AU vs. Maryland

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

AU Maryland
Location Washington, DC College Park, MD
Setting Large City Large Suburban
Enrollment 13,885 40,792
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #93 #95
Religious Affiliation United Methodist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website american.edu umd.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

AU Maryland
Tuition (In State) $53,070 $9,695
Tuition (Out of State) $53,070 $37,931
Room & Board $15,706 $14,576
Avg Net Price $41,369 $16,210
Avg Grant Aid $27,138 $11,232
% Receiving Grant Aid 66% 48%

Admission

AU Maryland
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 19,510 56,761
Admitted 7,926 25,320
Acceptance Rate 40.6% 44.6%
Enrolled % 22.2% 23.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.7 3.84
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Very High Exceptional
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 29/32 30/34
SAT Range 1290/1430 1360/1520
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 Maryland
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (43%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • Psychology (3%)
  • Social Sciences (20%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Engineering (9%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • Communication (6%)

Outcomes

AU Maryland
Graduation Rate 77% 82%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $64,800 $68,300
Making Student Loan Payments 80% 80%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,250 $19,500
Median Loan Payment $250 $201

Diversity

AU Maryland
% Men 37% 51%
% Women 63% 49%
Racial Diversity High High
HBCU No No
% White 58% 52%
% Black 7% 13%
% Hispanic 12% 9%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 4%
% International 7% 4%
% Unknown Race 4% 1%

Students

AU Maryland
% In-State 2% 72%
% Out-of-State 94% 26%

Campus

AU Maryland
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

  • University of Maryland College Park is larger than than AU based on total student enrollment (40,792 students vs. 13,885 students)

AU vs. Maryland Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AU or Maryland?

  • American University is 447.4% more expensive to attend than Maryland for in-state tuition ($53,070.00 vs. $9,695.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 39.9% higher at AU than University of Maryland College Park ($53,070.00 vs. $37,931.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Maryland College Park than AU ($16,210 vs. $41,369)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Maryland College Park are 7.8% lower than costs at American University ($14,576 vs. $15,706)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at American University than University of Maryland College Park (66% vs. 48%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by American University students is 141.6% larger than aid received University of Maryland College Park ($27,138 vs. $11,232)

AU vs. Maryland Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of Maryland College Park (1315) is 63 points higher than at AU (1252)
  • Accepted freshman Maryland students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.84) than students at AU (3.7)
  • Maryland has a higher acceptance rate (44.6%) than AU (40.6%)

AU vs. Maryland Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Maryland is higher than American University (82% vs. 77%)
  • Graduates from University of Maryland College Park earn on average $3,500 more per year than AU graduates after ten years. ($68,300 vs. $64,800)
  • University of Maryland College Park students graduate with a $4,750 lower median federal student loan debt than AU graduates. ($19,500 vs. $24,250)
  • Maryland graduates are paying $49 less per month on federal student loans than AU graduates. ($201 vs. $250)
  • More AU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Maryland 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/