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American University

American University is a private campus in Washington proper — federal locale codes class it as urban. The school reports a United Methodist affiliation in its federal filings.

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What could it cost?

Start with net price after grants, then read the published costs. Each chart names its academic year and the students it covers.

Net price by family income

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Average annual cost after grants for each family-income band. These group averages are not personal price quotes.

IPEDS Income brackets, 2022–23

family-income band

$21,176

family income
under $30k

$18,630

$30–48k

$23,477

$48–75k

$34,587

$75–110k

$53,257

over $110k

These figures don't always rise with income — aid formulas can make a higher bracket cheaper.

Average net price

$41,9432023–24Skip to data table

Average annual attendance cost after grants for the reported student group. Your own aid offer and costs may differ.

Average net price at American University has wandered from 2008 to 2023 — up to $43,451 at the peak — but ends near where it began, at $41,943.

Average net price — data
Year	Net price
2008	$40,345
2009	$31,112
2010	$33,773
2011	$31,530
2012	$33,437
2013	$36,074
2014	$36,480
2015	$35,325
2016	$36,567
2017	$34,617
2018	$43,451
2019	$40,088
2020	$28,037
2021	$43,412
2022	$41,945
2023	$41,943

IPEDS 16 federal reports, 2008–2023

Total cost of attendance

$76,0582024–25Skip to data table

Estimated annual attendance budget before grants, including tuition, fees, housing, food and books. Not every expense is billed by the school.

Total cost at American University rose from $47,568 (2009) to $76,058 (2024).

Total cost of attendance — data
Year	Cost
2009	$47,568
2010	$49,747
2011	$51,935
2012	$53,531
2013	$55,159
2014	$56,620
2015	$58,965
2016	$60,501
2017	$62,162
2018	$64,040
2019	$66,022
2020	$66,416
2021	$56,065
2022	$68,494
2023	$71,549
2024	$76,058

IPEDS Academic-year cost 2009–2024

Tuition & fees

Skip to data table

Published tuition and fees before grants. Housing, food, books and other attendance costs are separate.

Tuition & fees — data
Year	Tuition & fees
2000	$21,399
2001	$22,116
2002	$23,068
2003	$24,452
2004	$25,920
2005	$27,552
2006	$29,206
2007	$31,425
2008	$33,283
2013	$40,649
2014	$41,833
2015	$43,103
2016	$44,853
2017	$46,615
2018	$48,459
2019	$49,889
2020	$51,361
2021	$53,334
2022	$53,889
2023	$56,543

IPEDS Published price 2000–01 to 2023–24 (not adjusted for inflation)

Cost, size & completion summary

Cost, size & completion

Reported tuition is $58,771 before grants and other attendance costs. At American University, aid and other costs change the bill. Scorecard snapshot: 2026-06-10; historical charts show their own years.

At 7,266 undergrads, American University is a mid-sized campus by U.S. standards.

75.5% of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants completed at American University within six years (2026-06-10 release). This measure excludes other student groups.

Do students finish — and what comes after?

Graduation, debt and earnings cover different groups. Read each chart's entering class or fiscal period; they are not one group's journey.

Six-year graduation rate

key chart

75.5%entered Fall 2018Skip to data table

The share of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants who completed at this institution within six years. Other students are not included.

The six-year graduation rate at American University has wandered from Fall 1991 to Fall 2018 entering cohorts — up to 81.7% at the peak — but ends near where it began, at 75.5%.

A six-year rate can only describe a class that entered six or more years ago — by definition the last point on the line is that old.

Six-year graduation rate — data
Year	Graduated within 6 yrs
1991 cohort	69.9%
1992 cohort	67.2%
1993 cohort	68.5%
1994 cohort	70.3%
1995 cohort	70.7%
1996 cohort	65.8%
1997 cohort	71.3%
1998 cohort	72.7%
1999 cohort	70.5%
2000 cohort	70.5%
2001 cohort	73%
2002 cohort	75.5%
2003 cohort	77.2%
2004 cohort	79.3%
2005 cohort	77.2%
2006 cohort	76.8%
2007 cohort	79.9%
2008 cohort	81.7%
2009 cohort	81.2%
2010 cohort	81.2%
2011 cohort	79.2%
2012 cohort	79.8%
2013 cohort	78.8%
2014 cohort	79.1%
2015 cohort	78.7%
2016 cohort	79.4%
2017 cohort	78.5%
2018 cohort	75.5%

IPEDS Entering cohorts 1991–2018

Median debt at exit (completers vs non-completers)

Historical student groups

key chart

Skip to data table

Median federal student loan debt when students left school, shown separately for those who completed and those who did not.

CompletedLeft without degree

Each point combines two years. Neighboring points share one year, so changes should be read with that overlap in mind.

These two-year windows closed before today's students borrowed — they describe past cohorts, not the current price of a degree.

Median debt at exit — data
Year	Completed	Left without degree
Left school in fiscal years 1997 and 1998 (FY1997/98)	$16,250	$10,371
Left school in fiscal years 1998 and 1999 (FY1998/99)	$16,250	$11,000
Left school in fiscal years 1999 and 2000 (FY1999/00)	—	$12,271
Left school in fiscal years 2000 and 2001 (FY2000/01)	$15,982	$10,375
Left school in fiscal years 2001 and 2002 (FY2001/02)	$15,750	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2002 and 2003 (FY2002/03)	$15,125	$3,938
Left school in fiscal years 2003 and 2004 (FY2003/04)	$14,381	$3,500
Left school in fiscal years 2004 and 2005 (FY2004/05)	$14,375	$4,375
Left school in fiscal years 2005 and 2006 (FY2005/06)	$14,375	$3,938
Left school in fiscal years 2006 and 2007 (FY2006/07)	$14,500	$3,500
Left school in fiscal years 2007 and 2008 (FY2007/08)	$14,500	$4,375
Left school in fiscal years 2008 and 2009 (FY2008/09)	$15,625	$6,304
Left school in fiscal years 2009 and 2010 (FY2009/10)	$17,859	$8,897
Left school in fiscal years 2010 and 2011 (FY2010/11)	$20,500	$9,250
Left school in fiscal years 2011 and 2012 (FY2011/12)	$21,250	$8,250
Left school in fiscal years 2012 and 2013 (FY2012/13)	$22,375	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2013 and 2014 (FY2013/14)	$23,250	$6,500
Left school in fiscal years 2014 and 2015 (FY2014/15)	$24,250	$6,625
Left school in fiscal years 2015 and 2016 (FY2015/16)	$24,250	$7,000
Left school in fiscal years 2016 and 2017 (FY2016/17)	$23,250	$8,500
Left school in fiscal years 2017 and 2018 (FY2017/18)	$23,288	$8,250
Left school in fiscal years 2018 and 2019 (FY2018/19)	$23,999	$8,750
Left school in fiscal years 2019 and 2020 (FY2019/20)	$23,250	$8,000
Left school in fiscal years 2020 and 2021 (FY2020/21)	$22,750	$8,750

NSLDS GRAD_DEBT_MDN / WDRAW_DEBT_MDN, merged FY periods · via College Scorecard

Earnings after entry

Historical student groups

Median annual earnings after entering college, for federally aided students who were working and not enrolled when measured.

Entered: academic years 2013–14 or 2014–15

$61,328

6 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2011–12 or 2012–13

$70,443

8 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2009–10 or 2010–11

$77,370

10 years after entry

Each figure covers a different group of students who entered college in the stated years. Earnings were measured in the same two years; these are not one group followed over time.

Measured in 2020–21, adjusted for inflation to 2022 dollars. Each figure pools two entering academic years.

Treasury Pooled entering cohorts · Scorecard 2020–21 historical file

What does the admissions record show?

Rates and score ranges describe a past admissions cycle. Submitted scores are not cutoffs or a prediction of admission.

Admissions snapshot & test policies

American University admitted 10,640 of 17,173 applicants in Fall 2024. The 62% rate describes that application pool.

62%

acceptance rate · Fall 2024 admissions cycle

rate trend $56,543 tuition · 2023–24 7,266 undergraduates · Fall 2024

Test-optional (considered) · Fall 2024

400SAT range (section 25th/75th sums): 1280–14601600

Not sure where you stand? Estimate your GPA →

Admissions

In the Fall 2024 cycle, American University received 17,173 applications and admitted 10,640 (62%), with 1,662 enrolling.

American University reported scores as considered but not required for the Fall 2024 admissions cycle. For American University’s enrolled SAT submitters, Reading and Writing was 660–740 and Math was 620–720 (25th–75th percentiles). The section-percentile sums 1280–1460 are not composite-score percentiles. These are not admission cutoffs.

Check current requirements with admissions.

Score	25th	50th	75th
SAT Reading & Writing	660	700	740
SAT Math	620	670	720
ACT Composite	29	31	32

25th / 75th: a quarter of enrolled submitters scored below the first number, a quarter above the second. These are not cutoffs.

Only students who submitted scores are counted — at test-optional schools, many enrolled students aren't in this table.

Percentiles are among enrolled students who submitted scores (Fall 2024 admissions cycle).

Acceptance rate

62%Fall 2024Skip to data table

The share of applicants offered a spot — lower means more selective; read it alongside the score ranges below.

Acceptance rate — data
Year	Acceptance rate
Fall 2001	68.1%
Fall 2002	63.4%
Fall 2003	59.8%
Fall 2004	53.2%
Fall 2005	51.3%
Fall 2006	53.5%
Fall 2007	53.2%
Fall 2008	52.9%
Fall 2009	53.2%
Fall 2010	43.5%
Fall 2011	41.6%
Fall 2012	44.2%
Fall 2013	43.1%
Fall 2014	45.8%
Fall 2015	35%
Fall 2016	25.9%
Fall 2017	29.4%
Fall 2018	31.5%
Fall 2019	36.1%
Fall 2020	38.6%
Fall 2021	64.1%
Fall 2022	40.6%
Fall 2023	47.4%
Fall 2024	62%

IPEDS Fall cycles 2001–2024

SAT range (section sums, 25th–75th)

1280–1460Fall 2024 · submittersSkip to data table

Sums of the reading/writing and math percentiles among enrolled submitters — not percentiles of total SAT scores or admission cutoffs.

SAT range (section sums) — data
Year	25th	75th
Fall 2001	1110	1310
Fall 2002	1110	1320
Fall 2003	1130	1320
Fall 2004	1150	1350
Fall 2005	1180	1360
Fall 2006	1170	1370
Fall 2007	1170	1360
Fall 2008	1150	1370
Fall 2009	1170	1370
Fall 2010	1170	1390
Fall 2011	1170	1370
Fall 2012	1160	1360
Fall 2013	1160	1350
Fall 2014	1150	1340
Fall 2015	1150	1340
Fall 2016	1150	1340
Fall 2017	1180	1350
Fall 2018	1220	1380
Fall 2019	1210	1390
Fall 2020	1220	1390
Fall 2021	1280	1440
Fall 2022	1290	1430
Fall 2023	1300	1450
Fall 2024	1280	1460

IPEDS Fall 2001–2024, submitters only

ACT middle 50%

29–32Fall 2024 · submittersSkip to data table

The middle half of enrolled ACT submitters, using published composite-score percentiles — not admission cutoffs.

ACT middle 50% — data
Year	25th	75th
Fall 2002	24	29
Fall 2003	25	29
Fall 2004	25	29
Fall 2005	26	30
Fall 2006	25	30
Fall 2007	25	30
Fall 2008	25	30
Fall 2009	26	30
Fall 2010	26	31
Fall 2011	26	30
Fall 2012	26	31
Fall 2013	26	30
Fall 2014	26	30
Fall 2015	26	30
Fall 2016	26	31
Fall 2017	26	30
Fall 2018	27	31
Fall 2019	27	31
Fall 2020	27	32
Fall 2021	29	33
Fall 2022	29	32
Fall 2023	29	33
Fall 2024	29	32

IPEDS Fall 2002–2024, submitters only

What is the campus like?

Enrollment counts a campus population; retention follows first-years returning. Their dates and populations are shown separately.

Undergraduate enrollment

7,266Fall 2024Skip to data table

Reported undergraduate enrollment. This count does not measure class size or teaching access.

Undergraduate enrollment at American University rose from 5,664 (Fall 2002) to 7,266 (Fall 2024).

Undergraduate enrollment — data
Year	Undergraduates
Fall 2002	5,664
Fall 2003	5,632
Fall 2004	5,731
Fall 2005	5,788
Fall 2006	5,871
Fall 2007	5,823
Fall 2008	6,028
Fall 2009	6,430
Fall 2010	6,665
Fall 2011	6,793
Fall 2012	6,784
Fall 2013	6,829
Fall 2014	7,094
Fall 2015	7,300
Fall 2016	7,276
Fall 2017	7,433
Fall 2018	7,485
Fall 2019	7,659
Fall 2020	7,510
Fall 2021	8,158
Fall 2022	7,669
Fall 2023	7,593
Fall 2024	7,266

IPEDS Fall headcounts 2002–2024

First-year retention (full-time)

88%Fall 2023 cohortSkip to data table

The share of the reported first-time student group who returned the following year. This rate does not explain why others left.

First-year retention at American University has held near 88% from Fall 2002 to Fall 2023.

First-year retention — data
Year	Retention
Fall 2002 cohort	86%
Fall 2003 cohort	87%
Fall 2004 cohort	89%
Fall 2005 cohort	87%
Fall 2006 cohort	86%
Fall 2007 cohort	88%
Fall 2008 cohort	90%
Fall 2009 cohort	91%
Fall 2010 cohort	90%
Fall 2011 cohort	90%
Fall 2012 cohort	88%
Fall 2013 cohort	89%
Fall 2014 cohort	88%
Fall 2015 cohort	90%
Fall 2016 cohort	90%
Fall 2017 cohort	88%
Fall 2018 cohort	87%
Fall 2019 cohort	85%
Fall 2020 cohort	90%
Fall 2021 cohort	86%
Fall 2022 cohort	86%
Fall 2023 cohort	88%

IPEDS Full-time cohorts 2002–2023

More about American University

13.9% of American University's undergraduates carry Pell grants — the standard federal marker of lower-income enrollment. Carnegie classes American University as a primarily residential campus of 7,266 undergraduates — and 88.2% of the reported first-time, full-time student group returned for a second year.

American University's SAT section-percentile sums are 1280–1460 — their midpoint is near the DC four-year benchmark. These are not total-score percentiles. Put your own practice estimate on American University's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.

Why some charts are marked “key chart”

key chart

Start with three useful questions: what costs were reported for families in your income band, how many first-time full-time students finished, and what federal debt borrowers held when leaving.

How American University compares

State and national medians cover active bachelor-primary institutions, mixing public and private schools. Tuition uses in-state rates at public schools. These are broad reference points, not a ranking of similar schools or your likely bill.

Scorecard dates identify the release snapshot, not a shared measurement year. Earnings describe federally aided students who were working and not enrolled ten years after entry; cohorts and populations differ from the admissions and tuition figures.

Acceptance rate

Fall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS

American University62%

District of Columbia median58.1%

National median76.8%

Tuition

Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid

American University$58,771

District of Columbia median$31,210

National median$19,591

Median earnings (10 yr)

Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot

American University's snapshot: calendar years and dollar basis unverified.

American University$77,370

District of Columbia median$63,066

National median$53,781

View comparison data & dates

American University, District of Columbia and national reference values
Metric & basis	American University	District of Columbia median	National median
Acceptance rateFall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS	62%	58.1%	76.8%
TuitionScorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid	$58,771	$31,210	$19,591
Median earnings (10 yr)Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot	$77,370	$63,066	$53,781

Published earnings by bachelor's field of study

For American University, these are federal subject groups (CIP), not departments. Median is the middle annual income.

American University federal-aid recipients · graduated 2017–18 or 2018–19 · income measured 2022 or 2023 · inflation-adjusted to 2024 dollars. Definitions and limits.

View 23 fields & earnings

Bachelor's field of study (CIP category)	Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion
Finance and Financial Management Services	$134,332
Accounting and Related Services	$119,020
Computer Science	$117,293
Business Administration, Management and Operations	$88,359
Economics	$85,016
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication	$78,410
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other	$76,552
Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians	$75,461
International Relations and National Security Studies	$73,865
Political Science and Government	$73,604
Non-Professional Legal Studies	$72,792
Public Health	$70,831
Communication and Media Studies	$67,863
Criminal Justice and Corrections	$66,970
Journalism	$66,635
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods	$66,160
Natural Resources Conservation and Research	$63,711
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies	$63,553
Psychology, General	$62,240
History	$59,630
Literature	$54,436
Anthropology	$53,036
Film/Video and Photographic Arts	$52,661

These 23 fields listed for American University measure earnings after completion. The $77,370 institution-level snapshot above measures earnings after entry; it is not the same cohort or a total for these fields. 21 additional American University fields have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.

Frequently asked questions

What test-score data does American University report?

American University's enrolled submitters had SAT section-percentile sums of 1280–1460 in Fall 2024. These are not total-score percentiles or a GPA requirement.

What is American University's acceptance rate?

62% in the Fall 2024 cycle — 10,640 admitted from 17,173 applicants.

How much does American University cost?

At American University, tuition is $58,771. Tuition is not the total cost of attendance; aid can reduce your bill.

What earnings data does American University report?

Median earnings ten years after entry: $77,370. Major figures measure four years after completion. Source and date limits.

Similar colleges in District of Columbia

The Catholic University of America — 82.8% admitted
University of the District of Columbia
Gallaudet University — 58.1% admitted
George Washington University — 47.1% admitted

Run your own numbers

Data: IPEDS ADM2024 (Fall 2024 admissions, provisional) · IPEDS HD2024/IC2024 directory · College Scorecard 2026-06-10 release (institution and field-of-study files; earnings from Treasury records). Retrieved 2026-09-01. Chart dates follow this institution's available observations; the release date is not an academic year or an earnings year. Some records end earlier than others. Field-of-study cohort dates are shown with the table. Read the date and population definitions.