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.
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
Outcomes52
Value16
Affordability60
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 Schools that do not publish one are usually open-admission, but confirm with the admissions office before you assume it.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.
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.
$3,00010%percentile
$6,00025%percentile
$12,814Medianpercentile
$26,88275%percentile
$37,86190%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
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.
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
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
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.
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.
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.
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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