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George Washington Rutgers NJIT Rowan University Georgetown UD Rider University Fordham Seton Hall University Penn State Syracuse Monmouth University| American University | The College of New Jersey | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
AU | TCNJ | ||
| Location | Washington, DC | Ewing, NJ | ||
| Setting | Large City | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 13,019 | 7,652 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #84 | #164 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | United Methodist | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | american.edu | tcnj.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
AU | TCNJ | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $55,724 | $14,706 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $55,724 | $20,589 | ||
| Room & Board | $17,012 | $15,569 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $40,189 | $22,379 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $31,402 | $13,824 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 62% | 62% |
Admission |
AU | TCNJ | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 17,786 | 11,668 | ||
| Admitted | 8,427 | 7,251 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 47.4% | 62.1% | ||
| Enrolled % | 22% | 21.3% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.7 | 3.29 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B | ||
| Admissions Standards | Exceptional | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 29/33 | 25/31 | ||
| SAT Range | 1300/1450 | 1140/1340 | ||
| 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 | Feb 1, 2026 |
Academics |
AU | TCNJ | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 10:1 | 13:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
AU | TCNJ | ||
| Graduation Rate | 77% | 87% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $64,800 | $62,100 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 80% | 85% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,250 | $23,250 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $250 | $240 |
Diversity |
AU | TCNJ | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 15% | 2% | ||
| % Women | 25% | 6% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 58% | 66% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 6% | ||
| % Hispanic | 12% | 12% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 0% | ||
| % International | 7% | 0% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 4% | 5% |
Students |
AU | TCNJ | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 2% | 95% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 94% | 5% | ||
Campus |
AU | TCNJ | ||
| 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 TCNJ based on total student enrollment (13,019 students vs. 7,652 students)
AU vs. TCNJ Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, AU or TCNJ?
- American University is 278.9% more expensive to attend than TCNJ for in-state tuition ($55,724.00 vs. $14,706.00)
- Out of state tuition is 170.6% higher at AU than The College of New Jersey ($55,724.00 vs. $20,589.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at The College of New Jersey than AU ($22,379 vs. $40,189)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The College of New Jersey are 9.3% lower than costs at American University ($15,569 vs. $17,012)
- The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at American University as The College of New Jersey (62% vs. 62%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by American University students is 127.2% larger than aid received The College of New Jersey ($31,402 vs. $13,824)
AU vs. TCNJ Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, AU or TCNJ? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between TCNJ or AU .
- The average SAT score at American University (1252) is 25 points higher than at TCNJ (1227)
- Incoming AU students have at the same average ACT score (28) as students at TCNJ (28)
- Accepted freshman AU students have a 0.41 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at TCNJ (3.29)
- TCNJ has a higher acceptance rate (62.1%) than AU (47.4%)
AU vs. TCNJ Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, AU or TCNJ? 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 TCNJ and AU.
- The graduation rate at TCNJ is higher than American University (87% vs. 77%)
- Graduates from American University earn on average $2,700 more per year than TCNJ graduates after ten years. ($64,800 vs. $62,100)
- The College of New Jersey students graduate with a $1,000 lower median federal student loan debt than AU graduates. ($23,250 vs. $24,250)
- TCNJ graduates are paying $10 less per month on federal student loans than AU graduates. ($240 vs. $250)
- More TCNJ graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AU students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 80%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/