Washington, DC · Private · 7,266 undergraduates · urban
American University
Selective
American ties an inquiry-based university Core to a first-year living-learning program that deliberately uses Washington institutions as classroom extensions.
Institutional profile
Established Solid in career outcomes, and solid in academic standing.- Admission
- 47.4% admitted
- Price by income
- Varies across five income ranges
- Completion
- 78.7%
17,786 applicants in the reported year
Compare recent average annual costs by household income
$77,370 median earnings 10 years after enrollment
What sets American University apart
Academic design
AU Core progresses through Foundations, Habits of Mind, and Integrative requirements before culminating in major-linked capstone work.
Campus pattern
University College residents live with classmates and connect Complex Problems courses to Washington through organized excursions and co-curricular activities.
A signature opportunity
University College.
Can I get in?
47.4% admitted
Put the academic record first, then make the intended direction and school-specific fit concrete.
Recent applicant pool
17,786About 47 in every 100 applicants were admitted.
Academic range
Of admitted students, 26% submitted an SAT, and 16% submitted an ACT. Treat the ACT range as a guide to the students who submitted that test, not to everyone admitted.
In the season card
Where your GPA sits in the entering class
The full entering-class GPA distribution for American University, in nine bands from 4.0 down, with your own record marked on it.
See where I landIn the season card
What American University weighs when it reads a file
See how this college describes the role of grades, testing, essays, recommendations, activities, and demonstrated interest.
- Course rigor
- GPA
- Test scores
- Essay
- Recommendations
- Extracurriculars
- Demonstrated interest
What moves the application
The evidence that separates a strong file
Show preparation for this curriculum
AU Core progresses through Foundations, Habits of Mind, and Integrative requirements before culminating in major-linked capstone work.
Make institutional fit specific
American ties an inquiry-based university Core to a first-year living-learning program that deliberately uses Washington institutions as classroom extensions.
Use the application route carefully
Keep academic direction and school-specific choices coherent across the application.
Give commitments a clear through-line
Activities and recommendations should show sustained contribution, not a collection of disconnected credentials.
How to apply
Rounds, route, and required materials
Build the calendar around the earliest realistic application round and assemble each required item once.
Fee waiver: accepted
Major and program admission
Some fields have their own entry path.
The college admit rate above covers the university as a whole. These requirements apply only to the named program.
Computer scienceAdmits separately
What this program asks for, and when it closes.
Can I afford it?
Compare annual cost by household income.
Start with the average net price for your income range, then set that estimate beside your other realistic options.
In the season card
Average annual cost by household income at American University
Compare recent average net prices across five federal income ranges and estimate a 4-year cost for yours.
- $0–30k
- $30–48k
- $48–75k
- $75–110k
- $110k+
Is it worth it?
Completion, debt, and earnings
Read completion, borrowing, field mix, and earnings together. One university-wide earnings figure does not describe every student path.
Degree completion across the reported entering cohort
First-year students who return for year two
And what that comes to against what they earn.
Reported 10 years after enrollment
Academic portfolio
Largest bachelor’s fields
How many students finish in each field, and median earnings four years after completing the program.
International Relations and National Security Studies
Business Administration, Management and Operations
Admits separately
Political Science and Government
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
Admits separately
What is campus life like?
American University beyond the classroom
University College residents live with classmates and connect Complex Problems courses to Washington through organized excursions and co-curricular activities.
A defining academic feature
AU Core progresses through Foundations, Habits of Mind, and Integrative requirements before culminating in major-linked capstone work.
Read the residential pattern
Compare the residential setup and surrounding area with the day-to-day routine you want.
Daily life follows the campus map
Dining and nearby options matter most when they support the academic, residential, and social routine you expect.
What shapes an ordinary week
University College residents live with classmates and connect Complex Problems courses to Washington through organized excursions and co-curricular activities.
Turn a direction into participation
The strongest opportunities connect a clear academic or personal direction to real work beyond class.
Find the right everyday fit
University College residents live with classmates and connect Complex Problems courses to Washington through organized excursions and co-curricular activities.