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George Washington UConn UVM Penn State Rutgers UMass Dartmouth BU UD University of Massachusetts-Lowell Binghamton University Northeastern Georgetown| American University | University of Massachusetts Amherst | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
AU | UMass | ||
| Location | Washington, DC | Amherst, MA | ||
| Setting | Large City | Town Fringe | ||
| Enrollment | 13,019 | 31,810 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #84 | #176 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | United Methodist | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | american.edu | umass.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
AU | UMass | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $55,724 | $16,591 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $55,724 | $38,527 | ||
| Room & Board | $17,012 | $14,869 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $40,189 | $22,954 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $31,402 | $12,343 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 62% | 75% |
Admission |
AU | UMass | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 17,786 | 50,424 | ||
| Admitted | 8,427 | 29,129 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 47.4% | 57.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 22% | 18.1% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.7 | 3.99 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Exceptional | Exceptional | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 29/33 | 29/33 | ||
| SAT Range | 1300/1450 | 1300/1480 | ||
| 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 | UMass | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 10:1 | 18:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
AU | UMass | ||
| Graduation Rate | 77% | 67% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $64,800 | $55,200 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 80% | 76% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,250 | $24,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $250 | $248 |
Diversity |
AU | UMass | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 15% | 12% | ||
| % Women | 25% | 12% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 58% | 67% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 12% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 3% | ||
| % International | 7% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 4% | 8% |
Students |
AU | UMass | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 2% | 67% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 94% | 23% | ||
Campus |
AU | UMass | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- University of Massachusetts Amherst is larger than than AU based on total student enrollment (31,810 students vs. 13,019 students)
AU vs. UMass Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, AU or UMass?
- American University is 235.9% more expensive to attend than UMass for in-state tuition ($55,724.00 vs. $16,591.00)
- Out of state tuition is 44.6% higher at AU than University of Massachusetts Amherst ($55,724.00 vs. $38,527.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Massachusetts Amherst than AU ($22,954 vs. $40,189)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Massachusetts Amherst are 14.4% lower than costs at American University ($14,869 vs. $17,012)
- More students receive financial grant aid at University of Massachusetts Amherst than American University (75% vs. 62%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by American University students is 154.4% larger than aid received University of Massachusetts Amherst ($31,402 vs. $12,343)
AU vs. UMass Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, AU or UMass? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between UMass or AU .
- The average SAT score at American University (1252) is 26 points higher than at UMass (1226)
- Incoming AU students have at the same average ACT score (28) as students at UMass (28)
- Accepted freshman UMass students have a 0.29 point higher average high school GPA (3.99) than students at AU (3.7)
- UMass has a higher acceptance rate (57.8%) than AU (47.4%)
AU vs. UMass Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, AU or UMass? 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 UMass and AU.
- The graduation rate at AU is higher than University of Massachusetts Amherst (77% vs. 67%)
- Graduates from American University earn on average $9,600 more per year than UMass graduates after ten years. ($64,800 vs. $55,200)
- University of Massachusetts Amherst students graduate with a $250 lower median federal student loan debt than AU graduates. ($24,000 vs. $24,250)
- UMass graduates are paying $2 less per month on federal student loans 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/