American University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Washington, District of Columbia. It enrolls 7,266 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorMiddle States Commission on Higher Education
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
63/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes83
Value14
Affordability5
Selectivity81
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 62%, American University is moderately selective.
Acceptance Rate
62%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1280 – 1460
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
29 – 32
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether American University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
11.3 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending American University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $41,943 per year. That's above the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$41,943
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
14%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
38%
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
$58,771
Room & Board (on-campus)
$17,982
Room & Board (off-campus)
$19,336
Books & Supplies
$1,000
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$1,618
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,266
Total Cost of Attendance
$76,058
Application fee: $75 (one-time, due at submission)
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
$23,233
$30,001 – $48,000
$20,444
$48,001 – $75,000
$26,035
$75,001 – $110,000
$30,063
Over $110,000
$53,673
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.
$5,50010%percentile
$10,75025%percentile
$22,750Medianpercentile
$27,00075%percentile
$33,00090%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 $19,500
↓ $3,250
No Pell $19,500
↓ $3,250
Dependent students $19,500
↓ $3,250
Independent students $16,332
↓ $6,418
Female students $19,500
↓ $3,250
Male students $19,500
↓ $3,250
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,750, less than completers ($22,750), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
78% of full-time students who enrolled at American University graduate within six years, and 87% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
78%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
87%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Strong completion signals. Most students who start, finish.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered American University earn a median of $77,370 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$77,370
Earning > $25K
88%
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
$64,400
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$74,000
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$60,500
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$69,700
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$69,000
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $9,600, about 13% 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 ↑
7.3 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 89% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
American University is home to 7,266 students, a large student community.
Total Enrolled
7,266
Part-Time
3%
First-Generation
16%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 56.0%4,068
Hispanic 14.0%1,014
Black 8.2%597
Asian 7.4%539
Other 6.0%434
International 5.3%382
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at American University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large CityWashington, District of Columbia
Housing
Mostly residential4,246 beds on campus
Adult Learners
1%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
American University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
124 distinct programs across
24 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.
The student-to-faculty ratio at American University is 10:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).
Student : Faculty
10:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$1.5B
Strong financial cushion supports aid and stability
Avg Faculty Salary
$119,380
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
846 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
196
23%
$177,971
Associate Professors
176
21%
$122,745
Assistant Professors
117
14%
$114,852
Instructors
357
42%
$87,038
Pros & Cons of American University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how American University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Strong six-year graduation rate
Strong first-year retention
Above-average post-graduation earnings
CONS
High net price compared to most US colleges
Very high published cost of attendance (full-pay families pay much more than the net-price average)
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Best for:
Based on the data, American University is a fit for
students prioritizing post-graduation earnings.
Frequently Asked Questions about American University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about American University.
Is American University hard to get into?
Admissions at American University are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 62%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at American University?
American University has an acceptance rate of 62%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for American University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at American University scored between 1280 and 1460 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for American University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at American University scored between 29 and 32 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does American University cost?
The average net price after aid at American University is $41,943 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is American University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $77,370 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $41,943 per year. That's roughly 1.8x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is American University known for?
American University is best known for its programs in International Relations, International Relations, Law. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do American University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering American University are $77,370, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is American University accredited?
Yes. American University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
How many students attend American University?
American University enrolls 7,266 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at American University?
American University graduates 78% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is American University a public or private college?
American University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is American University located?
American University is located in Washington, District of Columbia.
What programs does American University offer?
American University offers 124 distinct programs. The most popular include International Relations, International Relations, Law.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at American University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at American University is 10:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in District of Columbia
Other colleges in District of Columbia share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
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Original data analyses built on the same federal data as this profile. Rankings, outliers, and patterns, no opinions.
American Colleges by the Numbers
One federal dataset, 3,839 colleges. The median school costs $16,371 a year, admits 78% of applicants, and enrolls 1,259 students. The shape of US higher ed.
Higher education data
Net price
College enrollment
Acceptance rate
College ownership
Do Selective Schools Actually Graduate More Students?
Across 1,645 four-year colleges, graduation rates climb steadily with selectivity, from 54% at open-admission schools to 93% at the most exclusive. The gap is real.
Graduation rate
Acceptance rate
Selectivity
Completion
College outcomes
For-Profit Colleges Charge the Most and Pay the Least
For-profit colleges post the highest median net price of any sector and the lowest graduate earnings. They cost more than private nonprofits and pay less than publics.
For-profit colleges
Net price
Earnings
College ROI
College ownership
Rankings That Feature American University
American University appears in these rankings, built from the same federal data and the UCD Score.
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$109,183 Top Earn
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