AU vs. Mary Washington College

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

AU Mary Washington College
Location Washington, DC Fredericksburg, VA
Setting Large City Small Suburban
Enrollment 13,885 3,757
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #93 #283
Religious Affiliation United Methodist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website american.edu umw.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

AU Mary Washington College
Tuition (In State) $53,070 $8,938
Tuition (Out of State) $53,070 $25,858
Room & Board $15,706 $12,090
Avg Net Price $41,369 $21,863
Avg Grant Aid $27,138 $9,046
% Receiving Grant Aid 66% 93%

Admission

AU Mary Washington College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 19,510 4,709
Admitted 7,926 4,040
Acceptance Rate 40.6% 85.8%
Enrolled % 22.2% 18.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.7 3.71
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Very High Difficult
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 29/32 25/30
SAT Range 1290/1430 1170/1340
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

Academics

AU Mary Washington College
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (43%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • Psychology (3%)
  • Social Sciences (19%)
  • Business (12%)
  • General Studies (11%)
  • English and Literature (11%)
  • Psychology (8%)

Outcomes

AU Mary Washington College
Graduation Rate 77% 71%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $64,800 $55,500
Making Student Loan Payments 80% 80%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,250 $21,500
Median Loan Payment $250 $222

Diversity

AU Mary Washington College
% Men 37% 37%
% Women 63% 63%
Racial Diversity High Low
HBCU No No
% White 58% 70%
% Black 7% 6%
% Hispanic 12% 8%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 5%
% International 7% 1%
% Unknown Race 4% 6%

Students

AU Mary Washington College
% In-State 2% 87%
% Out-of-State 94% 10%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • American University is larger than than Mary Washington College based on total student enrollment (13,885 students vs. 3,757 students)

AU vs. Mary Washington College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AU or Mary Washington College?

  • American University is 493.8% more expensive to attend than Mary Washington College for in-state tuition ($53,070.00 vs. $8,938.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 105.2% higher at AU than University of Mary Washington ($53,070.00 vs. $25,858.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Mary Washington than AU ($21,863 vs. $41,369)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Mary Washington are 29.9% lower than costs at American University ($12,090 vs. $15,706)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Mary Washington than American University (93% vs. 66%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by American University students is 200% larger than aid received University of Mary Washington ($27,138 vs. $9,046)

AU vs. Mary Washington College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at American University (1252) is 142 points higher than at Mary Washington College (1110)
  • Incoming AU students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (28) than students at Mary Washington College (25)
  • Accepted freshman Mary Washington College students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at AU (3.7)
  • Mary Washington College has a higher acceptance rate (85.8%) than AU (40.6%)

AU vs. Mary Washington College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, AU or Mary Washington College? 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 Mary Washington College and AU.

  • The graduation rate at AU is higher than University of Mary Washington (77% vs. 71%)
  • Graduates from American University earn on average $9,300 more per year than Mary Washington College graduates after ten years. ($64,800 vs. $55,500)
  • University of Mary Washington students graduate with a $2,750 lower median federal student loan debt than AU graduates. ($21,500 vs. $24,250)
  • Mary Washington College graduates are paying $28 less per month on federal student loans than AU graduates. ($222 vs. $250)
  • More AU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mary Washington College students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 80%)

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