AU vs. Virginia Tech

Deciding between American University and Virginia Tech? 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
Virginia Tech

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • AU Washington, DC
  • Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA
  • Setting
  • AU Large City
  • Virginia Tech Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • AU 12,321
  • Virginia Tech 38,857
  • Type
  • AU Private 4 Year
  • Virginia Tech Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • AU #94
  • Virginia Tech #142
  • Religious Affiliation
  • AU United Methodist
  • Virginia Tech -
  • Status
  • AU Non-profit
  • Virginia Tech Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • AU
  • Virginia Tech

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • AU $58,771
  • Virginia Tech $15,948
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • AU $58,771
  • Virginia Tech $37,764
  • Room & Board
  • AU $17,982
  • Virginia Tech $16,550
  • Average Net Price
  • AU $39,676
  • Virginia Tech $24,912
  • Average Grant Aid
  • AU $36,349
  • Virginia Tech $9,168
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • AU 67%
  • Virginia Tech 60%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • AU 17,173
  • Virginia Tech 52,498
  • Admitted
  • AU 10,640
  • Virginia Tech 28,758
  • Acceptance Rate
  • AU 62%
  • Virginia Tech 54.8%
  • Enrolled
  • AU 15.6%
  • Virginia Tech 25.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • AU 1370
  • Virginia Tech 1370
  • Typical ACT score
  • AU 30
  • Virginia Tech 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • AU 3.7
  • Virginia Tech 3.97
  • Typical High School Grades
  • AU A-
  • Virginia Tech A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • AU Very High
  • Virginia Tech Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • AU Low
  • Virginia Tech Low
  • ACT Range
  • AU 29/32
  • Virginia Tech 28/32
  • SAT Range
  • AU 1280/1460
  • Virginia Tech 1280/1450
  • Submit Test Scores
  • AU Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Virginia Tech Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • AU Jan 15, 2027
  • Virginia Tech Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • AU 10:1
  • Virginia Tech 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • AU
    • Social Sciences (43%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
    • Psychology (3%)
  • Virginia Tech
    • Business (20%)
    • Engineering (19%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • AU 77%
  • Virginia Tech 82%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • AU $64,800
  • Virginia Tech $65,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • AU 80%
  • Virginia Tech 81%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • AU $24,250
  • Virginia Tech $23,966
  • Median Loan Payment
  • AU $250
  • Virginia Tech $247

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • AU 37%
  • Virginia Tech 55%
  • % Women
  • AU 63%
  • Virginia Tech 45%
  • Racial Diversity
  • AU High
  • Virginia Tech Medium
  • HBCU
  • AU No
  • Virginia Tech No
  • % White
  • AU 58%
  • Virginia Tech 68%
  • % Asian
  • AU 7%
  • Virginia Tech 9%
  • % Black
  • AU 7%
  • Virginia Tech 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • AU 12%
  • Virginia Tech 5%
  • % Native American
  • AU 0%
  • Virginia Tech 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • AU 0%
  • Virginia Tech 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • AU 5%
  • Virginia Tech 4%
  • % International
  • AU 7%
  • Virginia Tech 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • AU 4%
  • Virginia Tech 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • AU 3%
  • Virginia Tech 61%
  • % Out-of-State
  • AU 94%
  • Virginia Tech 34%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare American University in Washington, DC with Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Virginia Tech is larger than AU based on total student enrollment (38,857 students vs. 12,321 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • American University is located in Washington, DC (Large City setting); Virginia Tech is in Blacksburg, VA (Small City setting).
  • American University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Virginia Tech is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: American University 10:1; Virginia Tech 17:1.

AU vs. Virginia Tech Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AU or Virginia Tech? 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 Virginia Tech than AU ($24,912 vs. $39,676).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia Tech are 8% lower than at American University ($16,550 vs. $17,982).
  • American University is 268.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Virginia Tech (about $42,823 more per year; $58,771.00 vs. $15,948.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 55.6% higher at AU than at Virginia Tech (about $21,007 more per year; $58,771.00 vs. $37,764.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at American University than at Virginia Tech (67% vs. 60%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by American University students is 296.5% larger than aid received by Virginia Tech students ($36,349 vs. $9,168).

AU vs. Virginia Tech Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at American University (1370) is the same as at Virginia Tech (1370).
  • Incoming AU students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 30) as students at Virginia Tech (30).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: American University 1280/1460; Virginia Tech 1280/1450.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: American University 29/32; Virginia Tech 28/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: AU - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional); Virginia Tech - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional).
  • Typical fall application deadline: AU Jan 15, 2027; Virginia Tech Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Virginia Tech students have a 0.27 point higher average high school GPA (3.97) than students at AU (3.7).
  • AU has a higher acceptance rate (62%) than Virginia Tech (54.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.6% at AU vs. 25.3% at Virginia Tech.

AU vs. Virginia Tech Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for AU and Virginia Tech? 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).

  • Virginia Tech's six-year graduation rate (82%) is higher than American University's (77%).
  • Graduates from Virginia Tech earn a median of about $200 more per year than AU graduates about ten years after starting college ($65,000 vs. $64,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Virginia Tech graduates have a $284 lower median loan debt than AU graduates ($23,966 vs. $24,250).
  • Among borrowers, Virginia Tech graduates have an estimated $3 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than AU graduates ($247 vs. $250).
  • More Virginia Tech graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AU students, three years after graduation. (81% 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.