Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
George Washington JMU Mason Virginia Tech Mary Washington College Georgetown Old Dominion CNU Fordham Syracuse William & Mary UVA| American University | Virginia Commonwealth University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
AU | VCU | ||
| Location | Washington, DC | Richmond, VA | ||
| Setting | Large City | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 13,885 | 28,082 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #93 | #442 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | United Methodist | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | american.edu | vcu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
AU | VCU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $53,070 | $12,458 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $53,070 | $33,726 | ||
| Room & Board | $15,706 | $12,279 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $41,369 | $21,294 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $27,138 | $12,583 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 66% | 83% |
Admission |
AU | VCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 19,510 | 18,242 | ||
| Admitted | 7,926 | 16,600 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 40.6% | 91% | ||
| Enrolled % | 22.2% | 25.1% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.7 | 3.75 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 29/32 | 22/30 | ||
| SAT Range | 1290/1430 | 1030/1290 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Jan 15, 2024 | Jan 18, 2024 |
Academics |
AU | VCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 11:1 | 16:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
AU | VCU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 77% | 53% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $64,800 | $47,500 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 80% | 56% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,250 | $23,250 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $250 | $240 |
Diversity |
AU | VCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 37% | 36% | ||
| % Women | 63% | 64% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 58% | 50% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 18% | ||
| % Hispanic | 12% | 8% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 6% | ||
| % International | 7% | 3% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 4% | 1% |
Students |
AU | VCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 2% | 92% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 94% | 6% | ||
Campus |
AU | VCU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Virginia Commonwealth University is larger than than AU based on total student enrollment (28,082 students vs. 13,885 students)
AU vs. VCU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, AU or VCU?
- American University is 326% more expensive to attend than VCU for in-state tuition ($53,070.00 vs. $12,458.00)
- Out of state tuition is 57.4% higher at AU than Virginia Commonwealth University ($53,070.00 vs. $33,726.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Virginia Commonwealth University than AU ($21,294 vs. $41,369)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia Commonwealth University are 27.9% lower than costs at American University ($12,279 vs. $15,706)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Virginia Commonwealth University than American University (83% vs. 66%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by American University students is 115.7% larger than aid received Virginia Commonwealth University ($27,138 vs. $12,583)
AU vs. VCU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, AU or VCU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between VCU or AU .
- The average SAT score at American University (1252) is 155 points higher than at VCU (1097)
- Incoming AU students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (28) than students at VCU (24)
- Accepted freshman VCU students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at AU (3.7)
- VCU has a higher acceptance rate (91%) than AU (40.6%)
AU vs. VCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, AU or VCU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between VCU and AU.
- The graduation rate at AU is higher than Virginia Commonwealth University (77% vs. 53%)
- Graduates from American University earn on average $17,300 more per year than VCU graduates after ten years. ($64,800 vs. $47,500)
- Virginia Commonwealth University students graduate with a $1,000 lower median federal student loan debt than AU graduates. ($23,250 vs. $24,250)
- VCU graduates are paying $10 less per month on federal student loans than AU graduates. ($240 vs. $250)
- More AU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former VCU students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 56%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/