SCU vs. AU

Deciding between Santa Clara University and American University? 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.

Santa Clara University
American University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • SCU Santa Clara, CA
  • AU Washington, DC
  • Setting
  • SCU Midsize City
  • AU Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • SCU 9,728
  • AU 12,321
  • Type
  • SCU Private 4 Year
  • AU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • SCU #61
  • AU #94
  • Religious Affiliation
  • SCU Roman Catholic
  • AU United Methodist
  • Status
  • SCU Non-profit
  • AU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • SCU
  • AU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • SCU $61,293
  • AU $58,771
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • SCU $61,293
  • AU $58,771
  • Room & Board
  • SCU $19,893
  • AU $17,982
  • Average Net Price
  • SCU $53,883
  • AU $39,676
  • Average Grant Aid
  • SCU $28,368
  • AU $36,349
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • SCU 71%
  • AU 67%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • SCU 18,970
  • AU 17,173
  • Admitted
  • SCU 9,105
  • AU 10,640
  • Acceptance Rate
  • SCU 48%
  • AU 62%
  • Enrolled
  • SCU 17.7%
  • AU 15.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • SCU 1420
  • AU 1370
  • Typical ACT score
  • SCU 32
  • AU 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • SCU 3.67
  • AU 3.7
  • Typical High School Grades
  • SCU A-
  • AU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • SCU Exceptional
  • AU Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • SCU Low
  • AU Low
  • ACT Range
  • SCU 31/33
  • AU 29/32
  • SAT Range
  • SCU 1350/1490
  • AU 1280/1460
  • Submit Test Scores
  • SCU Test optional
  • AU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • SCU Jan 7, 2027
  • AU Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • SCU 11:1
  • AU 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • SCU
    • Business (33%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • Psychology (6%)
  • AU
    • Social Sciences (43%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
    • Psychology (3%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • SCU 85%
  • AU 77%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • SCU $81,900
  • AU $64,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • SCU 84%
  • AU 80%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • SCU $21,500
  • AU $24,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • SCU $222
  • AU $250

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • SCU 49%
  • AU 37%
  • % Women
  • SCU 51%
  • AU 63%
  • Racial Diversity
  • SCU High
  • AU High
  • HBCU
  • SCU No
  • AU No
  • % White
  • SCU 49%
  • AU 58%
  • % Asian
  • SCU 16%
  • AU 7%
  • % Black
  • SCU 3%
  • AU 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • SCU 17%
  • AU 12%
  • % Native American
  • SCU 0%
  • AU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • SCU 0%
  • AU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • SCU 7%
  • AU 5%
  • % International
  • SCU 3%
  • AU 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • SCU 4%
  • AU 4%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • SCU 55%
  • AU 3%
  • % Out-of-State
  • SCU 36%
  • AU 94%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Santa Clara University in Santa Clara, CA with American University in Washington, DC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

American University is larger than SCU based on total student enrollment (12,321 students vs. 9,728 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Santa Clara University is located in Santa Clara, CA (Midsize City setting); American University is in Washington, DC (Large City setting).
  • Santa Clara University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. American University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Santa Clara University 11:1; American University 10:1.

SCU vs. AU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SCU or AU? 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 American University than SCU ($39,676 vs. $53,883).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at American University are 9.6% lower than at Santa Clara University ($17,982 vs. $19,893).
  • Santa Clara University is 4.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than AU (about $2,522 more per year; $61,293.00 vs. $58,771.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 4.3% higher at SCU than at American University (about $2,522 more per year; $61,293.00 vs. $58,771.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Santa Clara University than at American University (71% vs. 67%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by American University students is 28.1% larger than aid received by Santa Clara University students ($36,349 vs. $28,368).

SCU vs. AU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SCU or AU? 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 AU and SCU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Santa Clara University (1420) is 50 points higher than at AU (1370).
  • Incoming SCU students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 30 at AU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Santa Clara University 1350/1490; American University 1280/1460.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Santa Clara University 31/33; American University 29/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SCU - Test optional; AU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: SCU Jan 7, 2027; AU Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman AU students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at SCU (3.67).
  • AU has a higher acceptance rate (62%) than SCU (48%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.7% at SCU vs. 15.6% at AU.

SCU vs. AU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SCU and AU? 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).

  • Santa Clara University's six-year graduation rate (85%) is higher than American University's (77%).
  • Graduates from Santa Clara University earn a median of about $17,100 more per year than AU graduates about ten years after starting college ($81,900 vs. $64,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Santa Clara University graduates have a $2,750 lower median loan debt than AU graduates ($21,500 vs. $24,250).
  • Among borrowers, SCU graduates have an estimated $28 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than AU graduates ($222 vs. $250).
  • More SCU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AU students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 80%)

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.