Yale vs. AU

Deciding between Yale University 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.

Yale University
American University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Yale New Haven, CT
  • AU Washington, DC
  • Setting
  • Yale Midsize City
  • AU Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Yale 15,564
  • AU 12,321
  • Type
  • Yale Private 4 Year
  • AU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Yale #5
  • AU #94
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Yale -
  • AU United Methodist
  • Status
  • Yale Non-profit
  • AU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Yale
  • AU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Yale $67,250
  • AU $58,771
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Yale $67,250
  • AU $58,771
  • Room & Board
  • Yale $19,900
  • AU $17,982
  • Average Net Price
  • Yale $22,408
  • AU $39,676
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Yale $65,892
  • AU $36,349
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Yale 56%
  • AU 67%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Yale 57,517
  • AU 17,173
  • Admitted
  • Yale 2,227
  • AU 10,640
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Yale 3.9%
  • AU 62%
  • Enrolled
  • Yale 69.8%
  • AU 15.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Yale 1520
  • AU 1370
  • Typical ACT score
  • Yale 34
  • AU 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Yale 3.95
  • AU 3.7
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Yale A
  • AU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Yale Elite
  • AU Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Yale Extreme
  • AU Low
  • ACT Range
  • Yale 33/35
  • AU 29/32
  • SAT Range
  • Yale 1470/1570
  • AU 1280/1460
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Yale Required
  • AU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Yale Jan 2, 2027
  • AU Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Yale 5:1
  • AU 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Yale
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • History (9%)
    • General Studies (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Ethnic Studies (7%)
  • AU
    • Social Sciences (43%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
    • Psychology (3%)

  • Outcomes

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

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Yale 47%
  • AU 37%
  • % Women
  • Yale 53%
  • AU 63%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Yale Very High
  • AU High
  • HBCU
  • Yale No
  • AU No
  • % White
  • Yale 47%
  • AU 58%
  • % Asian
  • Yale 17%
  • AU 7%
  • % Black
  • Yale 7%
  • AU 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Yale 11%
  • AU 12%
  • % Native American
  • Yale 1%
  • AU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Yale 0%
  • AU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Yale 6%
  • AU 5%
  • % International
  • Yale 11%
  • AU 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Yale 1%
  • AU 4%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Yale 6%
  • AU 3%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Yale 81%
  • AU 94%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Yale University in New Haven, CT with American University in Washington, DC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Yale University is larger than AU based on total student enrollment (15,564 students vs. 12,321 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Yale University is located in New Haven, CT (Midsize City setting); American University is in Washington, DC (Large City setting).
  • Yale University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. American University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Yale University 5:1; American University 10:1.

Yale vs. AU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Yale 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 Yale University than AU ($22,408 vs. $39,676).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at American University are 9.6% lower than at Yale University ($17,982 vs. $19,900).
  • Yale University is 14.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than AU (about $8,479 more per year; $67,250.00 vs. $58,771.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 14.4% higher at Yale than at American University (about $8,479 more per year; $67,250.00 vs. $58,771.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at American University than at Yale University (67% vs. 56%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Yale University students is 81.3% larger than aid received by American University students ($65,892 vs. $36,349).

Yale vs. AU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Yale 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 Yale.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Yale University (1520) is 150 points higher than at AU (1370).
  • Incoming Yale students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 30 at AU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Yale University 1470/1570; American University 1280/1460.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Yale University 33/35; American University 29/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Yale - Required; AU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Yale Jan 2, 2027; AU Jan 15, 2027.
  • 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 (62%) than Yale (3.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 69.8% at Yale vs. 15.6% at AU.

Yale vs. AU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Yale 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).

  • Yale University's six-year graduation rate (97%) is higher than American University's (77%).
  • Graduates from Yale University earn a median of about $53,600 more per year than AU graduates about ten years after starting college ($118,400 vs. $64,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Yale University graduates have a $10,750 lower median loan debt than AU graduates ($13,500 vs. $24,250).
  • Among borrowers, Yale graduates have an estimated $111 lower median monthly federal student loan payment 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.