Location
- American University
- Washington, DC
- Harvard University
- Cambridge, MA
American University vs Harvard University
Washington, DC · Cambridge, MA · largest Scorecard gap: acceptance rate
Scorecard match plate
Pair DC:MA
PRIVATE-NP-PAIR · CROSS-STATE · ACCEPT-SPLIT · NET-SPLIT · EARN-SPLIT · DEBT-SPLIT · COMPLETE-HIGH · GAP-ACCEPT
- PRIVATE-NP-PAIR Private nonprofit pair
- CROSS-STATE DC × MA
- ACCEPT-SPLIT Admission split
- NET-SPLIT Net-price split
- EARN-SPLIT Earnings split
- DEBT-SPLIT Debt split
- COMPLETE-HIGH High completion
- GAP-ACCEPT Largest gap · Acceptance Rate
Instrument codes from this pair's College Scorecard ownership, geography, acceptance, net price, earnings, debt, and completion, plus the ADM-ASYM · 2013–2023 decade-path stamp below, not a ranking or recommendation.
Decade path · College Scorecard
Selectivity moved on only one side of this board
ADM-ASYM · 2013–2023
Over 2013–2023, one school's acceptance-rate series clears the r² ≥ 0.40 floor while the other does not. Read the directional claim as one-sided, then check the companion metric below.
- Harvard University: acceptance rate tightened -40.9% across 2013–2023 (r² 0.89).
- American University: acceptance-rate path 2013–2023 stays non-directional here (r² 0.12).
- American University: enrollment grew +11.2% over 2013–2023; fitted +85 students/yr fitted, r² 0.68.
- Harvard University: enrollment ranged 6,099–7,973 (2013–2023, 11 points) without a stable fitted direction.
College Scorecard institution series; dollars are nominal. Direction claims require r² ≥ 0.40 on the fitted annual slope, otherwise the page reports the observed range. Descriptive history, not a recommendation.
Scorecard metrics
Undergraduate Enrollment
- American University
- 7,266
- Harvard University
- 7,601
Acceptance Rate
- American University
- 62.0%
- Harvard University
- 3.6%
Avg Net Price
- American University
- $41,943
- Harvard University
- $19,066
Median Debt at Graduation
- American University
- $22,750
- Harvard University
- $14,000
Median Earnings (6 yr)
- American University
- $61,328
- Harvard University
- $99,572
Median Earnings (10 yr)
- American University
- $77,370
- Harvard University
- $101,817
150%-Time Completion
- American University
- 77.0%
- Harvard University
- 97.5%
SAT Average
- American University
- 1,381
- Harvard University
- 1,553
Retention Rate
- American University
- 88.2%
- Harvard University
- 98.3%
Cards ordered by relative gap on this pair. Teal = better side.
| Metric | American University Washington, DC | Harvard University Cambridge, MA |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Washington, DC | Cambridge, MA |
| Undergraduate Enrollment | 7,266 | 7,601 |
| Acceptance Rate | 62.0% | 3.6% |
| Avg Net Price | $41,943 | $19,066 |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $22,750 | $14,000 |
| Median Earnings (6 yr) | $61,328 | $99,572 |
| Median Earnings (10 yr) | $77,370 | $101,817 |
| 150%-Time Completion | 77.0% | 97.5% |
| SAT Average | 1,381 | 1,553 |
| Retention Rate | 88.2% | 98.3% |
Largest gaps: American University vs Harvard University
- ACCEPTANCE-RATE Harvard University leads on acceptance rate (3.6% vs 62.0% at American University)
- AVG-NET-PRICE Harvard University leads on avg net price ($19,066 vs $41,943 at American University)
- MEDIAN-DEBT-AT-GRA Harvard University leads on median debt at graduation ($14,000 vs $22,750 at American University)
American University profile · Harvard University profile · Compare other colleges
Also on the Scorecard board
Acceptance Rate and other Scorecard questions
On acceptance rate, who leads between American University and Harvard University?▼
Harvard University leads on acceptance rate at 3.6% versus 62.0% at American University. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
On avg net price, who leads between American University and Harvard University?▼
Harvard University leads on avg net price at $19,066 versus $41,943 at American University. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
On median debt at graduation, who leads between American University and Harvard University?▼
Harvard University leads on median debt at graduation at $14,000 versus $22,750 at American University. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard College Scorecard institution outcomes (earnings, completion, debt); acceptance rate focus for this pair · 2025