AU vs. Rutgers

Deciding between American University and Rutgers University New Brunswick? 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
Rutgers University New Brunswick

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • AU Washington, DC
  • Rutgers New Brunswick, NJ
  • Setting
  • AU Large City
  • Rutgers Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • AU 12,321
  • Rutgers 52,269
  • Type
  • AU Private 4 Year
  • Rutgers Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • AU #94
  • Rutgers #114
  • Religious Affiliation
  • AU United Methodist
  • Rutgers -
  • Status
  • AU Non-profit
  • Rutgers Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • AU
  • Rutgers

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • AU $58,771
  • Rutgers $17,929
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • AU $58,771
  • Rutgers $37,441
  • Room & Board
  • AU $17,982
  • Rutgers $15,714
  • Average Net Price
  • AU $39,676
  • Rutgers $20,522
  • Average Grant Aid
  • AU $36,349
  • Rutgers $16,742
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • AU 67%
  • Rutgers 50%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • AU 17,173
  • Rutgers 68,614
  • Admitted
  • AU 10,640
  • Rutgers 39,899
  • Acceptance Rate
  • AU 62%
  • Rutgers 58.1%
  • Enrolled
  • AU 15.6%
  • Rutgers 20.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • AU 1370
  • Rutgers 1410
  • Typical ACT score
  • AU 30
  • Rutgers 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • AU 3.7
  • Rutgers 3.3
  • Typical High School Grades
  • AU A-
  • Rutgers B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • AU Very High
  • Rutgers Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • AU Low
  • Rutgers Low
  • ACT Range
  • AU 29/32
  • Rutgers 28/33
  • SAT Range
  • AU 1280/1460
  • Rutgers 1310/1500
  • Submit Test Scores
  • AU Test optional
  • Rutgers Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • AU Jan 15, 2027
  • Rutgers

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • AU 10:1
  • Rutgers 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • AU
    • Social Sciences (43%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
    • Psychology (3%)
  • Rutgers
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Engineering (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • AU 77%
  • Rutgers 77%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • AU $64,800
  • Rutgers $66,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • AU 80%
  • Rutgers 68%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • AU $24,250
  • Rutgers $22,215
  • Median Loan Payment
  • AU $250
  • Rutgers $229

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • AU 37%
  • Rutgers 46%
  • % Women
  • AU 63%
  • Rutgers 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • AU High
  • Rutgers Very High
  • HBCU
  • AU No
  • Rutgers No
  • % White
  • AU 58%
  • Rutgers 42%
  • % Asian
  • AU 7%
  • Rutgers 26%
  • % Black
  • AU 7%
  • Rutgers 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • AU 12%
  • Rutgers 13%
  • % Native American
  • AU 0%
  • Rutgers 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • AU 0%
  • Rutgers 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • AU 5%
  • Rutgers 3%
  • % International
  • AU 7%
  • Rutgers 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • AU 4%
  • Rutgers 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • AU 3%
  • Rutgers 75%
  • % Out-of-State
  • AU 94%
  • Rutgers 13%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare American University in Washington, DC with Rutgers University New Brunswick in New Brunswick, NJ on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rutgers University New Brunswick is larger than AU based on total student enrollment (52,269 students vs. 12,321 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • American University is located in Washington, DC (Large City setting); Rutgers University New Brunswick is in New Brunswick, NJ (Small City setting).
  • American University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Rutgers University New Brunswick is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: American University 10:1; Rutgers University New Brunswick 16:1.

AU vs. Rutgers Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AU or Rutgers? 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 Rutgers University New Brunswick than AU ($20,522 vs. $39,676).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rutgers University New Brunswick are 12.6% lower than at American University ($15,714 vs. $17,982).
  • American University is 227.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Rutgers (about $40,842 more per year; $58,771.00 vs. $17,929.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 57% higher at AU than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (about $21,330 more per year; $58,771.00 vs. $37,441.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at American University than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (67% vs. 50%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by American University students is 117.1% larger than aid received by Rutgers University New Brunswick students ($36,349 vs. $16,742).

AU vs. Rutgers Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rutgers University New Brunswick (1410) is 40 points higher than at AU (1370).
  • Incoming AU students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 30) as students at Rutgers (30).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: American University 1280/1460; Rutgers University New Brunswick 1310/1500.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: American University 29/32; Rutgers University New Brunswick 28/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: AU - Test optional; Rutgers - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: AU Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman AU students have a 0.4 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at Rutgers (3.3).
  • AU has a higher acceptance rate (62%) than Rutgers (58.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.6% at AU vs. 20.5% at Rutgers.

AU vs. Rutgers Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for AU and Rutgers? 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).

  • The graduation rate at AU is the same as at Rutgers University New Brunswick (77% vs. 77%).
  • Graduates from Rutgers University New Brunswick earn a median of about $1,400 more per year than AU graduates about ten years after starting college ($66,200 vs. $64,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Rutgers University New Brunswick graduates have a $2,035 lower median loan debt than AU graduates ($22,215 vs. $24,250).
  • Among borrowers, Rutgers graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than AU graduates ($229 vs. $250).
  • More AU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rutgers students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 68%)

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.