UD vs. AU

Deciding between University of Delaware 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 Delaware
American University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • UD Newark, DE
  • AU Washington, DC
  • Setting
  • UD Large Suburban
  • AU Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • UD 24,412
  • AU 12,321
  • Type
  • UD Public 4 Year
  • AU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UD #150
  • AU #94
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UD -
  • AU United Methodist
  • Status
  • UD Non-profit
  • AU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UD
  • AU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UD $16,810
  • AU $58,771
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UD $41,400
  • AU $58,771
  • Room & Board
  • UD $15,386
  • AU $17,982
  • Average Net Price
  • UD $19,139
  • AU $39,676
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UD $13,302
  • AU $36,349
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UD 91%
  • AU 67%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UD 39,995
  • AU 17,173
  • Admitted
  • UD 28,238
  • AU 10,640
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UD 70.6%
  • AU 62%
  • Enrolled
  • UD 15.7%
  • AU 15.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UD 1280
  • AU 1370
  • Typical ACT score
  • UD 30
  • AU 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • UD 3.94
  • AU 3.7
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UD A
  • AU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UD Very High
  • AU Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • UD Low
  • AU Low
  • ACT Range
  • UD 28/32
  • AU 29/32
  • SAT Range
  • UD 1190/1370
  • AU 1280/1460
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UD Test optional
  • AU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UD Jan 15, 2027
  • AU Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UD 16:1
  • AU 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UD
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Engineering (7%)
    • Health Professions (7%)
  • AU
    • Social Sciences (43%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
    • Psychology (3%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UD 78%
  • AU 77%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UD $61,300
  • AU $64,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UD 80%
  • AU 80%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UD $24,203
  • AU $24,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UD $250
  • AU $250

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UD 41%
  • AU 37%
  • % Women
  • UD 59%
  • AU 63%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UD Low
  • AU High
  • HBCU
  • UD No
  • AU No
  • % White
  • UD 74%
  • AU 58%
  • % Asian
  • UD 5%
  • AU 7%
  • % Black
  • UD 6%
  • AU 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • UD 8%
  • AU 12%
  • % Native American
  • UD 0%
  • AU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UD 0%
  • AU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UD 3%
  • AU 5%
  • % International
  • UD 4%
  • AU 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UD 1%
  • AU 4%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UD 39%
  • AU 3%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UD 59%
  • AU 94%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Delaware in Newark, DE with American University in Washington, DC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Delaware is larger than AU based on total student enrollment (24,412 students vs. 12,321 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Delaware is located in Newark, DE (Large Suburban setting); American University is in Washington, DC (Large City setting).
  • University of Delaware is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. American University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Delaware 16:1; American University 10:1.

UD vs. AU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UD 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 Delaware than AU ($19,139 vs. $39,676).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Delaware are 14.4% lower than at American University ($15,386 vs. $17,982).
  • American University is 249.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than UD (about $41,961 more per year; $58,771.00 vs. $16,810.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 42% higher at AU than at University of Delaware (about $17,371 more per year; $58,771.00 vs. $41,400.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Delaware than at American University (91% vs. 67%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by American University students is 173.3% larger than aid received by University of Delaware students ($36,349 vs. $13,302).

UD vs. AU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UD 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 UD.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at American University (1370) is 90 points higher than at UD (1280).
  • Incoming UD 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 Delaware 1190/1370; American University 1280/1460.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Delaware 28/32; American University 29/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UD - Test optional; AU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UD Jan 15, 2027; AU Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UD students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at AU (3.7).
  • UD has a higher acceptance rate (70.6%) than AU (62%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.7% at UD vs. 15.6% at AU.

UD vs. AU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UD 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 Delaware's six-year graduation rate (78%) is higher than American University's (77%).
  • Graduates from American University earn a median of about $3,500 more per year than UD graduates about ten years after starting college ($64,800 vs. $61,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Delaware graduates have a $47 lower median loan debt than AU graduates ($24,203 vs. $24,250).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, American University and UD graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($250 vs. $250).
  • More AU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UD students, three years after graduation. (80% 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.