AU vs. VWC

Should I go to American University or Virginia Wesleyan College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if AU or VWC 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. Virginia Wesleyan College comparison
American University Virginia Wesleyan College College 3 College 4
American University Virginia Wesleyan College
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Overview

 AU VWC
Location Washington, DC Norfolk, VA
Setting Large City Large City
Enrollment 13,019 1,711
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #84 #679
Religious Affiliation United Methodist United Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website american.edu vwc.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 AU VWC
Tuition (In State) $55,724 $36,010
Tuition (Out of State) $55,724 $36,010
Room & Board $17,012 $11,513
Avg Net Price $40,189 $21,862
Avg Grant Aid $31,402 $29,360
% Receiving Grant Aid 62% 100%

Admission

 AU VWC
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 17,786 2,651
Admitted 8,427 1,890
Acceptance Rate 47.4% 71.3%
Enrolled % 22% 19.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.7 3.39
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Exceptional Difficult
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 29/33 28/29
SAT Range 1300/1450 1140/1350
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

Academics

 AU VWC
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (43%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • Psychology (3%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Social Sciences (14%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)

Outcomes

 AU VWC
Graduation Rate 77% 48%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $64,800 $41,700
Making Student Loan Payments 80% 57%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,250 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $250 $279

Diversity

 AU VWC
% Men 15% 2%
% Women 25% 3%
Racial Diversity High High
HBCU No No
% White 58% 54%
% Black 7% 24%
% Hispanic 12% 8%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 5%
% International 7% 1%
% Unknown Race 4% 6%

Students

 AU VWC
% In-State 2% 73%
% Out-of-State 94% 26%

Campus

 AU VWC
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • American University is larger than than VWC based on total student enrollment (13,019 students vs. 1,711 students)

AU vs. VWC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AU or VWC?

  • American University is 54.7% more expensive to attend than VWC for in-state tuition ($55,724.00 vs. $36,010.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 54.7% higher at AU than Virginia Wesleyan College ($55,724.00 vs. $36,010.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Virginia Wesleyan College than AU ($21,862 vs. $40,189)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia Wesleyan College are 47.8% lower than costs at American University ($11,513 vs. $17,012)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Virginia Wesleyan College than American University (100% vs. 62%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by American University students is 7% larger than aid received Virginia Wesleyan College ($31,402 vs. $29,360)

AU vs. VWC Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, AU or VWC? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between VWC or AU .

  • The average SAT score at American University (1252) is 270 points higher than at VWC (982)
  • Incoming AU students have a 6 point higher average ACT score (28) than students at VWC (22)
  • Accepted freshman AU students have a 0.31 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at VWC (3.39)
  • VWC has a higher acceptance rate (71.3%) than AU (47.4%)

AU vs. VWC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, AU or VWC? 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 VWC and AU.

  • The graduation rate at AU is higher than Virginia Wesleyan College (77% vs. 48%)
  • Graduates from American University earn on average $23,100 more per year than VWC graduates after ten years. ($64,800 vs. $41,700)
  • American University students graduate with a $2,750 lower median federal student loan debt than VWC graduates. ($24,250 vs. $27,000)
  • AU graduates are paying $29 less per month on federal student loans than VWC graduates. ($250 vs. $279)
  • More AU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former VWC students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 57%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/