American University vs U of A

American University and University of Arizona, both esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. American University, nestled in the heart of Washington, D.C., boasts a highly selective admissions process with an acceptance rate of 35%, while the University of Arizona, located in the vibrant city of Tucson, welcomes a broader range of students with an acceptance rate of 80%. While American University excels in international relations, public affairs, and journalism, the University of Arizona shines in fields like engineering, business, and agriculture. Explore the detailed comparison table to discover more about the student body demographics, graduation rates, and other key differences between these two exceptional universities, and make an informed decision that aligns with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
American University logo

American University

University of Arizona logo

University of Arizona

Overview

Location Washington, District of Columbia Tucson, Arizona
Campus setting City: Large City: Large
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (Non Profit) Public
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 90.0% 84.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation Methodism

Admission

Acceptance rate 64.1% 87.3%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $75

Graduate: $61
Undergraduate: $50

Graduate: $85
SAT range 1280 - 1440 1120 - 1370
ACT range 29 - 33 21 - 29
Students submitting SAT score 28.0% 13.0%
Students submitting ACT score 18.0% 19.0%
Total number of applicants 19,650 48,065
Total number of admissions given out 12,594 41,946
Admitted students who chose to enroll 2,372 8,436
Yield rate 18.8% 20.1%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Not required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $70,512
In state: $30,136

Out of state: $54,658
Average net price $28,622 $17,242
Tuition $52,542
In state: $11,299

Out of state: $35,821
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $10,096

Meal plan: $6,314
Room/dormitory: $8,400

Meal plan: $5,050
Available payment plans
  • Prepaid tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Guaranteed tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

64.0%
Average amount $27,332
92.0%
Average amount $13,790
Students receiving federal student loan 38.0%
Average amount $4,933
24.0%
Average amount $4,845
Students taking out private loans 4.0%
Average amount $25,877
3.0%
Average amount $20,814

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 8,463
Men 37.2% Women 62.8%
37,434
Men 44.3% Women 55.7%
Graduate students 6,389
Men 37.1% Women 62.9%
10,840
Men 44.5% Women 55.5%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Moderate
Out-of-state students N/A 48.8%
International students 10.6% 6.5%
Campus local/setting City: Large City: Large
Dormitory capacity 4,080 7,036
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from N/A Arizona California Washington Illinois Colorado

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Business
  • Legal Profession
  • Social Sciences
  • Public Administration and Social Service
  • Education
  • Health Professions
  • Business
  • Engineering
  • Education
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Students to faculty ratio 12:1 17:1
Institutional accreditation Middle States Commission on Higher Education Higher Learning Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 78.7% 64.3%
Dropout rate 20.9% 14.3%
Transferred out N/A 19.6%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Taxation (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $93,187
  • Year 2: $97,907
  • Year 3: $111,993
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $89,205
  • Year 2: $99,458
  • Year 3: $107,216
Economics (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $62,457
  • Year 2: $69,338
  • Year 3: $93,099
Public Administration (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $69,734
  • Year 2: $74,953
  • Year 3: $85,544
Public Policy Analysis (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $59,308
  • Year 2: $60,771
  • Year 3: $80,276
Law (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $60,267
  • Year 2: $63,203
  • Year 3: $78,002
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $61,356
  • Year 2: $69,338
  • Year 3: $76,697
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $66,014
  • Year 3: $76,448
International Relations and National Security Studies (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $59,460
  • Year 2: $63,692
  • Year 3: $73,342
Curriculum and Instruction (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $63,600
  • Year 3: $72,861
Physics (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $88,673
  • Year 2: $123,527
  • Year 3: $127,192
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $110,426
  • Year 2: $117,473
  • Year 3: $122,962
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $110,630
  • Year 2: $103,746
  • Year 3: $104,908
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $100,116
  • Year 2: $83,388
  • Year 3: $98,461
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $91,677
  • Year 2: $92,743
  • Year 3: $98,271
Chemistry (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $84,653
  • Year 3: $96,308
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $89,806
  • Year 2: $75,518
  • Year 3: $89,884
Mining and Mineral Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $76,657
  • Year 2: $73,035
  • Year 3: $87,557
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $72,627
  • Year 2: $79,199
  • Year 3: $86,387
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $77,284
  • Year 2: $74,953
  • Year 3: $83,742

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