Acceptance Rate
62%
Avg. SAT
1460
75th percentile
“Private powerhouse in northwest DC fueling careers in policy, diplomacy, journalism, and international affairs.”
Washington, DC
Location
Large City
Campus Setting
American University sits on a wooded hilltop in residential northwest Washington, DC, founded in 1893 by Methodists aiming to train leaders for public service. You'll find a mix of ambitious undergraduates from across the U.S. and globe who dive into internships amid embassies and think tanks, drawn to the school's professional edge. The personality leans practical and worldly, with students often treating classes as launchpads for Capitol Hill jobs rather than abstract theory. DC wraps around the campus like an open-air classroom—steps from Metro stops, Van Ness neighborhood shops, and Embassy Row—but the high cost of living means budgeting tightly for off-campus eats or events. Tradeoffs include a less contained 'campus bubble' than suburban schools, so you'll navigate city bustle daily, and housing fills up fast beyond freshman year.
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Admissions
Acceptance Rate
Test Policy
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Average GPA
Application Fee
Academics
Student-Faculty Ratio
Programs Offered
Full-Time Faculty
Women Faculty
Research Spending
Degree Levels Offered
Strengths shine in the School of International Service, public affairs, communications, and Kogod business school, where DC's policy world feeds hands-on projects like simulations of UN negotiations or media fieldwork. Classrooms buzz with real-world relevance—a 10-to-1 student-faculty ratio supports seminars where professors with State Department ties dissect current headlines. You'll tackle intro lectures in larger halls before smaller upper-level discussions, and research gigs abound through DC labs or think tanks. Some majors like international studies prove competitive for entry, pushing strong GPAs early.
Student Body
Total Enrollment
7,476 undergrad • 4,845 grad
Undergraduate
Graduate
International
White
51%
Black / African American
9%
Hispanic / Latino
12%
Asian
7%
Other / Multi-racial
21%
Campus Life
Campus Setting
Washington, DC
Varsity Athletics
NCAA Athletics
A typical week mixes morning classes, afternoon internships at NGOs or news outlets, and evenings with 250 clubs—from debate to ultimate frisbee—or Greek life events in 20 chapters. Residential life clusters freshmen in high-rises like Anderson Hall with suite-style rooms, fostering quick bonds amid study lounges, though upperclassmen often hunt pricey DC apartments. The vibe pulses urban-professional: weekend bar crawls in Adams Morgan, spring picnics under campus cherry trees, and low-key tailgates for Division I soccer and basketball. Challenges hit with sticky summers and gray winters, plus a social scene that skews internship-driven over nonstop partying, suiting go-getters over laid-back types.
Housing
On-Campus Housing
Housing Capacity
Meal Plan Available
Average Room & Board
Athletics
Athletic Association
Patriot League
ROTC & Veteran Support
Army
Yes
Navy
No
Air Force
Yes
Veteran’s Programs Available
Yellow Ribbon Program (Post-9/11 GI Bill)
Yes
Dedicated point of contact for veteran support services
Yes
Recognized student veteran organization
Yes
Member of DoD Voluntary Educational Partnership MOU
Yes
Cost & Aid
In-State Tuition
Out-of-State Tuition
Room & Board
Estimated Cost
Financial Aid
Students Receiving Aid
Receiving Pell Grants
Average Grant
Average Federal Loan
Net Annual Cost by Household Income
Household Income
Avg. Net Cost
$0 – $30K
$10,818
$30K – $48K
$11,743
$48K – $75K
$15,197
$75K – $110K
$21,773
$110K+
$40,073
Apply for Financial Aid
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Outcomes & Earnings
Retention Rate
88%
4 Years Graduation Rate
73%
6 Years Graduation Rate
78%
Median 10-Year Earnings
$77,370
88% of first-time, full-time students complete their freshman year at American University and return in the fall. 73% of first-time, full-time students graduate in 4 years, and 78% graduate within 6 years.
Graduation Rate
4-year grads
73%
4-5 years
5%
6-8 years
1%
Non-grad
21%
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Key Statistics
Type
Private
Tuition
$53,070
Acceptance
62%
Undergrads
7,476
4-Year Grad Rate
73%
Endowment
$329M
Washington, DC 20016-8001