AU vs. Jefferson

Deciding between American University and Thomas Jefferson University? 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

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • AU Washington, DC
  • Jefferson Philadelphia, PA
  • Setting
  • AU Large City
  • Jefferson Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • AU 12,321
  • Jefferson 8,238
  • Type
  • AU Private 4 Year
  • Jefferson Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • AU #94
  • Jefferson
  • Religious Affiliation
  • AU United Methodist
  • Jefferson -
  • Status
  • AU Non-profit
  • Jefferson Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • AU
  • Jefferson

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • AU $58,771
  • Jefferson $47,505
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • AU $58,771
  • Jefferson $47,505
  • Room & Board
  • AU $17,982
  • Jefferson $15,834
  • Average Net Price
  • AU $39,676
  • Jefferson $29,325
  • Average Grant Aid
  • AU $36,349
  • Jefferson $35,007
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • AU 67%
  • Jefferson 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • AU 17,173
  • Jefferson 7,087
  • Admitted
  • AU 10,640
  • Jefferson 5,738
  • Acceptance Rate
  • AU 62%
  • Jefferson 81%
  • Enrolled
  • AU 15.6%
  • Jefferson 12.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • AU 1370
  • Jefferson 1250
  • Typical ACT score
  • AU 30
  • Jefferson 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • AU 3.7
  • Jefferson 3.73
  • Typical High School Grades
  • AU A-
  • Jefferson A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • AU Very High
  • Jefferson Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • AU Low
  • Jefferson
  • ACT Range
  • AU 29/32
  • Jefferson 25/30
  • SAT Range
  • AU 1280/1460
  • Jefferson 1160/1330
  • Submit Test Scores
  • AU Test optional
  • Jefferson Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • AU Jan 15, 2027
  • Jefferson Jul 31, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • AU 10:1
  • Jefferson 12:1
  • Popular Majors
  • AU
    • Social Sciences (43%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
    • Psychology (3%)
  • Jefferson

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • AU 77%
  • Jefferson -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • AU $64,800
  • Jefferson $122,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • AU 80%
  • Jefferson 86%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • AU $24,250
  • Jefferson $12,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • AU $250
  • Jefferson $129

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • AU 37%
  • Jefferson 27%
  • % Women
  • AU 63%
  • Jefferson 73%
  • Racial Diversity
  • AU High
  • Jefferson Low
  • HBCU
  • AU No
  • Jefferson No
  • % White
  • AU 58%
  • Jefferson 72%
  • % Asian
  • AU 7%
  • Jefferson 9%
  • % Black
  • AU 7%
  • Jefferson 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • AU 12%
  • Jefferson 1%
  • % Native American
  • AU 0%
  • Jefferson 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • AU 0%
  • Jefferson 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • AU 5%
  • Jefferson 3%
  • % International
  • AU 7%
  • Jefferson 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • AU 4%
  • Jefferson 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • AU 3%
  • Jefferson 63%
  • % Out-of-State
  • AU 94%
  • Jefferson 36%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • AU Yes
  • Jefferson Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • AU No
  • Jefferson
  • Meal Plan
  • AU Yes
  • Jefferson Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • AU Yes
  • Jefferson Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • AU Yes
  • Jefferson

Comparable Facts

Compare American University in Washington, DC with Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

American University is larger than Jefferson based on total student enrollment (12,321 students vs. 8,238 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • American University is located in Washington, DC (Large City setting); Thomas Jefferson University is in Philadelphia, PA (Large City setting).
  • American University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Thomas Jefferson University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: American University 10:1; Thomas Jefferson University 12:1.

AU vs. Jefferson Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AU or Jefferson? 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 Thomas Jefferson University than AU ($29,325 vs. $39,676).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Thomas Jefferson University are 11.9% lower than at American University ($15,834 vs. $17,982).
  • American University is 23.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Jefferson (about $11,266 more per year; $58,771.00 vs. $47,505.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 23.7% higher at AU than at Thomas Jefferson University (about $11,266 more per year; $58,771.00 vs. $47,505.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Thomas Jefferson University than at American University (100% vs. 67%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by American University students is 3.8% larger than aid received by Thomas Jefferson University students ($36,349 vs. $35,007).

AU vs. Jefferson Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, AU or Jefferson? 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 Jefferson and AU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at American University (1370) is 120 points higher than at Jefferson (1250).
  • Incoming AU students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 27 at Jefferson).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: American University 1280/1460; Thomas Jefferson University 1160/1330.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: American University 29/32; Thomas Jefferson University 25/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: AU - Test optional; Jefferson - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: AU Jan 15, 2027; Jefferson Jul 31, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Jefferson students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.73) than students at AU (3.7).
  • Jefferson has a higher acceptance rate (81%) than AU (62%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.6% at AU vs. 12.1% at Jefferson.

AU vs. Jefferson Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for AU and Jefferson? 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).

  • Graduates from Thomas Jefferson University earn a median of about $58,100 more per year than AU graduates about ten years after starting college ($122,900 vs. $64,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Thomas Jefferson University graduates have a $11,750 lower median loan debt than AU graduates ($12,500 vs. $24,250).
  • Among borrowers, Jefferson graduates have an estimated $121 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than AU graduates ($129 vs. $250).
  • More Jefferson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AU students, three years after graduation. (86% vs. 80%)

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.