AU vs. William & Mary

Comparable Facts

Compare American University in Washington, DC with William & Mary in Williamsburg, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

American University is larger than William & Mary based on total student enrollment (12,321 students vs. 9,818 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• American University is located in Washington, DC (Large City setting); William & Mary is in Williamsburg, VA (Large Suburban setting).
• American University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. William & Mary is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: American University 10:1; William & Mary 12:1.

AU vs. William & Mary Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AU or William & Mary? 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 William & Mary than AU ($19,686 vs. $39,676).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at William & Mary are 10% lower than at American University ($16,182 vs. $17,982).
• American University is 126.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than William & Mary (about $32,857 more per year; $58,771.00 vs. $25,914.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 15.2% higher at AU than at William & Mary (about $7,733 more per year; $58,771.00 vs. $51,038.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at American University than at William & Mary (67% vs. 43%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by American University students is 57.1% larger than aid received by William & Mary students ($36,349 vs. $23,144).

AU vs. William & Mary Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, AU or William & Mary? 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 William & Mary and AU.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at William & Mary (1470) is 100 points higher than at AU (1370).
• Incoming William & Mary students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 30 at AU).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: American University 1280/1460; William & Mary 1400/1530.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: American University 29/32; William & Mary 32/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: AU - Test optional; William & Mary - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: AU Jan 15, 2027; William & Mary Jan 2, 2027.
• Accepted freshman William & Mary students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.85) than students at AU (3.7).
• AU has a higher acceptance rate (62%) than William & Mary (34.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.6% at AU vs. 26.6% at William & Mary.

AU vs. William & Mary Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for AU and William & Mary? 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).

• William & Mary's six-year graduation rate (91%) is higher than American University's (77%).
• Graduates from William & Mary earn a median of about $3,900 more per year than AU graduates about ten years after starting college ($68,700 vs. $64,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, William & Mary graduates have a $4,750 lower median loan debt than AU graduates ($19,500 vs. $24,250).
• Among borrowers, William & Mary graduates have an estimated $49 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than AU graduates ($201 vs. $250).
• More William & Mary graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AU students, three years after graduation. (85% 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.