AU vs. The New School

Comparable Facts

Compare American University in Washington, DC with The New School in New York, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

American University is larger than The New School based on total student enrollment (12,321 students vs. 9,068 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• American University is located in Washington, DC (Large City setting); The New School is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
• American University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. The New School is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: American University 10:1; The New School 9:1.

AU vs. The New School Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AU or The New School? 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 American University than The New School ($39,676 vs. $67,224).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at American University are 29% lower than at The New School ($17,982 vs. $25,337).
• American University is 0.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than The New School (about $77 more per year; $58,771.00 vs. $58,694.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.1% higher at AU than at The New School (about $77 more per year; $58,771.00 vs. $58,694.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at The New School than at American University (94% vs. 67%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by American University students is 63.9% larger than aid received by The New School students ($36,349 vs. $22,174).

AU vs. The New School Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, AU or The New School? 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 The New School and AU.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at American University (1370) is 120 points higher than at The New School (1250).
• Incoming AU students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 28 at The New School).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: American University 1280/1460; The New School 1140/1360.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: American University 29/32; The New School 26/30.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: AU - Test optional; The New School - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: AU Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman AU students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at The New School (3.59).
• The New School has a higher acceptance rate (63.5%) than AU (62%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.6% at AU vs. 21.3% at The New School.

AU vs. The New School Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for AU and The New School? 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 The New School's (61%).
• Graduates from American University earn a median of about $12,100 more per year than The New School graduates about ten years after starting college ($64,800 vs. $52,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, The New School graduates have a $378 lower median loan debt than AU graduates ($23,872 vs. $24,250).
• Among borrowers, The New School graduates have an estimated $4 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than AU graduates ($246 vs. $250).
• More AU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former The New School students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 65%)

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.