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George Washington ASU UNC Charlotte UNC Chapel Hill ECU Georgetown UNCG Fordham NC State Syracuse WCU UD| American University | University of North Carolina at Wilmington | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
AU | UNCW | ||
| Location | Washington, DC | Wilmington, NC | ||
| Setting | Large City | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 13,019 | 17,987 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #84 | #390 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | United Methodist | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | american.edu | uncw.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
AU | UNCW | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $55,724 | $4,443 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $55,724 | $20,111 | ||
| Room & Board | $17,012 | $12,605 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $40,189 | $18,606 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $31,402 | $6,516 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 62% | 54% |
Admission |
AU | UNCW | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 17,786 | 17,370 | ||
| Admitted | 8,427 | 12,856 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 47.4% | 74% | ||
| Enrolled % | 22% | 21% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.7 | 3.56 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Exceptional | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 29/33 | 24/28 | ||
| SAT Range | 1300/1450 | 1220/1360 | ||
| 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 | Feb 1, 2026 |
Academics |
AU | UNCW | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 10:1 | 17:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
AU | UNCW | ||
| Graduation Rate | 77% | 67% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $64,800 | $44,700 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 80% | 64% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,250 | $20,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $250 | $211 |
Diversity |
AU | UNCW | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 15% | 5% | ||
| % Women | 25% | 14% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 58% | 78% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 5% | ||
| % Hispanic | 12% | 7% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 3% | ||
| % International | 7% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 4% | 3% |
Students |
AU | UNCW | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 2% | 77% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 94% | 22% | ||
Campus |
AU | UNCW | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- University of North Carolina at Wilmington is larger than than AU based on total student enrollment (17,987 students vs. 13,019 students)
AU vs. UNCW Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, AU or UNCW?
- American University is 1,154.2% more expensive to attend than UNCW for in-state tuition ($55,724.00 vs. $4,443.00)
- Out of state tuition is 177.1% higher at AU than University of North Carolina at Wilmington ($55,724.00 vs. $20,111.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of North Carolina at Wilmington than AU ($18,606 vs. $40,189)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of North Carolina at Wilmington are 35% lower than costs at American University ($12,605 vs. $17,012)
- More students receive financial grant aid at American University than University of North Carolina at Wilmington (62% vs. 54%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by American University students is 381.9% larger than aid received University of North Carolina at Wilmington ($31,402 vs. $6,516)
AU vs. UNCW Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, AU or UNCW? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between UNCW or AU .
- The average SAT score at American University (1252) is 90 points higher than at UNCW (1162)
- Incoming AU students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (28) than students at UNCW (25)
- Accepted freshman AU students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at UNCW (3.56)
- UNCW has a higher acceptance rate (74%) than AU (47.4%)
AU vs. UNCW Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, AU or UNCW? 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 UNCW and AU.
- The graduation rate at AU is higher than University of North Carolina at Wilmington (77% vs. 67%)
- Graduates from American University earn on average $20,100 more per year than UNCW graduates after ten years. ($64,800 vs. $44,700)
- University of North Carolina at Wilmington students graduate with a $3,750 lower median federal student loan debt than AU graduates. ($20,500 vs. $24,250)
- UNCW graduates are paying $39 less per month on federal student loans than AU graduates. ($211 vs. $250)
- More AU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UNCW students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 64%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/