Washington, District of Columbia · Private Non-Profit ·City
American University
At a glance
Basics
- Type
- Private Non-Profit
- Setting
- City
- Enrollment
- 7,266 students
- Women / Men
- 62.4% / 37.6%
Admissions
- Acceptance rate
- 62%
- SAT (mid 50%)
- 1280–1460
- ACT (mid 50%)
- 29–32
Cost
- Avg net price
- $41,943
- Sticker price
- $76,058
- Tuition (in-state)
- $58,771
- Tuition (out-of-state)
- $58,771
Outcomes
- Graduation rate
- 75.5%
- Retention rate
- 88.2%
- Median earnings (10y)
- $77,370
- Median debt
- $22,750 (~$247/mo)
Financial aid
- On Pell grants
- 13.9%
- Take federal loans
- 38%
All majors at American University
83 programs listed in federal data. Every row opens a school-specific page; listings without a positive program signal stay available for users but out of Google's index.
Cost & ROI
Is American University worth it?
Pay $41,943/yr after aid. Graduates earn a median of $77,370 ten years out — about 1.8× the annual cost. Value grade: D.
- Avg net price
- $41,943/yr
- Median earnings
- $77,370/yr (10y out)
- Median debt
- $22,750~$247/mo
- 4-year est. cost
- $167,772net of aid
Frequently asked questions
What is American University's acceptance rate?
American University admits 62% of applicants — accessible on admissions, compared to the national average of 72.3%. Most admitted students score in the 1280–1460 range on the SAT.
How much does American University cost per year?
The average annual net price — what students actually pay after grants and scholarships — is $41,943. The sticker price before any aid is $76,058, so most students receive substantial discounts. Over four years that net cost adds up to roughly $167,772.
How much debt do American University graduates have?
Graduates leave American University with a median federal student loan balance of $22,750, which works out to about $247 per month on a standard 10-year repayment plan. About 38% of students take federal loans.
Is American University worth the cost?
Ten years after enrolling, American University graduates earn a median of $77,370 per year (national median: $50,834). That's about 1.8× the annual net price. EduGradify assigns American University a value grade of D.
What SAT score do you need for American University?
Admitted students score 1280–1460 on the SAT (middle 50% range, out of 1600). That means a quarter of admits scored above the high end of that range, and a quarter scored below it.
What is the graduation rate at American University?
75.5% of full-time undergraduates graduate from American University within six years of enrolling — national average is 49.9%. First-year retention is 88.2%.
What are the most popular majors at American University?
83 programs are listed in federal data; 77 have positive share data. The largest reported major at American University is International Relations and National Security Studies (16.6%), followed by Business Administration, Management and Operations (7.5%).
What percent of American University students receive financial aid?
13.9% of American University students receive a federal Pell Grant — the main need-based federal aid program. 38% take federal student loans.
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