Southern Methodist University
Dallas, TX
63% admitted · $39,816/yr after aid
American University
Washington, DC · Private nonprofit · Large city · Website
- Admission rate
- 62%
- Accessible
- Average net price
- $41,302
- per year, after aid
- Graduation rate
- 75%
- Median earnings
- $85,458
- 10 years after enrolling
Summary
American University is a private nonprofit college in Washington, DC with 7,266 undergraduates. It admits 62% of applicants, and admitted students average 1381 on the SAT. The average net price after aid is $41,302 per year ($28,397 for families earning under $30,000). 75% of students graduate, and graduates earn a median of $85,458 ten years after enrolling.
private nonprofit college
Admissions
- Admission rate
- 62%
- Fall 2024
- Testing policy
- Test optional
- Fall 2024
- Applicants
- 17,786
- Fall 2023
- Admitted
- 8,427
- Fall 2023
- Yield
- 22%
- of admitted students enrolled
Middle 50% of admitted students (Fall 2024). A quarter scored below the band and a quarter above.
SAT Reading & Writing660–740
200800
SAT Math620–720
200800
ACT Composite29–32
136
What American University looks at
As reported by the college to IPEDS (Fall 2023).
- High school recordRequired
- High school GPARequired
- College-prep courseworkRequired
- Class rankNot considered
- Essay or personal statementRequired
- RecommendationsRequired
- Demonstrated competenciesNot considered
- Legacy statusNot considered
- Work experienceConsidered
- English proficiency testRequired
Cost
- Cost of attendance
- $79,369
- sticker price, per year
- Tuition & fees
- $62,242
Net price by family income
Average yearly cost after grants and scholarships for students receiving federal aid.
- $0–30k$28,397
- $30–48k$19,487
- $48–75k$27,150
- $75–110k$31,984
- $110k+$53,571
Get a personal estimate with American University's net price calculator
Outcomes
- Graduation rate
- 75%
- Freshman retention
- 88%
- Median earnings
- $85,458
- 10 yrs after enrolling
- Median debt
- $22,250
- at graduation
Students
- Undergraduates
- 7,266
- Student–faculty ratio
- 10:1
- Receive Pell grants
- 18%
- White56%
- Hispanic14%
- Black8%
- Asian7%
American University FAQ
What is American University's acceptance rate?+
American University admits 62% of applicants, which makes it accessible.
What SAT score do you need for American University?+
The middle 50% of admitted students scored 660–740 on SAT Reading and Writing and 620–720 on SAT Math; the average total is 1381.
What ACT score do you need for American University?+
The middle 50% ACT composite range for admitted students is 29–32.
Is American University test optional?+
Test optional (considered if submitted).
How many students apply to American University?+
In Fall 2023, 17,786 students applied to American University and 8,427 were admitted; 1,856 enrolled.
Does American University consider legacy status?+
No. American University reported that legacy status is not considered in admissions (Fall 2023).
Does American University require an essay?+
American University reported that an essay or personal statement is required for admission (Fall 2023).
How much does American University cost?+
The sticker cost of attendance is $79,369 per year, but the average net price after grants and scholarships is $41,302.
What is American University's graduation rate?+
75% of full-time students graduate within 150% of normal time.
Sources
- Admission rate, test scores, cost, students, and outcomes: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (Most Recent Institution-Level Data), released 2026-10-15. Admissions figures are for Fall 2024, costs for 2024-25, and earnings are measured in 2023.
- Applicants, admitted, yield, and admission factors: IPEDS Admissions survey (ADM2023), Fall 2023.
- IPEDS unit ID 131159 · How we use this data
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