Wesleyan University vs. AU

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

Wesleyan University AU
Location Middletown, CT Washington, DC
Setting Small City Large City
Enrollment 3,253 13,885
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #33 #93
Religious Affiliation - United Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website wesleyan.edu american.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Wesleyan University AU
Tuition (In State) $63,722 $53,070
Tuition (Out of State) $63,722 $53,070
Room & Board $18,180 $15,706
Avg Net Price $21,270 $41,369
Avg Grant Aid $59,825 $27,138
% Receiving Grant Aid 44% 66%

Admission

Wesleyan University AU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 14,521 19,510
Admitted 2,096 7,926
Acceptance Rate 14.4% 40.6%
Enrolled % 35.4% 22.2%
Avg High School GPA - 3.7
Typical High School Grades - A-
Admissions Standards Exceptional Very High
Applicant Competition Very High Low
ACT Range 31/34 29/32
SAT Range 1320/1510 1290/1430
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 1, 2025 Jan 15, 2025

Academics

Wesleyan University AU
Student to Faculty Ratio 7:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (24%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (14%)
  • Ethnic Studies (12%)
  • Psychology (11%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • Social Sciences (43%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • Psychology (3%)

Outcomes

Wesleyan University AU
Graduation Rate 92% 77%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $58,000 $64,800
Making Student Loan Payments 89% 80%
Median Student Loan Debt $17,500 $24,250
Median Loan Payment $180 $250

Diversity

Wesleyan University AU
% Men 46% 37%
% Women 54% 63%
Racial Diversity High High
HBCU No No
% White 53% 58%
% Black 7% 7%
% Hispanic 11% 12%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 6% 5%
% International 9% 7%
% Unknown Race 5% 4%

Students

Wesleyan University AU
% In-State 8% 2%
% Out-of-State 80% 94%

Campus

Wesleyan University AU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required Yes No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • American University is larger than than Wesleyan University based on total student enrollment (13,885 students vs. 3,253 students)

Wesleyan University vs. AU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Wesleyan University or AU?

  • Wesleyan University is 20.1% more expensive to attend than AU for in-state tuition ($63,722.00 vs. $53,070.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 20.1% higher at Wesleyan University than American University ($63,722.00 vs. $53,070.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Wesleyan University than AU ($21,270 vs. $41,369)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at American University are 15.8% lower than costs at Wesleyan University ($15,706 vs. $18,180)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at American University than Wesleyan University (66% vs. 44%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Wesleyan University students is 120.4% larger than aid received American University ($59,825 vs. $27,138)

Wesleyan University vs. AU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • AU has a higher acceptance rate (40.6%) than Wesleyan University (14.4%)

Wesleyan University vs. AU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Wesleyan University 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 Wesleyan University.

  • The graduation rate at Wesleyan University is higher than American University (92% vs. 77%)
  • Graduates from American University earn on average $6,800 more per year than Wesleyan University graduates after ten years. ($64,800 vs. $58,000)
  • Wesleyan University students graduate with a $6,750 lower median federal student loan debt than AU graduates. ($17,500 vs. $24,250)
  • Wesleyan University graduates are paying $70 less per month on federal student loans than AU graduates. ($180 vs. $250)
  • More Wesleyan University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AU students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 80%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/