AU vs. TCNJ

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

AU TCNJ
Location Washington, DC Ewing, NJ
Setting Large City Large Suburban
Enrollment 13,885 7,629
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #93 #175
Religious Affiliation United Methodist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website american.edu tcnj.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

AU TCNJ
Tuition (In State) $53,070 $14,140
Tuition (Out of State) $53,070 $26,934
Room & Board $15,706 $14,144
Avg Net Price $41,369 $22,273
Avg Grant Aid $27,138 $11,826
% Receiving Grant Aid 66% 58%

Admission

AU TCNJ
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 19,510 10,302
Admitted 7,926 6,638
Acceptance Rate 40.6% 64.4%
Enrolled % 22.2% 23.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.7 3.29
Typical High School Grades A- B
Admissions Standards Very High Difficult
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 29/32 24/30
SAT Range 1290/1430 1140/1350
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 Feb 1, 2025

Academics

AU TCNJ
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (43%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • Psychology (3%)
  • Education (22%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)

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 37% 42%
% Women 63% 58%
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 (13,885 students vs. 7,629 students)

AU vs. TCNJ Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AU or TCNJ?

  • American University is 275.3% more expensive to attend than TCNJ for in-state tuition ($53,070.00 vs. $14,140.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 97% higher at AU than The College of New Jersey ($53,070.00 vs. $26,934.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at The College of New Jersey than AU ($22,273 vs. $41,369)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The College of New Jersey are 11% lower than costs at American University ($14,144 vs. $15,706)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at American University than The College of New Jersey (66% vs. 58%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by American University students is 129.5% larger than aid received The College of New Jersey ($27,138 vs. $11,826)

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 (64.4%) than AU (40.6%)

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/