AU vs. UMass

Deciding between American University and University of Massachusetts Amherst? 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
University of Massachusetts Amherst

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • AU Washington, DC
  • UMass Amherst, MA
  • Setting
  • AU Large City
  • UMass Town Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • AU 12,321
  • UMass 31,726
  • Type
  • AU Private 4 Year
  • UMass Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • AU #94
  • UMass #169
  • Religious Affiliation
  • AU United Methodist
  • UMass -
  • Status
  • AU Non-profit
  • UMass Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • AU
  • UMass

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • AU $58,771
  • UMass $17,772
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • AU $58,771
  • UMass $40,449
  • Room & Board
  • AU $17,982
  • UMass $16,710
  • Average Net Price
  • AU $39,676
  • UMass $22,948
  • Average Grant Aid
  • AU $36,349
  • UMass $13,110
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • AU 67%
  • UMass 81%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • AU 17,173
  • UMass 50,261
  • Admitted
  • AU 10,640
  • UMass 30,020
  • Acceptance Rate
  • AU 62%
  • UMass 59.7%
  • Enrolled
  • AU 15.6%
  • UMass 17.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • AU 1370
  • UMass 1410
  • Typical ACT score
  • AU 30
  • UMass 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • AU 3.7
  • UMass 3.99
  • Typical High School Grades
  • AU A-
  • UMass A
  • Admissions Standards
  • AU Very High
  • UMass Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • AU Low
  • UMass Low
  • ACT Range
  • AU 29/32
  • UMass 30/33
  • SAT Range
  • AU 1280/1460
  • UMass 1310/1500
  • Submit Test Scores
  • AU Test optional
  • UMass Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • AU Jan 15, 2027
  • UMass Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • AU 10:1
  • UMass 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • AU
    • Social Sciences (43%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
    • Psychology (3%)
  • UMass
    • Business (15%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Communication (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • AU 77%
  • UMass 67%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • AU $64,800
  • UMass $55,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • AU 80%
  • UMass 76%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • AU $24,250
  • UMass $24,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • AU $250
  • UMass $248

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • AU 37%
  • UMass 48%
  • % Women
  • AU 63%
  • UMass 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • AU High
  • UMass Medium
  • HBCU
  • AU No
  • UMass No
  • % White
  • AU 58%
  • UMass 67%
  • % Asian
  • AU 7%
  • UMass 9%
  • % Black
  • AU 7%
  • UMass 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • AU 12%
  • UMass 5%
  • % Native American
  • AU 0%
  • UMass 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • AU 0%
  • UMass 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • AU 5%
  • UMass 3%
  • % International
  • AU 7%
  • UMass 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • AU 4%
  • UMass 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • AU 3%
  • UMass 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • AU 94%
  • UMass 22%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare American University in Washington, DC with University of Massachusetts Amherst in Amherst, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Massachusetts Amherst is larger than AU based on total student enrollment (31,726 students vs. 12,321 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • American University is located in Washington, DC (Large City setting); University of Massachusetts Amherst is in Amherst, MA (Town Fringe setting).
  • American University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Massachusetts Amherst is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: American University 10:1; University of Massachusetts Amherst 17:1.

AU vs. UMass Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AU or UMass? 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 University of Massachusetts Amherst than AU ($22,948 vs. $39,676).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Massachusetts Amherst are 7.1% lower than at American University ($16,710 vs. $17,982).
  • American University is 230.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than UMass (about $40,999 more per year; $58,771.00 vs. $17,772.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 45.3% higher at AU than at University of Massachusetts Amherst (about $18,322 more per year; $58,771.00 vs. $40,449.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Massachusetts Amherst than at American University (81% vs. 67%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by American University students is 177.3% larger than aid received by University of Massachusetts Amherst students ($36,349 vs. $13,110).

AU vs. UMass Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, AU or UMass? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between UMass and AU.

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at University of Massachusetts Amherst (1410) is 40 points higher than at AU (1370).
  • Incoming UMass students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (31 vs. 30 at AU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: American University 1280/1460; University of Massachusetts Amherst 1310/1500.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: American University 29/32; University of Massachusetts Amherst 30/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: AU - Test optional; UMass - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: AU Jan 15, 2027; UMass Jan 15, 2027.
  • Enrolled freshman UMass students have a 0.29 point higher average high school GPA (3.99) than students at AU (3.7).
  • AU has a higher acceptance rate (62%) than UMass (59.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.6% at AU vs. 17.9% at UMass.

AU vs. UMass Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for AU and UMass? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

  • American University's six-year graduation rate (77%) is higher than University of Massachusetts Amherst's (67%).
  • Graduates from American University earn a median of about $9,600 more per year than UMass graduates about ten years after starting college ($64,800 vs. $55,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Massachusetts Amherst graduates have a $250 lower median loan debt than AU graduates ($24,000 vs. $24,250).
  • Among borrowers, UMass graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than AU graduates ($248 vs. $250).
  • More AU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UMass students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 76%)

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.