Location
- American University
- Washington, DC
- Vanderbilt University
- Nashville, TN
American University vs Vanderbilt University
Washington, DC · Nashville, TN · largest Scorecard gap: acceptance rate
Scorecard match plate
Pair DC:TN
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 × TN
- 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.
- Vanderbilt University: acceptance rate tightened -50.7% across 2013–2023 (r² 0.81).
- 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.
- Vanderbilt University: enrollment grew +5.1% over 2013–2023; fitted +38 students/yr fitted, r² 0.82.
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
- Vanderbilt University
- 7,208
Acceptance Rate
- American University
- 62.0%
Avg Net Price
- American University
- $41,943
- Vanderbilt University
- $15,846
Median Debt at Graduation
- American University
- $22,750
- Vanderbilt University
- $14,000
150%-Time Completion
- American University
- 77.0%
- Vanderbilt University
- 93.1%
Median Earnings (6 yr)
- American University
- $61,328
- Vanderbilt University
- $73,909
Median Earnings (10 yr)
- American University
- $77,370
- Vanderbilt University
- $91,565
In-State Tuition
- American University
- $58,771
- Vanderbilt University
- $67,498
Out-of-State Tuition
- American University
- $58,771
- Vanderbilt University
- $67,498
Cards ordered by relative gap on this pair. Teal = better side.
| Metric | American University Washington, DC | Vanderbilt University Nashville, TN |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Washington, DC | Nashville, TN |
| Undergraduate Enrollment | 7,266 | 7,208 |
| Acceptance Rate | 62.0% | 5.9% |
| Avg Net Price | $41,943 | $15,846 |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $22,750 | $14,000 |
| 150%-Time Completion | 77.0% | 93.1% |
| Median Earnings (6 yr) | $61,328 | $73,909 |
| Median Earnings (10 yr) | $77,370 | $91,565 |
| In-State Tuition | $58,771 | $67,498 |
| Out-of-State Tuition | $58,771 | $67,498 |
Largest gaps: American University vs Vanderbilt University
- ACCEPTANCE-RATE Vanderbilt University leads on acceptance rate (5.9% vs 62.0% at American University)
- AVG-NET-PRICE Vanderbilt University leads on avg net price ($15,846 vs $41,943 at American University)
- MEDIAN-DEBT-AT-GRA Vanderbilt University leads on median debt at graduation ($14,000 vs $22,750 at American University)
American University profile · Vanderbilt University profile · Compare other colleges
Acceptance Rate and other Scorecard questions
On acceptance rate, who leads between American University and Vanderbilt University?▼
Vanderbilt University leads on acceptance rate at 5.9% versus 62.0% at American University. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
On avg net price, who leads between American University and Vanderbilt University?▼
Vanderbilt University leads on avg net price at $15,846 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 Vanderbilt University?▼
Vanderbilt 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