AU vs. West Point

Deciding between American University and United States Military Academy? 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
United States Military Academy

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • AU Washington, DC
  • West Point West Point, New York
  • Setting
  • AU Large City
  • West Point Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • AU 12,321
  • West Point 4,473
  • Type
  • AU Private 4 Year
  • West Point Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • AU #94
  • West Point
  • Religious Affiliation
  • AU United Methodist
  • West Point -
  • Status
  • AU Non-profit
  • West Point Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • AU
  • West Point

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • AU $58,771
  • West Point $0
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • AU $58,771
  • West Point $0
  • Room & Board
  • AU $17,982
  • West Point $0
  • Average Net Price
  • AU $39,676
  • West Point -
  • Average Grant Aid
  • AU $36,349
  • West Point $0
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • AU 67%
  • West Point 0%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • AU 17,173
  • West Point 12,320
  • Admitted
  • AU 10,640
  • West Point 1,534
  • Acceptance Rate
  • AU 62%
  • West Point 12.5%
  • Enrolled
  • AU 15.6%
  • West Point 77.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • AU 1370
  • West Point 1320
  • Typical ACT score
  • AU 30
  • West Point 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • AU 3.7
  • West Point 4.0
  • Typical High School Grades
  • AU A-
  • West Point A/A+
  • Admissions Standards
  • AU Very High
  • West Point Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • AU Low
  • West Point Very High
  • ACT Range
  • AU 29/32
  • West Point 27/33
  • SAT Range
  • AU 1280/1460
  • West Point 1200/1430
  • Submit Test Scores
  • AU Test optional
  • West Point Required
  • Application Deadline
  • AU Jan 15, 2027
  • West Point Jan 31, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • AU 10:1
  • West Point 6:1
  • Popular Majors
  • AU
    • Social Sciences (43%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
    • Psychology (3%)
  • West Point
    • Engineering (21%)
    • Social Sciences (18%)
    • Foreign Languages (9%)
    • Engineering Technology (6%)
    • Business (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • AU 77%
  • West Point 80%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • AU $64,800
  • West Point N/A
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • AU 80%
  • West Point -
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • AU $24,250
  • West Point N/A
  • Median Loan Payment
  • AU $250
  • West Point N/A

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • AU 37%
  • West Point 78%
  • % Women
  • AU 63%
  • West Point 22%
  • Racial Diversity
  • AU High
  • West Point -
  • HBCU
  • AU No
  • West Point No
  • % White
  • AU 58%
  • West Point 0%
  • % Asian
  • AU 7%
  • West Point 0%
  • % Black
  • AU 7%
  • West Point 0%
  • % Hispanic
  • AU 12%
  • West Point 0%
  • % Native American
  • AU 0%
  • West Point 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • AU 0%
  • West Point 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • AU 5%
  • West Point 0%
  • % International
  • AU 7%
  • West Point 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • AU 4%
  • West Point 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • AU 3%
  • West Point 7%
  • % Out-of-State
  • AU 94%
  • West Point 92%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare American University in Washington, DC with United States Military Academy in West Point, New York on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

American University is larger than West Point based on total student enrollment (12,321 students vs. 4,473 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • American University is located in Washington, DC (Large City setting); United States Military Academy is in West Point, New York (Large Suburban setting).
  • American University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. United States Military Academy is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: American University 10:1; United States Military Academy 6:1.

AU vs. West Point Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AU or West Point? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • In-state tuition differs between American University and West Point ($58,771.00 vs. $0.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition differs between AU and United States Military Academy ($58,771.00 vs. $0.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at American University than at United States Military Academy (67% vs. 0%).

AU vs. West Point Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at American University (1370) is 50 points higher than at West Point (1320).
  • Incoming AU students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 30) as students at West Point (30).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: American University 1280/1460; United States Military Academy 1200/1430.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: American University 29/32; United States Military Academy 27/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: AU - Test optional; West Point - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: AU Jan 15, 2027; West Point Jan 31, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman West Point students have a 0.3 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at AU (3.7).
  • AU has a higher acceptance rate (62%) than West Point (12.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.6% at AU vs. 77.9% at West Point.

AU vs. West Point Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for AU and West Point? 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).

  • United States Military Academy's six-year graduation rate (80%) is higher than American University's (77%).

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.