Private For-Profit Graduate Good 59/100

American National University

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Salem, Virginia

About American National University

Thinking about American National University, a college in Virginia where more students graduate in Health than anything else? The four things worth knowing are what it actually costs after aid, whether you would get in, whether students finish, and what they earn after they do.

American National University is a private for-profit institution offering graduate degrees based in Salem, Virginia. It enrolls 630 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Every figure on this page is reported by the federal government, not supplied by the college, so it can be compared like for like against anywhere else you are looking.

Acceptance
—
Graduation
24.9%
Net Price
$18,036
Median Earnings (10yr)
$26,370
Enrollment
630
Student : Faculty
11:1

Accreditor Distance Education Accrediting Commission
Academic Calendar Quarter

How It Measures Up

These four scores answer one question: compared with similar colleges, is this one worth the money? Each runs 0 to 100 and is judged only against its peer group (4-Year Open / Online), so a community college is never marked down for not being Harvard. Everything is computed from federal data. Nobody can pay to move a score, and a pillar with missing data is left unscored rather than guessed.

Good
59/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Open / Online
Outcomes 52
Value 16
Affordability 60
Selectivity —

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

American National University does not report an acceptance rate. Schools that do not publish one are usually open-admission, but confirm with the admissions office before you assume it.

Acceptance Rate
—
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported

Cost & Financial Aid

Ignore the sticker price. What matters is the net price, which is what a typical family pays here after grants and scholarships come off. At $18,036 a year on average, it sits below what private for-profit colleges charge nationally. That still leaves most families a gap to cover, but a manageable one. Figures are College Scorecard 2023-24.

The average hides a wide spread by household income, so it is worth estimating what a family at your income would actually pay before treating this as the price.

Average Net Price
$18,036
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
68%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
72%
Borrowing to attend

Full Cost Breakdown

Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.

Tuition & Fees
$10,961
Room & Board (off-campus)
$7,992
Books & Supplies
$882
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$6,688
Total Cost of Attendance
$25,159

Net Price by Family Income

Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.

  • Under $30,000
    $17,281
  • $30,001 – $48,000
    $15,465
  • $48,001 – $75,000
    $20,692
  • $75,001 – $110,000
    $16,699

Debt at Graduation

Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.

$3,000
10% percentile
$6,000
25% percentile
$12,814
Median percentile
$26,882
75% percentile
$37,861
90% percentile

Median Debt by Student Type

Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.

GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $7,361 ↓ $5,453
No Pell $9,500 ↓ $3,314
Dependent students $6,332 ↓ $6,482
Independent students $7,755 ↓ $5,059
Female students $7,828 ↓ $4,986
Male students $4,403 ↓ $8,411
Pell recipients: 17.0% (2,184 students)No Pell: 22.0% (2,819 students)Dependent students: 14.7% (1,879 students)Independent students: 18.0% (2,301 students)Female students: 18.1% (2,323 students)Male students: 10.2% (1,307 students)Overall Median$12,814
Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,375, less than completers ($12,814), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

25% of students who start here finish within six years, and 69% come back after first year. Most students who start here do not finish. That is the single most important number on this page. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.

Completion and earnings carry the most weight in this college's score, and how the UCD Score weighs each measure sets out exactly how they are combined.

6-Year Graduation Rate
25%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
69%
Returning for their second year
What this means: Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

Ten years after starting here, the median student earns $26,370 a year, below the national median. Weigh that against the cost above before taking on debt here. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$26,370
Earning > $25K
43%
10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

$23,500$24,500$25,000$26,000$27,0006 yrs8 yrs10 yrs

Earnings by Demographic

Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.

By Gender

Female graduates
$22,000

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates
$28,500

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.


By Family Income at Entry

Family income (lowest third)
$21,000

Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (middle third)
$27,700

Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (highest third)
$29,400

Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $6,500, about 23% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.

Loan Repayment Progression

Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.

Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑ 18.1 pts across 6 years
15.5%1yr23.9%3yr28.9%5yr33.6%7yr
What this signals: Concerning. Only 34% of graduates are actively reducing principal even seven years out.

Who Studies Here

Who you would actually be sitting next to: 630 students, a small, close-knit community. Worth knowing: 59% are the first in their family to go to college, and 51% study part-time, so many are working alongside classes.

Total Enrolled
630
Part-Time
51%
First-Generation
59%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents
White 40.3% 254
Black 36.0% 227
Asian 15.1% 95
Other 5.9% 37
Hispanic 2.2% 14
White: 40.3% (254 students)Black: 36.0% (227 students)Asian: 15.1% (95 students)Other: 5.9% (37 students)Hispanic: 2.2% (14 students)Total630

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at American National University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting
Midsize Suburb Salem, Virginia
Housing
Commuter campus No on-campus housing
Adult Learners
88% of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIA athletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Quarter scheduling structure

What You Can Study

After that comes the national picture for Business graduates, which shows what the field pays across every college rather than just this one.

American National University offers a varied set of programs: 19 distinct programs across 5 majors. Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings. Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.

8 Programs
7 Programs
1 Program
2 Programs

Faculty & Resources

There are 11 students for every instructor here: about average, so expect a mix of small seminars and big lectures.

Student : Faculty
11:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Avg Faculty Salary
$34,692
9-month equivalent across all ranks

Pros & Cons of American National University

No college is right for everyone. Here is where American National University is likely to suit you and where it may not, based on the same figures shown above.

Read against a single profile these cut both ways, which is why it helps to put two colleges side by side on the same measures rather than judging one in isolation.

PROS
  • Below-average net price
  • Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
  • Tight-knit, close community feel
  • Wide reach of need-based federal aid
  • First-gen-friendly student body
  • Flexible part-time enrollment options
CONS
  • Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
  • Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
  • First-year retention is below typical
  • Below-average post-graduation earnings
  • Most students take on federal loans
Best for: Based on the data, American National University is a fit for working adults or students needing part-time study options; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.

Frequently Asked Questions about American National University

The questions families ask most about American National University, answered straight from the federal data rather than from the college's own marketing.

How much does American National University cost?
Budget around $18,036 a year. That is the net price, what families typically pay once grants and scholarships come off, not the sticker price. Your own figure depends on household income, so treat this as a midpoint rather than a quote. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is American National University worth it?
On the numbers, yes: moderate return on investment. Ten years in, the median graduate earns $26,370 a year against a net price of $18,036, about 1.5 dollars of earnings for every dollar of annual cost. That ratio ignores whether you finish and what you study, which matter just as much. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is American National University known for?
Mostly Health Administration, Business Administration, Health Administration. Those are the fields where it awards the most degrees, which is a better guide to where the teaching strength sits than any reputation ranking. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
What do American National University graduates earn?
About $26,370 a year, measured ten years after students first enrolled. Half earn more and half earn less, and what you study moves that figure far more than where you study. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is American National University accredited?
Yes. American National University is accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission.
How many students attend American National University?
630 students. Small enough that you will recognize faces across campus, and small enough that course choice can be limited. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
What is the graduation rate at American National University?
25% finish within six years. That means most students do not finish in six years. Ask the school directly what support exists for students who fall behind. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
Is American National University a public or private college?
It is Private For-Profit. Private for-profit, so compare completion and earnings carefully against a public alternative.
Where is American National University located?
American National University is located in Salem, Virginia.
What programs does American National University offer?
19 different programs, most commonly Health Administration, Business Administration, Health Administration. If the subject you want is not among them, check the full list before applying rather than assuming it is offered.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at American National University?
11 students per instructor. Low enough that staff are likely to know who you are. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.

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