Yale vs. AU

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

Yale AU
Location New Haven, CT Washington, DC
Setting Midsize City Large City
Enrollment 15,081 13,019
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #5 #84
Religious Affiliation - United Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website yale.edu american.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Yale AU
Tuition (In State) $64,700 $55,724
Tuition (Out of State) $64,700 $55,724
Room & Board $19,180 $17,012
Avg Net Price $26,044 $40,189
Avg Grant Aid $59,076 $31,402
% Receiving Grant Aid 54% 62%

Admission

Yale AU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 51,803 17,786
Admitted 2,332 8,427
Acceptance Rate 4.5% 47.4%
Enrolled % 70.4% 22%
Avg High School GPA 3.95 3.7
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Elite Exceptional
Applicant Competition Extreme Low
ACT Range 33/35 29/33
SAT Range 1500/1580 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 2, 2026 Jan 15, 2026

Academics

Yale AU
Student to Faculty Ratio 6:1 10:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (27%)
  • History (9%)
  • General Studies (8%)
  • Biology (7%)
  • Ethnic Studies (7%)
  • Social Sciences (43%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • Psychology (3%)

Outcomes

Yale AU
Graduation Rate 97% 77%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $118,400 $64,800
Making Student Loan Payments 84% 80%
Median Student Loan Debt $13,500 $24,250
Median Loan Payment $139 $250

Diversity

Yale AU
% Men 25% 15%
% Women 30% 25%
Racial Diversity Very High High
HBCU No No
% White 47% 58%
% Black 7% 7%
% Hispanic 11% 12%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 6% 5%
% International 11% 7%
% Unknown Race 1% 4%

Students

Yale AU
% In-State 6% 2%
% Out-of-State 81% 94%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Yale University is larger than than AU based on total student enrollment (15,081 students vs. 13,019 students)

Yale vs. AU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Yale or AU?

  • Yale University is 16.1% more expensive to attend than AU for in-state tuition ($64,700.00 vs. $55,724.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 16.1% higher at Yale than American University ($64,700.00 vs. $55,724.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Yale University than AU ($26,044 vs. $40,189)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at American University are 12.7% lower than costs at Yale University ($17,012 vs. $19,180)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at American University than Yale University (62% vs. 54%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Yale University students is 88.1% larger than aid received American University ($59,076 vs. $31,402)

Yale vs. AU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Yale University (1498) is 246 points higher than at AU (1252)
  • Incoming Yale students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (33) than students at AU (28)
  • Accepted freshman Yale students have a 0.25 point higher average high school GPA (3.95) than students at AU (3.7)
  • AU has a higher acceptance rate (47.4%) than Yale (4.5%)

Yale vs. AU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Yale 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 Yale.

  • The graduation rate at Yale is higher than American University (97% vs. 77%)
  • Graduates from Yale University earn on average $53,600 more per year than AU graduates after ten years. ($118,400 vs. $64,800)
  • Yale University students graduate with a $10,750 lower median federal student loan debt than AU graduates. ($13,500 vs. $24,250)
  • Yale graduates are paying $111 less per month on federal student loans than AU graduates. ($139 vs. $250)
  • More Yale 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/