American University (AU)
Private nonprofit four-year university in Washington, DC that costs an average of $41,302 a year after financial aid, admits 62% of applicants and graduates 75% of full-time students.
Net price / year
$41,302
Acceptance rate
62%
Graduation rate
75%
Earnings after 10 yrs
$85,458
Private nonprofitLarge city7,266 undergraduates
Cost of AU
| Total cost of attendance (per year) | $79,369 |
|---|---|
| Tuition and fees, in-state | $62,242 |
| Housing and food (on campus) | $18,618 |
| Books and supplies | $1,200 |
| Average net price after aid | $41,302 |
Net price by family income
| Family income | Average net price / year |
|---|---|
| $0–30,000 | $28,397 |
| $30,001–48,000 | $19,487 |
| $48,001–75,000 | $27,150 |
| $75,001–110,000 | $31,984 |
| $110,001+ | $53,571 |
Net price is what students actually pay after grants and scholarships. Get your own estimate with AU's net price calculator ↗.
Admissions
| Acceptance rate | 62% |
|---|---|
| Average SAT | 1,381 |
| SAT reading (25th–75th percentile) | 660–740 |
| SAT math (25th–75th percentile) | 620–720 |
| ACT composite (25th–75th percentile) | 29–32 |
| Test scores | Considered but not required |
Graduation, earnings and debt
| Graduation rate | 75% |
|---|---|
| First-year retention | 88% |
| Median earnings 6 years after enrolling | $64,737 |
| Median earnings 10 years after enrolling | $85,458 |
| Rank in District of Columbia (earnings) | 3rd of 9 similar colleges |
| Median debt of graduates | $22,250 |
| Typical monthly loan payment | $253 (10-year plan) |
| Students with Pell grants | 18% |
| Students with federal loans | 40% |
Majors and programs at AU
Earnings one year after graduation and median debt, by program. Click a program for details and comparisons.
Bachelor's degree programs (46)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 108 | $76,317 | $20,633 |
| Economics | 143 | $59,345 | $19,500 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 479 | $58,346 | $20,500 |
| Non-Professional Legal Studies | 71 | $57,941 | $21,375 |
| Political Science and Government | 424 | $56,964 | $19,500 |
| Communication and Media Studies | 58 | $56,275 | — |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | 232 | $55,587 | $19,500 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | 166 | $55,454 | $21,187 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | 778 | $52,053 | $20,500 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 224 | $50,419 | $20,335 |
| Journalism | 109 | $50,406 | $20,500 |
| Public Health | 131 | $49,977 | $19,500 |
| Psychology | 164 | $48,145 | $21,000 |
| History | 63 | $46,964 | $23,250 |
| Literature | 50 | $45,230 | $21,500 |
| Sociology | 35 | $39,978 | $27,000 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | 99 | $38,663 | $19,500 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | 70 | $38,268 | $21,056 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | 33 | $36,862 | — |
| Area Studies | 40 | $31,796 | — |
| Accounting and Related Services | 24 | — | — |
| Anthropology | 19 | — | — |
| Applied Mathematics | 1 | — | — |
| Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians | 18 | — | — |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | 14 | — | — |
| Biology | 62 | — | $20,500 |
| Chemistry | 8 | — | — |
| Computational Science | 2 | — | — |
| Computer Science | 49 | — | $20,983 |
| Dance | 7 | — | — |
| Data Science | 4 | — | — |
| Design and Applied Arts | 26 | — | — |
| East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 2 | — | — |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | 21 | — | — |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 25 | — | — |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | — | — | — |
| Mathematics | 21 | — | — |
| Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 3 | — | — |
| Music | 12 | — | — |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | 27 | — | — |
| Philosophy | 16 | — | — |
| Physics | 16 | — | — |
| Religion/Religious Studies | 4 | — | — |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 14 | — | — |
| Statistics | 36 | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 41 | — | — |
Certificate programs (14)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Political Science and Government | 108 | $55,185 | $21,229 |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | 66 | $51,356 | $20,500 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | 130 | $47,971 | $23,000 |
| Anthropology | — | — | — |
| Area Studies | 1 | — | — |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | 29 | — | — |
| Data Analytics | 3 | — | — |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | 8 | — | — |
| Health/Medical Preparatory Programs | 3 | — | — |
| International/Globalization Studies | 10 | — | — |
| Philosophy | 4 | — | — |
| Physical Sciences, Other | 2 | — | — |
| Statistics | 6 | — | — |
| Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language | 1 | — | — |
Associate's degree programs (1)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | — | — | — |
Master's degree programs (58)
Doctoral degree programs (12)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anthropology | 1 | — | — |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | 10 | — | — |
| Communication and Media Studies | 8 | — | — |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 9 | — | — |
| Economics | 17 | — | — |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | 62 | — | $70,625 |
| History | 10 | — | — |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | 15 | — | — |
| Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies | 4 | — | — |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | 9 | — | — |
| Political Science and Government | 4 | — | — |
| Public Administration | 12 | — | — |
Professional degree programs (1)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Law | 695 | $83,340 | $139,660 |
Graduate certificate programs (37)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | 42 | $124,976 | $106,583 |
| Accounting and Related Services | 11 | — | — |
| Anthropology | 2 | — | — |
| Area Studies | — | — | — |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management | 2 | — | — |
| Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians | — | — | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 6 | — | — |
| Design and Applied Arts | — | — | — |
| Economics | 7 | — | — |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | — | — | — |
| Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research | — | — | — |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations | — | — | — |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | 2 | — | — |
| Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services | — | — | — |
| Health/Medical Preparatory Programs | — | — | — |
| Human Resources Management and Services | 6 | — | — |
| International and Comparative Education | 6 | — | — |
| International Business | — | — | — |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | 28 | — | $51,250 |
| Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies | 12 | — | — |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | 1 | — | — |
| Mathematics and Statistics, Other | 20 | — | — |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | 1 | — | — |
| Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution | 1 | — | — |
| Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration | 1 | — | — |
| Political Science and Government | 4 | — | — |
| Public Administration | — | — | — |
| Public Administration and Social Service Professions, Other | 4 | — | — |
| Public Policy Analysis | 1 | — | — |
| Real Estate | 2 | — | — |
| Security Science and Technology | 18 | — | — |
| Social Sciences, Other | 1 | — | — |
| Sociology | — | — | — |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 2 | — | — |
| Statistics | 5 | — | — |
| Taxation | 1 | — | — |
| Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language | — | — | — |
Similar colleges in District of Columbia
| College | City | Net price / yr | Acceptance | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Georgetown University | Washington | $33,661 | 13% | $110,516 |
| Howard University | Washington | $33,002 | 41% | $69,682 |
| George Washington University | Washington | $35,760 | 47% | $96,691 |
| The Catholic University of America | Washington | $32,543 | 83% | $81,308 |
| Trinity Washington University | Washington | $12,820 | 100% | $57,561 |
| Gallaudet University | Washington | $27,398 | 58% | $49,334 |
| NewU University | Washington | — | — | — |
About AU
| Type | Private nonprofit four-year university |
|---|---|
| Location | Washington, DC |
| Setting | Large city |
| Undergraduates | 7,266 |
| Student-to-faculty ratio | 10 to 1 |
| Accreditor | Middle States Commission on Higher Education |
| Website | american.edu ↗ |
Frequently asked questions
What is AU's acceptance rate?
American University admits 62% of applicants. Admitted students average 1,381 on the SAT.
How much does AU cost per year?
The full cost of attendance is $79,369 a year (tuition and fees: $62,242). After grants and scholarships the average student pays $41,302 a year, and students from families earning under $30,000 pay about $28,397.
How much do AU graduates earn?
Former students earn a median of $85,458 a year, 10 years after first enrolling — 3rd of 9 similar colleges in District of Columbia. The best-paid bachelor's program is finance and financial management services ($76,317 a year after graduation).
What is AU's graduation rate?
75% of full-time students graduate within six years, and 88% of first-year students return for a second year.