AU vs. Tulane

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

AU Tulane
Location Washington, DC New Orleans, LA
Setting Large City Large City
Enrollment 13,019 13,078
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #84
Religious Affiliation United Methodist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website american.edu tulane.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

AU Tulane
Tuition (In State) $55,724 $61,306
Tuition (Out of State) $55,724 $61,306
Room & Board $17,012 $18,088
Avg Net Price $40,189 $50,631
Avg Grant Aid $31,402 $33,074
% Receiving Grant Aid 62% 60%

Admission

AU Tulane
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 17,786 27,936
Admitted 8,427 4,077
Acceptance Rate 47.4% 14.6%
Enrolled % 22% 45.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.7 3.64
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Exceptional Exceptional
Applicant Competition Low Very High
ACT Range 29/33 31/33
SAT Range 1300/1450 1390/1510
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 Jan 15, 2026

Academics

AU Tulane
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 8:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (43%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • Psychology (3%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Social Sciences (18%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • Psychology (5%)
  • Foreign Languages (5%)

Outcomes

AU Tulane
Graduation Rate 77% -
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $64,800 $74,200
Making Student Loan Payments 80% 62%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,250 $27,529
Median Loan Payment $250 $284

Diversity

AU Tulane
% Men 15% 15%
% Women 25% 24%
Racial Diversity High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 58% 70%
% Black 7% 9%
% Hispanic 12% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 3%
% International 7% 3%
% Unknown Race 4% 5%

Students

AU Tulane
% In-State 2% 9%
% Out-of-State 94% 86%

Campus

AU Tulane
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Tulane University is larger than than AU based on total student enrollment (13,078 students vs. 13,019 students)

AU vs. Tulane Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AU or Tulane?

  • Tulane University is 10% more expensive to attend than AU for in-state tuition ($61,306.00 vs. $55,724.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 10% higher at Tulane than American University ($61,306.00 vs. $55,724.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at American University than Tulane ($40,189 vs. $50,631)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at American University are 6.3% lower than costs at Tulane University ($17,012 vs. $18,088)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at American University than Tulane University (62% vs. 60%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Tulane University students is 5.3% larger than aid received American University ($33,074 vs. $31,402)

AU vs. Tulane Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, AU or Tulane? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Tulane or AU .

  • The average SAT score at Tulane University (1346) is 94 points higher than at AU (1252)
  • Incoming Tulane students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (31) than students at AU (28)
  • Accepted freshman AU students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at Tulane (3.64)
  • AU has a higher acceptance rate (47.4%) than Tulane (14.6%)

AU vs. Tulane Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, AU or Tulane? 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 Tulane and AU.

  • Graduates from Tulane University earn on average $9,400 more per year than AU graduates after ten years. ($74,200 vs. $64,800)
  • American University students graduate with a $3,279 lower median federal student loan debt than Tulane graduates. ($24,250 vs. $27,529)
  • AU graduates are paying $34 less per month on federal student loans than Tulane graduates. ($250 vs. $284)
  • More AU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Tulane students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 62%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/