American University
PrivateWashington, DC
American University, in Washington, DC, is a private mid-sized school, enrolling around 7,266 students. Admissions are not highly selective, admitting a majority of applicants here -- roughly 62% of applicants get in. Among reported majors, Finance and Financial Management Services shows the strongest outcomes -- $134,332/year in median earnings four years after graduation. On-campus housing isn't required, so many students live off campus.
Admissions
Test scores for the Fall 2025 entering class come from American University's own 2025-26 Common Data Set: 16% submitted SAT scores, 6% submitted ACT scores.
Application deadlines for Fall 2027 entry
- Early Decision I: Nov 1, 2026
- Early Action: Nov 1, 2026
- Early Decision II: Jan 15, 2027
- Regular Decision: Jan 15, 2027
Confirm on American University's own admissions site before you apply.
Cost & outcomes
From the US Dept of Education College Scorecard, most recent year reported. Not every school reports every field. Tuition & fees are the sticker price for a full-time first-year undergrad, before financial aid, and don't include room and board.
Where do you stand against American University's numbers?
Check your chances hereHow American University weighs your application
From American University's own Common Data Set, 2025-26, Section C7 -- not a generic admissions checklist. What is a Common Data Set?
What admitted applicants who posted their results listed
17 admitted applicants who posted their profiles publicly, 2024–25 and 2025–26 admissions cycles. Too few rejected or waitlisted applicants have posted to compare, so every figure here describes admits only. It shows what admitted posters looked like, not what made the difference.
Most common activities among admits
Most common awards among admits
Who the admitted posters were
How these patterns compare across top colleges: Accepted vs. Rejected Applicants at Top Colleges →
These are people who chose to post their results publicly, mostly on Reddit -- a group that skews toward high scores and STEM. They describe posters, not American University's admitted class, and recruited athletes are left out. Expect these medians to run above the school's real admitted class. For official numbers, use the admissions figures above.
See full profile -- financial aid, campus life, and what American University weighs in your application
Paying it back
"Still growing" means a borrower's payments aren't yet covering interest 3 years into repayment -- not a default rate. A high number here can mean real repayment difficulty, or just a lot of grads who deferred for graduate school, so read it alongside the school's typical outcomes above.
Majors & earnings
Median earnings 4 years after graduation, by major, from the US Dept of Education. Only shown where the school reports a real figure for that major -- most schools don't report every major they offer, especially smaller programs.
Campus life
Room and board are shown separately from the cost of attendance above -- that total already includes them alongside tuition and fees, this just breaks out the living-cost portion.
What matters in your application
From this school's own reporting to the US Dept of Education on what it formally requires, considers, or doesn't use when reviewing applications.
Frequently asked questions
What does American University look for in applicants?
Per American University's own Common Data Set (Section C7), it rates rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, level of interest (demonstrated interest) as "very important" in admissions decisions -- its own stated top factors, not a generic guess.
What is American University's acceptance rate?
American University in Washington, DC admits approximately 62% of applicants, based on the US Dept of Education's most recently reported figures.
What SAT score do I need for American University?
Per American University's own 2025-26 Common Data Set, the middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 1320–1440 on the SAT (25th–75th percentile, among students who submitted scores).
What ACT score do I need for American University?
Per American University's own 2025-26 Common Data Set, the middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 30–33 on the ACT (25th–75th percentile, among students who submitted scores).
How much does American University cost?
American University's total cost of attendance is reported at $76,058 per year, including tuition, fees, and room and board.
When is the application deadline for American University?
American University's deadlines are Early Decision I Nov 1, 2026; Early Action Nov 1, 2026; Early Decision II Jan 15, 2027; Regular Decision Jan 15, 2027, per its own published admissions calendar.
Does American University require students to live on campus?
No -- American University doesn't require students to live in on-campus housing.
Related reading
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