9%
Enrolled % 22.2% 37.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.7 4.0
Typical High School Grades A- A/A+
Admissions Standards Very High Exceptional
Applicant Competition Low Very High
ACT Range 29/32 31/34
SAT Range 1290/1430 1370/1520
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 Jan 15, 2025

Academics

AU Smith College
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 8:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (43%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • Psychology (3%)
  • Social Sciences (22%)
  • Foreign Languages (12%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • Ethnic Studies (9%)

Outcomes

AU Smith College
Graduation Rate 77% 85%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $64,800 $48,900
Making Student Loan Payments 80% 80%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,250 $19,000
Median Loan Payment $250 $196

Diversity

AU Smith College
% Men 37% 2%
% Women 63% 98%
Racial Diversity High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 58% 45%
% Black 7% 5%
% Hispanic 12% 10%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 5%
% International 7% 14%
% Unknown Race 4% 8%

Students

AU Smith College
% In-State 2% 11%
% Out-of-State 94% 76%

Campus

AU Smith College
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No Yes
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 Smith College based on total student enrollment (13,885 students vs. 2,873 students)

AU vs. Smith College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AU or Smith College?

  • Smith College is 10.2% more expensive to attend than AU for in-state tuition ($58,480.00 vs. $53,070.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 10.2% higher at Smith College than American University ($58,480.00 vs. $53,070.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Smith College than AU ($30,790 vs. $41,369)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at American University are 29.5% lower than costs at Smith College ($15,706 vs. $20,340)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at American University than Smith College (66% vs. 64%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Smith College students is 81% larger than aid received American University ($49,109 vs. $27,138)

AU vs. Smith College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Smith College students have a 0.3 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at AU (3.7)
  • AU has a higher acceptance rate (40.6%) than Smith College (22.9%)

AU vs. Smith College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, AU or Smith College? 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 Smith College and AU.

  • The graduation rate at Smith College is higher than American University (85% vs. 77%)
  • Graduates from American University earn on average $15,900 more per year than Smith College graduates after ten years. ($64,800 vs. $48,900)
  • Smith College students graduate with a $5,250 lower median federal student loan debt than AU graduates. ($19,000 vs. $24,250)
  • Smith College graduates are paying $54 less per month on federal student loans than AU graduates. ($196 vs. $250)
  • More Smith College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AU students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 80%)

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