AU vs. University at Albany- SUNY

Deciding between American University and University at Albany? 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
University at Albany

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • AU Washington, DC
  • University at Albany- SUNY Albany, NY
  • Setting
  • AU Large City
  • University at Albany- SUNY Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • AU 12,321
  • University at Albany- SUNY 17,560
  • Type
  • AU Private 4 Year
  • University at Albany- SUNY Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • AU #94
  • University at Albany- SUNY #223
  • Religious Affiliation
  • AU United Methodist
  • University at Albany- SUNY -
  • Status
  • AU Non-profit
  • University at Albany- SUNY Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • AU
  • University at Albany- SUNY

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • AU $58,771
  • University at Albany- SUNY $10,866
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • AU $58,771
  • University at Albany- SUNY $31,256
  • Room & Board
  • AU $17,982
  • University at Albany- SUNY $16,423
  • Average Net Price
  • AU $39,676
  • University at Albany- SUNY $17,949
  • Average Grant Aid
  • AU $36,349
  • University at Albany- SUNY $11,210
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • AU 67%
  • University at Albany- SUNY 96%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • AU 17,173
  • University at Albany- SUNY 32,442
  • Admitted
  • AU 10,640
  • University at Albany- SUNY 22,416
  • Acceptance Rate
  • AU 62%
  • University at Albany- SUNY 69.1%
  • Enrolled
  • AU 15.6%
  • University at Albany- SUNY 12.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • AU 1370
  • University at Albany- SUNY 1220
  • Typical ACT score
  • AU 30
  • University at Albany- SUNY 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • AU 3.7
  • University at Albany- SUNY 3.3
  • Typical High School Grades
  • AU A-
  • University at Albany- SUNY B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • AU Very High
  • University at Albany- SUNY Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • AU Low
  • University at Albany- SUNY Low
  • ACT Range
  • AU 29/32
  • University at Albany- SUNY 22/31
  • SAT Range
  • AU 1280/1460
  • University at Albany- SUNY 1120/1320
  • Submit Test Scores
  • AU Test optional
  • University at Albany- SUNY Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • AU Jan 15, 2027
  • University at Albany- SUNY Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • AU 10:1
  • University at Albany- SUNY 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • AU
    • Social Sciences (43%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
    • Psychology (3%)
  • University at Albany- SUNY
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • English and Literature (14%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Psychology (12%)
    • Biology (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • AU 77%
  • University at Albany- SUNY 64%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • AU $64,800
  • University at Albany- SUNY $55,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • AU 80%
  • University at Albany- SUNY 70%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • AU $24,250
  • University at Albany- SUNY $21,065
  • Median Loan Payment
  • AU $250
  • University at Albany- SUNY $217

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • AU 37%
  • University at Albany- SUNY 44%
  • % Women
  • AU 63%
  • University at Albany- SUNY 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • AU High
  • University at Albany- SUNY High
  • HBCU
  • AU No
  • University at Albany- SUNY No
  • % White
  • AU 58%
  • University at Albany- SUNY 49%
  • % Asian
  • AU 7%
  • University at Albany- SUNY 8%
  • % Black
  • AU 7%
  • University at Albany- SUNY 16%
  • % Hispanic
  • AU 12%
  • University at Albany- SUNY 15%
  • % Native American
  • AU 0%
  • University at Albany- SUNY 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • AU 0%
  • University at Albany- SUNY 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • AU 5%
  • University at Albany- SUNY 3%
  • % International
  • AU 7%
  • University at Albany- SUNY 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • AU 4%
  • University at Albany- SUNY 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • AU 3%
  • University at Albany- SUNY 91%
  • % Out-of-State
  • AU 94%
  • University at Albany- SUNY 5%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • AU Yes
  • University at Albany- SUNY Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • AU No
  • University at Albany- SUNY No
  • Meal Plan
  • AU Yes
  • University at Albany- SUNY Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • AU Yes
  • University at Albany- SUNY No
  • Daycare Facility
  • AU Yes
  • University at Albany- SUNY Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare American University in Washington, DC with University at Albany in Albany, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University at Albany is larger than AU based on total student enrollment (17,560 students vs. 12,321 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • American University is located in Washington, DC (Large City setting); University at Albany is in Albany, NY (Small City setting).
  • American University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University at Albany is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: American University 10:1; University at Albany 16:1.

AU vs. University at Albany- SUNY Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AU or University at Albany- SUNY? 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 University at Albany than AU ($17,949 vs. $39,676).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University at Albany are 8.7% lower than at American University ($16,423 vs. $17,982).
  • American University is 440.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than University at Albany- SUNY (about $47,905 more per year; $58,771.00 vs. $10,866.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 88% higher at AU than at University at Albany (about $27,515 more per year; $58,771.00 vs. $31,256.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University at Albany than at American University (96% vs. 67%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by American University students is 224.3% larger than aid received by University at Albany students ($36,349 vs. $11,210).

AU vs. University at Albany- SUNY Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, AU or University at Albany- SUNY? 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 University at Albany- SUNY and AU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at American University (1370) is 150 points higher than at University at Albany- SUNY (1220).
  • Incoming AU students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 26 at University at Albany- SUNY).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: American University 1280/1460; University at Albany 1120/1320.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: American University 29/32; University at Albany 22/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: AU - Test optional; University at Albany- SUNY - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: AU Jan 15, 2027; University at Albany- SUNY Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman AU students have a 0.4 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at University at Albany- SUNY (3.3).
  • University at Albany- SUNY has a higher acceptance rate (69.1%) than AU (62%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.6% at AU vs. 12.6% at University at Albany- SUNY.

AU vs. University at Albany- SUNY Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for AU and University at Albany- SUNY? 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 University at Albany's (64%).
  • Graduates from American University earn a median of about $9,000 more per year than University at Albany- SUNY graduates about ten years after starting college ($64,800 vs. $55,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University at Albany graduates have a $3,185 lower median loan debt than AU graduates ($21,065 vs. $24,250).
  • Among borrowers, University at Albany- SUNY graduates have an estimated $33 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than AU graduates ($217 vs. $250).
  • More AU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University at Albany- SUNY students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 70%)

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.