AU vs. UNC Charlotte

Deciding between American University and University of North Carolina at Charlotte? 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 North Carolina at Charlotte

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • AU Washington, DC
  • UNC Charlotte Charlotte, NC
  • Setting
  • AU Large City
  • UNC Charlotte Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • AU 12,321
  • UNC Charlotte 31,091
  • Type
  • AU Private 4 Year
  • UNC Charlotte Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • AU #94
  • UNC Charlotte #529
  • Religious Affiliation
  • AU United Methodist
  • UNC Charlotte -
  • Status
  • AU Non-profit
  • UNC Charlotte Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • AU
  • UNC Charlotte

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • AU $58,771
  • UNC Charlotte $7,239
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • AU $58,771
  • UNC Charlotte $22,492
  • Room & Board
  • AU $17,982
  • UNC Charlotte $14,458
  • Average Net Price
  • AU $39,676
  • UNC Charlotte $15,045
  • Average Grant Aid
  • AU $36,349
  • UNC Charlotte $7,966
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • AU 67%
  • UNC Charlotte 60%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • AU 17,173
  • UNC Charlotte 23,887
  • Admitted
  • AU 10,640
  • UNC Charlotte 19,015
  • Acceptance Rate
  • AU 62%
  • UNC Charlotte 79.6%
  • Enrolled
  • AU 15.6%
  • UNC Charlotte 24.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • AU 1370
  • UNC Charlotte 1240
  • Typical ACT score
  • AU 30
  • UNC Charlotte 24
  • Average High School GPA
  • AU 3.7
  • UNC Charlotte 3.57
  • Typical High School Grades
  • AU A-
  • UNC Charlotte A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • AU Very High
  • UNC Charlotte Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • AU Low
  • UNC Charlotte
  • ACT Range
  • AU 29/32
  • UNC Charlotte 21/28
  • SAT Range
  • AU 1280/1460
  • UNC Charlotte 1140/1330
  • Submit Test Scores
  • AU Test optional
  • UNC Charlotte Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • AU Jan 15, 2027
  • UNC Charlotte Jun 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • AU 10:1
  • UNC Charlotte 21:1
  • Popular Majors
  • AU
    • Social Sciences (43%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
    • Psychology (3%)
  • UNC Charlotte
    • Business (21%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • Engineering (7%)
    • Education (7%)
    • Psychology (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • AU 77%
  • UNC Charlotte 53%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • AU $64,800
  • UNC Charlotte $48,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • AU 80%
  • UNC Charlotte 61%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • AU $24,250
  • UNC Charlotte $23,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • AU $250
  • UNC Charlotte $237

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • AU 37%
  • UNC Charlotte 49%
  • % Women
  • AU 63%
  • UNC Charlotte 51%
  • Racial Diversity
  • AU High
  • UNC Charlotte High
  • HBCU
  • AU No
  • UNC Charlotte No
  • % White
  • AU 58%
  • UNC Charlotte 60%
  • % Asian
  • AU 7%
  • UNC Charlotte 6%
  • % Black
  • AU 7%
  • UNC Charlotte 17%
  • % Hispanic
  • AU 12%
  • UNC Charlotte 9%
  • % Native American
  • AU 0%
  • UNC Charlotte 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • AU 0%
  • UNC Charlotte 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • AU 5%
  • UNC Charlotte 4%
  • % International
  • AU 7%
  • UNC Charlotte 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • AU 4%
  • UNC Charlotte 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • AU 3%
  • UNC Charlotte 90%
  • % Out-of-State
  • AU 94%
  • UNC Charlotte 9%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare American University in Washington, DC with University of North Carolina at Charlotte in Charlotte, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of North Carolina at Charlotte is larger than AU based on total student enrollment (31,091 students vs. 12,321 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • American University is located in Washington, DC (Large City setting); University of North Carolina at Charlotte is in Charlotte, NC (Large City setting).
  • American University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of North Carolina at Charlotte is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: American University 10:1; University of North Carolina at Charlotte 21:1.

AU vs. UNC Charlotte Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AU or UNC Charlotte? 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 North Carolina at Charlotte than AU ($15,045 vs. $39,676).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of North Carolina at Charlotte are 19.6% lower than at American University ($14,458 vs. $17,982).
  • American University is 711.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than UNC Charlotte (about $51,532 more per year; $58,771.00 vs. $7,239.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 161.3% higher at AU than at University of North Carolina at Charlotte (about $36,279 more per year; $58,771.00 vs. $22,492.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at American University than at University of North Carolina at Charlotte (67% vs. 60%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by American University students is 356.3% larger than aid received by University of North Carolina at Charlotte students ($36,349 vs. $7,966).

AU vs. UNC Charlotte Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, AU or UNC Charlotte? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between UNC Charlotte and AU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at American University (1370) is 130 points higher than at UNC Charlotte (1240).
  • Incoming AU students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 24 at UNC Charlotte).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: American University 1280/1460; University of North Carolina at Charlotte 1140/1330.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: American University 29/32; University of North Carolina at Charlotte 21/28.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: AU - Test optional; UNC Charlotte - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: AU Jan 15, 2027; UNC Charlotte Jun 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman AU students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at UNC Charlotte (3.57).
  • UNC Charlotte has a higher acceptance rate (79.6%) than AU (62%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.6% at AU vs. 24.5% at UNC Charlotte.

AU vs. UNC Charlotte Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for AU and UNC Charlotte? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • American University's six-year graduation rate (77%) is higher than University of North Carolina at Charlotte's (53%).
  • Graduates from American University earn a median of about $16,200 more per year than UNC Charlotte graduates about ten years after starting college ($64,800 vs. $48,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of North Carolina at Charlotte graduates have a $1,250 lower median loan debt than AU graduates ($23,000 vs. $24,250).
  • Among borrowers, UNC Charlotte graduates have an estimated $13 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than AU graduates ($237 vs. $250).
  • More AU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UNC Charlotte students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 61%)

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.