American University vs UDenver

American University and University of Denver, both esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. American University, nestled in the heart of Washington, D.C., boasts a diverse student body and a strong focus on public affairs and international studies. In contrast, University of Denver, located in the vibrant city of Denver, Colorado, emphasizes experiential learning and boasts a picturesque campus with stunning mountain views. While both universities share a commitment to academic excellence, they differ in acceptance rates, popular majors, student demographics, and graduation rates. Explore our comprehensive comparison table to discover which university aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
American University logo

American University

University of Denver logo

University of Denver

Overview

Location Washington, District of Columbia Denver, Colorado
Campus setting City: Large City: Large
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (Non Profit) Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system Semester Quarter
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% 63.6%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $75

Graduate: $61
Undergraduate: $65

Graduate: $65
SAT range 1280 - 1440 1200 - 1390
ACT range 29 - 33 27 - 31
Students submitting SAT score 28.0% 24.0%
Students submitting ACT score 18.0% 27.0%
Total number of applicants 19,650 22,694
Total number of admissions given out 12,594 14,440
Admitted students who chose to enroll 2,372 1,621
Yield rate 18.8% 11.2%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Required Required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $70,512 $73,514
Average net price $28,622 $39,973
Tuition $52,542 $53,640
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $10,096

Meal plan: $6,314
Room/dormitory: $9,262

Meal plan: $5,412
Available payment plans
  • Prepaid tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

64.0%
Average amount $27,332
98.0%
Average amount $31,672
Students receiving federal student loan 38.0%
Average amount $4,933
38.0%
Average amount $5,173
Students taking out private loans 4.0%
Average amount $25,877
5.0%
Average amount $21,978

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 8,463
Men 37.2% Women 62.8%
5,867
Men 44.8% Women 55.2%
Graduate students 6,389
Men 37.1% Women 62.9%
8,263
Men 33.8% Women 66.2%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Low
Out-of-state students N/A 71.9%
International students 10.6% 4.1%
Campus local/setting City: Large City: Large
Dormitory capacity 4,080 2,647
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from N/A Colorado California Illinois Texas Minnesota

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Business
  • Legal Profession
  • Social Sciences
  • Public Administration and Social Service
  • Education
  • Business
  • Public Administration and Social Service
  • Psychology
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Legal Profession
Students to faculty ratio 12:1 10:1
Institutional accreditation Middle States Commission on Higher Education Higher Learning Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 78.7% 75.7%
Dropout rate 20.9% 23.5%
Transferred out N/A N/A
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
Business/Commerce, General (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $87,503
  • Year 2: $86,129
  • Year 3: $98,717
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $66,126
  • Year 2: $69,338
  • Year 3: $86,073
Taxation (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $67,750
  • Year 2: $66,104
  • Year 3: $85,588
Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $62,915
  • Year 2: $64,493
  • Year 3: $78,170
Educational Administration and Supervision (Graduate/Professional Certificates)
  • Year 1: $70,020
  • Year 2: $72,667
  • Year 3: $77,585
Human Resources Management and Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $66,104
  • Year 3: $75,452
Law (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $57,899
  • Year 2: $60,704
  • Year 3: $73,790
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $74,139
  • Year 2: $73,949
  • Year 3: $73,641
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $60,983
  • Year 2: $62,632
  • Year 3: $73,152
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $62,647
  • Year 2: $65,905
  • Year 3: $72,754

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