AU vs. Western New England University

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

AU Western New England University
Location Washington, DC Springfield, MA
Setting Large City Midsize City
Enrollment 13,019 3,574
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #84 #383
Religious Affiliation United Methodist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website american.edu wne.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

AU Western New England University
Tuition (In State) $55,724 $43,380
Tuition (Out of State) $55,724 $43,380
Room & Board $17,012 $14,900
Avg Net Price $40,189 $31,548
Avg Grant Aid $31,402 $27,351
% Receiving Grant Aid 62% 100%

Admission

AU Western New England University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 17,786 6,534
Admitted 8,427 5,440
Acceptance Rate 47.4% 83.3%
Enrolled % 22% 13.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.7 3.49
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Exceptional Challenging
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 29/33 25/27
SAT Range 1300/1450 1130/1310
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 Western New England University
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (43%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • Psychology (3%)
  • Business (35%)
  • Engineering (15%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)

Outcomes

AU Western New England University
Graduation Rate 77% 61%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $64,800 $59,800
Making Student Loan Payments 80% 76%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,250 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $250 $279

Diversity

AU Western New England University
% Men 15% 12%
% Women 25% 16%
Racial Diversity High Low
HBCU No No
% White 58% 73%
% Black 7% 6%
% Hispanic 12% 8%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 1%
% International 7% 3%
% Unknown Race 4% 5%

Students

AU Western New England University
% In-State 2% 57%
% Out-of-State 94% 41%

Campus

AU Western New England University
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

  • American University is larger than than Western New England University based on total student enrollment (13,019 students vs. 3,574 students)

AU vs. Western New England University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AU or Western New England University?

  • American University is 28.5% more expensive to attend than Western New England University for in-state tuition ($55,724.00 vs. $43,380.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 28.5% higher at AU than Western New England University ($55,724.00 vs. $43,380.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western New England University than AU ($31,548 vs. $40,189)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western New England University are 14.2% lower than costs at American University ($14,900 vs. $17,012)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Western New England University than American University (100% vs. 62%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by American University students is 14.8% larger than aid received Western New England University ($31,402 vs. $27,351)

AU vs. Western New England University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at American University (1252) is 172 points higher than at Western New England University (1080)
  • Incoming AU students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (28) than students at Western New England University (25)
  • Accepted freshman AU students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at Western New England University (3.49)
  • Western New England University has a higher acceptance rate (83.3%) than AU (47.4%)

AU vs. Western New England University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, AU or Western New England University? 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 Western New England University and AU.

  • The graduation rate at AU is higher than Western New England University (77% vs. 61%)
  • Graduates from American University earn on average $5,000 more per year than Western New England University graduates after ten years. ($64,800 vs. $59,800)
  • American University students graduate with a $2,750 lower median federal student loan debt than Western New England University graduates. ($24,250 vs. $27,000)
  • AU graduates are paying $29 less per month on federal student loans than Western New England University graduates. ($250 vs. $279)
  • More AU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Western New England University 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/