Is American or Villanova harder to get into?

American is harder to get into than Villanova. American's 12.9% acceptance rate is lower than Villanova's 27.0%.

Which is cheaper, American or Villanova?

American costs less on average. After grants and scholarships, American's average net price is $40,815 vs $43,756 at Villanova.

Which has higher post-graduation earnings, American or Villanova?

American graduates earn more on average. Median earnings 10 years after entry are $103,494 at American and $100,423 at Villanova.

American vs. Villanova: Acceptance Rate, SAT, Cost & Outcomes Compared

Metric	American	Villanova
Acceptance rate	12.9%	27.0%
SAT mid-50%	1390–1550	1395–1510
ACT mid-50%	31–35	32–34
Cost of attendance	$88,741	$84,793
Avg net price (after aid)	$40,815	$43,756
Undergrad enrollment	7,569	6,938
6-yr graduation rate	94.8%	91.9%
Median earnings (10yr)	$103,494	$100,423
Setting	Washington, D.C.	Villanova, PA

The Real Differences

American is meaningfully harder to get into. A 14.1-percentage-point gap between 12.9% (American) and 27.0% (Villanova) reflects real selectivity differences. Villanova is the more realistic target for a balanced college list.

American draws stronger test scores. Mid-50% SAT range tops out at 1550 vs 1510 at the other school. Differences in test profile usually reflect a school's STEM-vs-humanities mix and the self-selection of applicants, not raw academic quality.

Geographic difference matters more than the campus tour suggests. American is in Washington, D.C.; Villanova is in Villanova, PA. Climate, cost-of-living, and proximity to job markets in your target field shape the four-year experience and post-grad pipeline more than most prospective students realize.

American has a more international student body (13.3% non-resident students vs 1.8%). For applicants who value global exposure or have international academic interests, that mix shows up in classroom culture and alumni network.

Student Body Composition

The two schools have different student body compositions. American is 59.0% women, 13.3% international, and 15.4% Asian-American. Villanova is 53.8% women, 1.8% international, and 6.7% Asian-American.

Demographic	American	Villanova
Women	59.0%	53.8%
International	13.3%	1.8%
White	46.1%	67.7%
Asian	15.4%	6.7%
Hispanic	5.9%	11.3%
Black	4.9%	6.5%

Personalized estimate

What are your odds at American vs. Villanova?

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The Verdict

Pick American if

Net price matters: American costs $2,941 less per year on average
Higher median post-grad earnings ($103,494 vs $100,423)
Higher 6-year graduation rate
its School of International Service and close ties to D.C. policy and journalism

Pick Villanova if

Your odds are realistic at Villanova (slightly easier admit)
Augustinian Catholic tradition

Headline numbers favor one school or the other on each axis, but neither is unambiguously “better.” The right answer depends on your major fit, geographic preference, financial need, and personal odds at each. Most applicants who get into one of these schools also get into the other.

Full School Pages

For complete admissions data, supplemental essay strategy, and class profile breakdowns:

Full profile

American University

12.9% accept · Washington, D.C.

Full profile

Villanova University

27.0% accept · Villanova, PA

Sources

U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard for acceptance rates, test ranges, financial aid, demographics, completion, and earnings.
IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) for the underlying federal data.
Each school's most recent published Common Data Set for cycle-specific admissions stats.

Last verified May 2026. Stats reflect each school's most recent publicly published admit cycle.

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