AU vs. Penn State

Deciding between American University and Penn State Main Campus? 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.

American University
Penn State Main Campus

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • AU Washington, DC
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • AU Large City
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • AU 12,321
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • AU Private 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • AU #94
  • Penn State #185
  • Religious Affiliation
  • AU United Methodist
  • Penn State -
  • Status
  • AU Non-profit
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • AU
  • Penn State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • AU $58,771
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • AU $58,771
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & Board
  • AU $17,982
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average Net Price
  • AU $39,676
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average Grant Aid
  • AU $36,349
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • AU 67%
  • Penn State 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • AU 17,173
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • AU 10,640
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance Rate
  • AU 62%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • AU 15.6%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • AU 1370
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • AU 30
  • Penn State 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • AU 3.7
  • Penn State -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • AU A-
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions Standards
  • AU Very High
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • AU Low
  • Penn State Low
  • ACT Range
  • AU 29/32
  • Penn State 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • AU 1280/1460
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • AU Test optional
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • AU Jan 15, 2027
  • Penn State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • AU 10:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • AU
    • Social Sciences (43%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
    • Psychology (3%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • AU 77%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • AU $64,800
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • AU 80%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • AU $24,250
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • AU $250
  • Penn State $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • AU 37%
  • Penn State 52%
  • % Women
  • AU 63%
  • Penn State 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • AU High
  • Penn State Medium
  • HBCU
  • AU No
  • Penn State No
  • % White
  • AU 58%
  • Penn State 69%
  • % Asian
  • AU 7%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Black
  • AU 7%
  • Penn State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • AU 12%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Native American
  • AU 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • AU 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • AU 5%
  • Penn State 3%
  • % International
  • AU 7%
  • Penn State 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • AU 4%
  • Penn State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • AU 3%
  • Penn State 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • AU 94%
  • Penn State 40%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare American University in Washington, DC with Penn State Main Campus in University Park, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Penn State Main Campus is larger than AU based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 12,321 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • American University is located in Washington, DC (Large City setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • American University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: American University 10:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

AU vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AU or Penn State? 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 Penn State Main Campus than AU ($27,889 vs. $39,676).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 19.5% lower than at American University ($14,474 vs. $17,982).
  • American University is 184.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State (about $38,127 more per year; $58,771.00 vs. $20,644.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 40.6% higher at AU than at Penn State Main Campus (about $16,981 more per year; $58,771.00 vs. $41,790.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at American University than at Penn State Main Campus (67% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by American University students is 220.7% larger than aid received by Penn State Main Campus students ($36,349 vs. $11,336).

AU vs. Penn State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, AU or Penn State? 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 Penn State and AU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at American University (1370) is 40 points higher than at Penn State (1330).
  • Incoming AU students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 29 at Penn State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: American University 1280/1460; Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: American University 29/32; Penn State Main Campus 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: AU - Test optional; Penn State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: AU Jan 15, 2027.
  • AU has a higher acceptance rate (62%) than Penn State (60.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.6% at AU vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

AU vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for AU and Penn State? 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).

  • Penn State Main Campus's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than American University's (77%).
  • Graduates from American University earn a median of about $9,500 more per year than Penn State graduates about ten years after starting college ($64,800 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, American University graduates have a $2,568 lower median loan debt than Penn State graduates ($24,250 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, AU graduates have an estimated $27 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State graduates ($250 vs. $277).
  • More AU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 69%)

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.