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George Washington CU Boulder CU Denver Georgetown Fordham Syracuse Colorado State Colorado School of Mines Mason Lafayette College USD Drexel| University of Denver | American University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
DU | AU | ||
| Location | Denver, CO | Washington, DC | ||
| Setting | Large City | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 13,387 | 13,019 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #86 | #84 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | United Methodist | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | du.edu | american.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
DU | AU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $58,032 | $55,724 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $58,032 | $55,724 | ||
| Room & Board | $17,049 | $17,012 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $43,324 | $40,189 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $32,023 | $31,402 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 62% |
Admission |
DU | AU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 19,214 | 17,786 | ||
| Admitted | 13,679 | 8,427 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 71.2% | 47.4% | ||
| Enrolled % | 10.7% | 22% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.72 | 3.7 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Exceptional | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 29/32 | 29/33 | ||
| SAT Range | 1240/1410 | 1300/1450 | ||
| 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 | Jan 15, 2026 |
Academics |
DU | AU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 10:1 | 10:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
DU | AU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 78% | 77% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $63,400 | $64,800 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 72% | 80% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $23,699 | $24,250 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $245 | $250 |
Diversity |
DU | AU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 17% | 15% | ||
| % Women | 35% | 25% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 67% | 58% | ||
| % Black | 2% | 7% | ||
| % Hispanic | 10% | 12% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 5% | ||
| % International | 9% | 7% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 3% | 4% |
Students |
DU | AU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 28% | 2% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 69% | 94% | ||
Campus |
DU | AU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- University of Denver is larger than than AU based on total student enrollment (13,387 students vs. 13,019 students)
DU vs. AU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, DU or AU?
- University of Denver is 4.1% more expensive to attend than AU for in-state tuition ($58,032.00 vs. $55,724.00)
- Out of state tuition is 4.1% higher at DU than American University ($58,032.00 vs. $55,724.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at American University than DU ($40,189 vs. $43,324)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at American University are 0.2% lower than costs at University of Denver ($17,012 vs. $17,049)
- More students receive financial grant aid at University of Denver than American University (99% vs. 62%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of Denver students is 2% larger than aid received American University ($32,023 vs. $31,402)
DU vs. AU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, DU or AU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between AU or DU .
- The average SAT score at American University (1252) is 3 points higher than at DU (1249)
- Incoming DU students have at the same average ACT score (28) as students at AU (28)
- Accepted freshman DU students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.72) than students at AU (3.7)
- DU has a higher acceptance rate (71.2%) than AU (47.4%)
DU vs. AU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, DU or AU? 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 AU and DU.
- The graduation rate at DU is higher than American University (78% vs. 77%)
- Graduates from American University earn on average $1,400 more per year than DU graduates after ten years. ($64,800 vs. $63,400)
- University of Denver students graduate with a $551 lower median federal student loan debt than AU graduates. ($23,699 vs. $24,250)
- DU graduates are paying $5 less per month on federal student loans than AU graduates. ($245 vs. $250)
- More AU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former DU students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 72%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/