American University

Private
WashingtonDC
City

Estimated Net Cost

(per year)
$41k

Estimated Post Grad Salary

(per year)
$63k

Return on Education

(post 4-year graduation)
Excellent
American University is a private university located in Washington, DC, founded in 1893. Known for its strong programs in international relations and political science, it has a prestigious reputation nationally for producing graduates who excel in government, advocacy, and diplomacy. The campus is situated in a picturesque setting with a mix of historic and modern buildings.

Pros

  • Strong academic programs

  • Diverse student body

  • Location in Washington D.C.

  • Focus on global and social issues

Cons

  • Higher cost of tuition

  • Competitive admission process

  • Limited campus space

  • Urban setting may be overwhelming

Tuition and Costs

Understanding Tuition Costs at American University: Navigating college expenses doesn't have to be complicated. Our comprehensive guide to tuition, fees, and other associated costs breaks down everything you need to know about financing your education at American University. Find out how we make higher education affordable and what financial options are available to you.

Most Recent Tuition Costs

Understanding Tuition Costs at American University: Navigating college expenses doesn't have to be complicated. Our comprehensive guide to tuition, fees, and other associated costs breaks down everything you need to know about financing your education at American University. Find out how we make higher education affordable and what financial options are available to you.

Yearly4 years
Tuition and Fees
$56,543$226,172
Room and Board
$17,012$68,048
Books and Supplies
$1,000$4,000
Other expenses
$1,620$9,616
Sticker Price$76,175$307,836

Historical Tuition Costs

Based on historical data, in-state tuition is expected to rise by approximately $1,850 per year over the next three years, reaching $58,393 in 2024, and $60,243 in 2025, and $62,093 in 2026.

Return On Education

Investing in higher education is a pivotal step towards future prosperity. It's essential to weigh the upfront costs against the potential for increased lifetime earnings and career opportunities. Our ROEdu score aims to help you understand tuition, living expenses, and financial aid, alongside the long-term benefits of earning a degree. By making informed decisions about where and what you study, you can maximize the return on your educational investment, turning the cost of your degree into a foundation for future success and financial security.

911
American University stands in the premier league, positioned within the top institutions for return on education, delivering unparalleled value and setting its graduates on a path to remarkable success.

Admissions

American University admissions is selective with an acceptance rate of 41%. The application deadline can be found on the institution's website.
Admission Rate
41%
Graduation Rate
79%

Admissions Requirements

SAT Range
1290 - 1430
ACT Range
29 - 32
High School GPA

N/A

Key dates

Application Deadline
See college website
Early Decision Date
See college website
Early Action Date
See college website

Majors & Degrees

Explore the range of academic programs offered at this institution.
Sciences8 programs
Information ScienceMaster's Degree
Computer ScienceBachelor's Degree
NeuroscienceBachelor's Degree
NeuroscienceDoctoral Degree – Research
PsychologyBachelor's Degree
PsychologyMaster's Degree
PsychologyDoctoral Degree – Research
Other Social SciencesDoctoral Degree – Other
Technician3 programs
AV TechnicianBachelor's Degree
AV TechnicianMaster's Degree
AV TechnicianDoctoral Degree – Other
Interdisciplinary7 programs
Area StudiesUndergraduate Certificate
Area StudiesBachelor's Degree
Area StudiesMaster's Degree
Area StudiesDoctoral Degree – Other
Other InterdisciplinaryUndergraduate Certificate
Other InterdisciplinaryBachelor's Degree
Other InterdisciplinaryMaster's Degree
Natural Resources3 programs
Natural Resources ConservationBachelor's Degree
Natural Resources ConservationDoctoral Degree – Other
BiotechnologyMaster's Degree
History3 programs
HistoryBachelor's Degree
HistoryMaster's Degree
HistoryDoctoral Degree – Research
Humanities3 programs
Ethnic & Cultural StudiesBachelor's Degree
Ethnic & Cultural StudiesDoctoral Degree – Other
International StudiesUndergraduate Certificate
Communications11 programs
Communication & Media StudiesBachelor's Degree
Communication & Media StudiesDoctoral Degree – Research
JournalismBachelor's Degree
JournalismMaster's Degree
CommunicationsBachelor's Degree
CommunicationsMaster's Degree
WritingMaster's Degree
Public AdministrationMaster's Degree
Public AdministrationDoctoral Degree – Research
Public AdministrationDoctoral Degree – Other
Linguistics7 programs
PR & AdvertisingBachelor's Degree
PR & AdvertisingMaster's Degree
Bilingual EducationMaster's Degree
Language StudiesUndergraduate Certificate
Language StudiesDoctoral Degree – Other
Romance LanguagesBachelor's Degree
Middle Eastern LanguagesBachelor's Degree
Computational ScienceBachelor's Degree
Education16 programs
Curriculum DesignMaster's Degree
Education AdministrationMaster's Degree
Education AdministrationDoctoral Degree – Research
Education Assessment & EvaluationDoctoral Degree – Other
Global EducationMaster's Degree
Special EducationMaster's Degree
Teacher TrainingUndergraduate Certificate
Teacher TrainingBachelor's Degree
Teacher TrainingMaster's Degree
Teacher TrainingDoctoral Degree – Other
ESL TeachingUndergraduate Certificate
ESL TeachingMaster's Degree
ESL TeachingDoctoral Degree – Other
KinesiologyMaster's Degree
KinesiologyDoctoral Degree – Other
Health3 programs
NutritionMaster's Degree
NutritionDoctoral Degree – Other
Medical AdministrationMaster's Degree
Law6 programs
Legal StudiesBachelor's Degree
LawDoctoral Degree – Professional
Legal ResearchMaster's Degree
Legal ResearchDoctoral Degree – Research
Legal ResearchDoctoral Degree – Other
Other Legal StudiesMaster's Degree
Literature2 programs
LiteratureBachelor's Degree
LiteratureMaster's Degree
Liberal Arts2 programs
Liberal ArtsAssociate's Degree
Liberal ArtsBachelor's Degree
Biology5 programs
BiologyBachelor's Degree
BiologyMaster's Degree
BioinformaticsMaster's Degree
BioinformaticsDoctoral Degree – Other
Mathematics10 programs
MathematicsBachelor's Degree
MathematicsMaster's Degree
Applied MathematicsBachelor's Degree
StatisticsUndergraduate Certificate
StatisticsBachelor's Degree
StatisticsMaster's Degree
StatisticsDoctoral Degree – Other
Other MathematicsDoctoral Degree – Other
Management ScienceMaster's Degree
Management ScienceDoctoral Degree – Other
Criminal Justice4 programs
Criminal JusticeBachelor's Degree
Criminal JusticeMaster's Degree
Criminal JusticeDoctoral Degree – Research
Homeland SecurityMaster's Degree
Peace & Conflict Resolution2 programs
Peace StudiesMaster's Degree
Peace StudiesDoctoral Degree – Other
Economics4 programs
EconomicsBachelor's Degree
EconomicsMaster's Degree
EconomicsDoctoral Degree – Research
EconomicsDoctoral Degree – Other
Philosophy4 programs
PhilosophyUndergraduate Certificate
PhilosophyBachelor's Degree
PhilosophyMaster's Degree
PhilosophyDoctoral Degree – Other
Religious StudiesBachelor's Degree
Chemistry2 programs
ChemistryBachelor's Degree
ChemistryMaster's Degree
PhysicsBachelor's Degree
Psychology2 programs
Clinical PsychologyDoctoral Degree – Research
Clinical PsychologyDoctoral Degree – Other
Government8 programs
Public PolicyMaster's Degree
Public PolicyDoctoral Degree – Other
Other Public ServicesDoctoral Degree – Other
Political ScienceUndergraduate Certificate
Political ScienceBachelor's Degree
Political ScienceMaster's Degree
Political ScienceDoctoral Degree – Research
Political ScienceDoctoral Degree – Other
Anthropology5 programs
AnthropologyUndergraduate Certificate
AnthropologyBachelor's Degree
AnthropologyMaster's Degree
AnthropologyDoctoral Degree – Research
AnthropologyDoctoral Degree – Other
International5 programs
International RelationsUndergraduate Certificate
International RelationsBachelor's Degree
International RelationsMaster's Degree
International RelationsDoctoral Degree – Research
International RelationsDoctoral Degree – Other
Sociology3 programs
SociologyBachelor's Degree
SociologyMaster's Degree
SociologyDoctoral Degree – Other
Arts12 programs
DanceBachelor's Degree
Applied ArtsBachelor's Degree
Applied ArtsMaster's Degree
Applied ArtsDoctoral Degree – Other
TheatreBachelor's Degree
Film & PhotographyBachelor's Degree
Film & PhotographyMaster's Degree
Fine ArtsBachelor's Degree
Fine ArtsMaster's Degree
MusicBachelor's Degree
Arts ManagementMaster's Degree
Arts ManagementDoctoral Degree – Other
Medical3 programs
Medical PreparationDoctoral Degree – Other
Public HealthBachelor's Degree
Public HealthMaster's Degree
Business15 programs
Business ManagementBachelor's Degree
Business ManagementMaster's Degree
Business ManagementDoctoral Degree – Other
AccountingBachelor's Degree
AccountingMaster's Degree
AccountingDoctoral Degree – Other
FinanceBachelor's Degree
FinanceMaster's Degree
Human ResourcesMaster's Degree
International BusinessDoctoral Degree – Other
MarketingMaster's Degree
Real EstateMaster's Degree
Real EstateDoctoral Degree – Other
TaxationMaster's Degree
TaxationDoctoral Degree – Other
EntrepreneurshipDoctoral Degree – Other

Student Life

Learn about the community, campus culture, and experiences that shape student life at this college.

Student Breakdown

Total Enrollment1,856
Full-time Students1,848
Part-time Students8

Faculty

Faculty-Student Ratio:11:1
Full-Time FacultyN/A
Part-Time FacultyN/A

Reviews and Ratings

For complete transparency we combine scores from across the web to give you a true picture of what students think about American University. Additionally, we have our own score which can be used alongside these external sources.

Tuition Covered Rating
(4.2)
Niche
(3.6)
US News
(4.4)

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