AU vs. UMass

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

AU UMass
Location Washington, DC Amherst, MA
Setting Large City Town Fringe
Enrollment 13,885 32,229
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #93 #176
Religious Affiliation United Methodist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website american.edu umass.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

AU UMass
Tuition (In State) $53,070 $16,186
Tuition (Out of State) $53,070 $37,405
Room & Board $15,706 $14,123
Avg Net Price $41,369 $22,291
Avg Grant Aid $27,138 $12,350
% Receiving Grant Aid 66% 85%

Admission

AU UMass
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 19,510 45,451
Admitted 7,926 28,871
Acceptance Rate 40.6% 63.5%
Enrolled % 22.2% 19.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.7 3.99
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Very High Exceptional
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 29/32 29/33
SAT Range 1290/1430 1260/1480
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, 2025 Jan 15, 2025

Academics

AU UMass
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (43%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • Psychology (3%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • Communication (7%)

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 37% 49%
% Women 63% 51%
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% 65%
% Out-of-State 94% 24%

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 (32,229 students vs. 13,885 students)

AU vs. UMass Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AU or UMass?

  • American University is 227.9% more expensive to attend than UMass for in-state tuition ($53,070.00 vs. $16,186.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 41.9% higher at AU than University of Massachusetts Amherst ($53,070.00 vs. $37,405.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Massachusetts Amherst than AU ($22,291 vs. $41,369)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Massachusetts Amherst are 11.2% lower than costs at American University ($14,123 vs. $15,706)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Massachusetts Amherst than American University (85% vs. 66%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by American University students is 119.7% larger than aid received University of Massachusetts Amherst ($27,138 vs. $12,350)

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 (63.5%) than AU (40.6%)

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/