AU vs. Pitt

Deciding between American University and University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,500 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

American University
University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • AU Washington, DC
  • Pitt Pittsburgh, PA
  • Setting
  • AU Large City
  • Pitt Large City
  • Enrollment
  • AU 12,321
  • Pitt 35,724
  • Type
  • AU Private 4 Year
  • Pitt Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • AU #94
  • Pitt #138
  • Religious Affiliation
  • AU United Methodist
  • Pitt -
  • Status
  • AU Non-profit
  • Pitt Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • AU
  • Pitt

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • AU $58,771
  • Pitt $21,926
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • AU $58,771
  • Pitt $41,430
  • Room & Board
  • AU $17,982
  • Pitt $13,620
  • Average Net Price
  • AU $39,676
  • Pitt $25,223
  • Average Grant Aid
  • AU $36,349
  • Pitt $16,494
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • AU 67%
  • Pitt 53%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • AU 17,173
  • Pitt 60,898
  • Admitted
  • AU 10,640
  • Pitt 35,372
  • Acceptance Rate
  • AU 62%
  • Pitt 58.1%
  • Enrolled
  • AU 15.6%
  • Pitt 13%
  • Typical SAT score
  • AU 1370
  • Pitt 1370
  • Typical ACT score
  • AU 30
  • Pitt 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • AU 3.7
  • Pitt 3.79
  • Typical High School Grades
  • AU A-
  • Pitt A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • AU Very High
  • Pitt Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • AU Low
  • Pitt Low
  • ACT Range
  • AU 29/32
  • Pitt 29/33
  • SAT Range
  • AU 1280/1460
  • Pitt 1280/1460
  • Submit Test Scores
  • AU Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Pitt Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • AU Jan 15, 2027
  • Pitt

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • AU 10:1
  • Pitt 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • AU
    • Social Sciences (43%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
    • Psychology (3%)
  • Pitt
    • Business (15%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Engineering (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • AU 77%
  • Pitt 79%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • AU $64,800
  • Pitt $58,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • AU 80%
  • Pitt 75%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • AU $24,250
  • Pitt $26,909
  • Median Loan Payment
  • AU $250
  • Pitt $278

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • AU 14%
  • Pitt 11%
  • % Women
  • AU 25%
  • Pitt 16%
  • Racial Diversity
  • AU High
  • Pitt Low
  • HBCU
  • AU No
  • Pitt No
  • % White
  • AU 58%
  • Pitt 74%
  • % Asian
  • AU 7%
  • Pitt 9%
  • % Black
  • AU 7%
  • Pitt 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • AU 12%
  • Pitt 3%
  • % Native American
  • AU 0%
  • Pitt 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • AU 0%
  • Pitt 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • AU 5%
  • Pitt 3%
  • % International
  • AU 7%
  • Pitt 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • AU 4%
  • Pitt 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • AU 3%
  • Pitt 64%
  • % Out-of-State
  • AU 94%
  • Pitt 33%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is larger than AU based on total student enrollment (35,724 students vs. 12,321 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • American University is located in Washington, DC (Large City setting); University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is in Pittsburgh, PA (Large City setting).
  • American University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: American University 10:1; University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus 13:1.

AU vs. Pitt Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AU or Pitt? 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 University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus than AU ($25,223 vs. $39,676).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus are 24.3% lower than at American University ($13,620 vs. $17,982).
  • American University is 168% more expensive for in-state tuition than Pitt (about $36,845 more per year; $58,771.00 vs. $21,926.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 41.9% higher at AU than at University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus (about $17,341 more per year; $58,771.00 vs. $41,430.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at American University than at University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus (67% vs. 53%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by American University students is 120.4% larger than aid received by University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus students ($36,349 vs. $16,494).

AU vs. Pitt Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at American University (1370) is the same as at Pitt (1370).
  • Incoming Pitt students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 30 at AU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: American University 1280/1460; University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus 1280/1460.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: American University 29/32; University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus 29/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: AU - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional); Pitt - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional).
  • Typical fall application deadline: AU Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Pitt students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at AU (3.7).
  • AU has a higher acceptance rate (62%) than Pitt (58.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.6% at AU vs. 13% at Pitt.

AU vs. Pitt Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for AU and Pitt? 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).

  • University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus's six-year graduation rate (79%) is higher than American University's (77%).
  • Graduates from American University earn a median of about $6,800 more per year than Pitt graduates about ten years after starting college ($64,800 vs. $58,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, American University graduates have a $2,659 lower median loan debt than Pitt graduates ($24,250 vs. $26,909).
  • Among borrowers, AU graduates have an estimated $28 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Pitt graduates ($250 vs. $278).
  • More AU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pitt students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 75%)

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.