UConn vs. AU

Deciding between University of Connecticut 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.

University of Connecticut
American University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UConn Storrs, CT
  • AU Washington, DC
  • Setting
  • UConn Town Fringe
  • AU Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • UConn 28,306
  • AU 12,321
  • Type
  • UConn Public 4 Year
  • AU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UConn #106
  • AU #94
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UConn -
  • AU United Methodist
  • Status
  • UConn Non-profit
  • AU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UConn
  • AU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UConn $21,044
  • AU $58,771
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UConn $43,712
  • AU $58,771
  • Room & Board
  • UConn $14,380
  • AU $17,982
  • Average Net Price
  • UConn $25,310
  • AU $39,676
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UConn $16,503
  • AU $36,349
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UConn 81%
  • AU 67%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UConn 55,479
  • AU 17,173
  • Admitted
  • UConn 29,065
  • AU 10,640
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UConn 52.4%
  • AU 62%
  • Enrolled
  • UConn 15.4%
  • AU 15.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UConn 1330
  • AU 1370
  • Typical ACT score
  • UConn 30
  • AU 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • UConn 3.74
  • AU 3.7
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UConn A-
  • AU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UConn Very High
  • AU Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • UConn Low
  • AU Low
  • ACT Range
  • UConn 28/33
  • AU 29/32
  • SAT Range
  • UConn 1210/1440
  • AU 1280/1460
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UConn Test optional
  • AU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UConn Jan 15, 2027
  • AU Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UConn 17:1
  • AU 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UConn
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Engineering (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • AU
    • Social Sciences (43%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
    • Psychology (3%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UConn 83%
  • AU 77%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UConn $62,000
  • AU $64,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UConn 78%
  • AU 80%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UConn $21,500
  • AU $24,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UConn $222
  • AU $250

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UConn 45%
  • AU 37%
  • % Women
  • UConn 55%
  • AU 63%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UConn Medium
  • AU High
  • HBCU
  • UConn No
  • AU No
  • % White
  • UConn 61%
  • AU 58%
  • % Asian
  • UConn 10%
  • AU 7%
  • % Black
  • UConn 5%
  • AU 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • UConn 9%
  • AU 12%
  • % Native American
  • UConn 0%
  • AU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UConn 0%
  • AU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UConn 3%
  • AU 5%
  • % International
  • UConn 5%
  • AU 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UConn 7%
  • AU 4%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UConn 53%
  • AU 3%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UConn 42%
  • AU 94%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Connecticut in Storrs, CT with American University in Washington, DC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Connecticut is larger than AU based on total student enrollment (28,306 students vs. 12,321 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Connecticut is located in Storrs, CT (Town Fringe setting); American University is in Washington, DC (Large City setting).
  • University of Connecticut is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. American University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Connecticut 17:1; American University 10:1.

UConn vs. AU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UConn 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 University of Connecticut than AU ($25,310 vs. $39,676).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Connecticut are 20% lower than at American University ($14,380 vs. $17,982).
  • American University is 179.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than UConn (about $37,727 more per year; $58,771.00 vs. $21,044.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 34.5% higher at AU than at University of Connecticut (about $15,059 more per year; $58,771.00 vs. $43,712.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Connecticut than at American University (81% vs. 67%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by American University students is 120.3% larger than aid received by University of Connecticut students ($36,349 vs. $16,503).

UConn vs. AU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UConn 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 UConn.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at American University (1370) is 40 points higher than at UConn (1330).
  • Incoming UConn students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 30) as students at AU (30).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Connecticut 1210/1440; American University 1280/1460.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Connecticut 28/33; American University 29/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UConn - Test optional; AU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UConn Jan 15, 2027; AU Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UConn students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.74) than students at AU (3.7).
  • AU has a higher acceptance rate (62%) than UConn (52.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.4% at UConn vs. 15.6% at AU.

UConn vs. AU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UConn 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).

  • University of Connecticut's six-year graduation rate (83%) is higher than American University's (77%).
  • Graduates from American University earn a median of about $2,800 more per year than UConn graduates about ten years after starting college ($64,800 vs. $62,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Connecticut graduates have a $2,750 lower median loan debt than AU graduates ($21,500 vs. $24,250).
  • Among borrowers, UConn graduates have an estimated $28 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than AU graduates ($222 vs. $250).
  • More AU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UConn students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 78%)

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.