American University
Washington, DC
American University, founded in 1893, is a church-affiliated, comprehensive institution. It is the only university in the country that expressly incorporates policy-making theory and experience into classes and curriculum in all majors. The school is located at the top of Embassy Row in one of Washington's most beautiful and secure neighborhoods, just 15 minutes from Capitol Hill. It is the premiere institution for educating students who want to exert influence in their chosen field of study. Programs are offered through the College of Arts and Sciences; the Schools of Business, Communication, International Service, and Public Affairs; and the Washington College of Law. The 84-acre main campus is located in northwest Washington, DC.
Website: www.american.edu/
Admission
- Entrance Difficulty
- Very difficult
- Overall Admission Rate
- 32% of 18,984 applicants were admitted
- Early Action Offered
- No
- Early Decision Offered
- Yes
- Regular Admission Deadline
- January 15
Qualifications of Enrolled Freshmen
- Average GPA
- 3.65
- SAT Math
- 590-680 range of middle 50%
- SAT EBRW
-
661 average
630-700 range of middle 50% - ACT Composite
- 29 average
27-31 range of middle 50%
Money Matters
- Cost of Attendance
- $65,569
- Tuition and Fees
- $49,889
- Room and Board
- $14,880
- Average Percent of Need Met
- 87%
- Average Freshman Award
- $35,229
- Average Indebtedness of 2018 Graduates
- $35,122
Academics
- Academic Calendar System
- Semester
- General Education/Core Curriculum
- Required for most or all students
- Full-Time Faculty Teaching Undergraduates
- 818
- Regular Class Size
- 2-9 students: 5% of classes
10-19 students: 47% of classes
20-29 students: 26% of classes
30-39 students: 17% of classes
40-49 students: 4% of classes
50-99 students: 1% of classes
Over 100 students: 1% of classes
Campus Life
- Washington Population
- 632,323
- Nearest Metropolitan Area
- Washington, DC
- Freshman Housing Guarantee
- Freshmen are guaranteed housing
- Students in College Housing
- Athletic Conferences
- NCAA Division I
- Mascot
- Eagle (Clawed)
- Sororities
- 11% of women participate
- Fraternities
- 9% of men participate
Students
- Ethnicity of Students from U.S.
- 0.1% American Indian/Alaskan Native
7.6% Asian
7.7% Black/African-American
14.3% Hispanic/Latino
4.7% Multi-race (not Hispanic/Latino)
0.1% Native Hawaiian/ Pacific Islander
60.6% White
4.9% Unknown - International Students
- 12.9% from 123 countries
- First-Year Students Returning
- 87.8%
- Students Graduating Within 4 Years
- 75.0%
- Graduates Offered Full-Time Employment Within 6 Months
- Not reported
- Graduates Pursuing Advanced Study Directly
- Not reported
Freshman Admission Requirements
Entrance Difficulty
Very Difficult: More than 50% of freshmen were in the top 10% of their high school class and scored over 1230 on the SAT I or over 26 on the ACT; about 60% or fewer of all applicants accepted.
High School Preparation
- High School Graduation
- High school diploma required and GED is accepted
- High School Program
- College preparatory program is recommended
High School Units Required or Recommended
Subject | Required Units | Recommended Units |
---|---|---|
English | 4 | |
Mathematics | 3 | 4 |
Science | 3 | 4 |
Foreign Language | 2 | 3 |
Social Studies | 2 | 4 |
History | ||
Academic Electives | 3 | 4 |
Examinations
Exam | Required Units | Scores Due in Admissions Office |
---|---|---|
SAT or ACT | Considered if submitted | January 1 |
SAT Only | ||
ACT Only | ||
SAT and SAT Subject Tests, or ACT | ||
SAT Subject Tests Only | Not used if submitted | |
SAT Essay Component Policy | Accepted with or without essay component | |
ACT Writing Test Policy | Accepted with or without writing component | |
ACT Writing Test Policy | SAT: Not used ACT: Not used |
Applying for Admission
Admissions Office
- Address
- 4400 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
- City, State, Zip
- Washington, DC 20016-8001
- Phone
- (202) 885-6000
- Fax
- (202) 885-6014
- admissions@american.edu
Application Dates and Fees
- Regular Admisson Deadline
- January 15
- Application Fee
- $70
- Application Fee Waiver
- Available
- Regular Admission Notification
- April 1
- Accept Offer of Admission
- By May 1 or within 4 weeks if notified after May 1
- Waiting List Used
- Yes
- Defer Admission
- Student can defer admission
- Transfer Admission
- Transfer applications accepted
Early Admission
- Early Decision Offered
- Yes
- Early Decision Deadline
- November 15, January 15
- Early Decision Notification
- December 31
- Early Action Offered
- No
- Early Action Deadline
- Early Action Notification
Application Form
- Common Application
- Accepted, supplemental forms required
- Universal College Application
- Not accepted
- Electronic Application
- Available
Other Application Requirements
- Interview
- Not Required
- Essay or Personal Statement
- Required for all freshmen
- Letters of Recommendation
- 2 recommended for all freshmen
- Other
- Financial Need
- Financial need is not a consideration in the admissions process
Selection of Students
Factor | Very Important | Important | Considered | Not Considered |
---|---|---|---|---|
Rigor of Secondary School Record | X | |||
Academic GPA | X | |||
Standardized Tests | X | |||
Class Rank | X | |||
Recommendations | X | |||
Essay | X | |||
Interview | X | |||
Level of Applicant's Interest | X | |||
Extracurricular Activities | X | |||
Volunteer Work | X | |||
Particular Talent/Ability | X | |||
Character/Personal Qualities | X | |||
First Generation to Attend College | X | |||
State Residency | X | |||
Geographic Residence | X | |||
Relation with Alumnus | X | |||
Religious Affiliation/Commitment | X | |||
Ethnicity | X | |||
Work Experience | X |
Profile of Fall Admission
- Overall Admission Rate
- 32% of 18,984 applicants were admitted
- Women
- 33% of 12,231 applicants were admitted
- Men
- 29% of 6,753 applicants were admitted
- Students Enrolled
- 1,960 (33%) of 5,986 admitted students enrolled
- Women
- 1,288 (32%) of 4,030 admitted students enrolled
- Men
- 766 (39%) of 1,956 admitted students enrolled
- Early Decision Admission Rate
- 81% of 974 applicants were admitted
- Early Action Admission Rate
- Students Offered Wait List
- 4,598
- Students Accepting Wait List Position
- 760
- Students Admitted From Wait List
- 188
Grade Point Average of Enrolled Freshmen (4.0 scale)
- Average GPA
- 3.65
- 3.75 and Above
- 43%
- 3.50 - 3.74
- 23%
- 3.25 - 3.49
- 18%
- 3.00 - 3.24
- 11%
- 2.50 - 2.99
- 5%
- 2.00 - 2.49
SAT Scores of Enrolled Freshmen
- SAT Math
- 590-680 range of middle 50%
- Score of 700 - 800
- 17%
- Score of 600 - 700
- 53%
- Score of 500 - 600
- 29%
- Score of 400 - 500
- 1%
- Score of 300 - 400
- 0%
- Score of 200 - 300
- 0%
- SAT EBRW
- 661 average
630-700 range of middle 50% - Score of 700 - 800
- 29%
- Score of 600 - 700
- 59%
- Score of 500 - 600
- 11%
- Score of 400 - 500
- 1%
- Score of 300 - 400
- 0%
- Score of 200 - 300
- 0%
ACT Scores of Enrolled Freshmen
- ACT Composite
- 29 average
27-31 range of middle 50% - Score of 30 - 36
- 43%
- Score of 24 - 29
- 50%
- Score of 18 - 23
- 6%
- Score of 12 - 17
- 0%
- Score of 6 - 11
- 0%
- Score of 5 or Below
- 0%
Other Qualifications of Enrolled Freshmen
- High School Class Rank
- National Merit Scholar
- Not reported
- Valedictorian
- Not reported
- Class President
- Not reported
- Student Government Officer
- Not reported
Tuition and Expenses
- Cost of Attendance
- $65,569
- Tuition and Fees
- $49,889
- Room and Board
- $14,880
- Books and Supplies
- $800
- Other Expenses
- Not reported
- Payment Plans
- Prepayment plan
Applying for Financial Aid
Financial Aid Office
- facounselor@american.edu
- Web Site
- Financial Aid Web Site
- Net Price Calculator URL
- Net Price Calculator URL
Application Process
- Application Deadline
- January 15
- Award Notification
- On or about April 1
- Methodology for Awarding Institutional Aid
- Institutional Methodology
Forms Required | Cost to File |
---|---|
FAFSA Code is 001434 |
Free |
CSS/Financial Aid Profile | $25 for first college, $16 each additional |
Profile of 2018 - 19 Financial Aid
Freshman
- Financial Aid Applicants
- 1,242 (78.2%) of freshmen
- Found to Have Financial Need
- 761 (71.7%) of applicants
- Received Financial Aid
- 753 (97.8%) of applicants with financial need
- Need Fully Met
- 151 (46.3%) of aid recipients
- Average Percent of Need Met
- 87%
- Average Award
- $35,229
- Need-Based Gift
- Received by 706 (94.7%) of aid recipients, average amount $29,188
- Need-Based Self-Help
- Received by 680 (91.6%) of aid recipients, average amount $4,267
- Merit-Based Gift
- Received by 180 (25.8%) of aid recipients
- Merit-Based Gift
- 254 (9.2%) of freshmen had no financial need and received merit aid, average amount $13,347
All Undergraduates
- Financial Aid Applicants
- 4,517 (63.9%) of undergraduates
- Found to Have Financial Need
- 3,655 (80.9%) of applicants
- Received Financial Aid
- 3,598 (97.9%) of applicants with financial need
- Need Fully Met
- 422 (18.9%) of aid recipients
- Average Percent of Need Met
- 71%
- Average Award
- $33,952
- Need-Based Gift
- Received by 3,279 (91.6%) of aid recipients, average amount $27,651
- Need-Based Self-Help
- Received by 3,281 (90.7%) of aid recipients, average amount $4,940
- Merit-Based Gift
- Received by 938 (27.5%) of aid recipients
- Merit-Based Gift
- 594 (8.4%) of undergraduates had no financial need and received merit aid, average amount $14,410
Borrowing
- 2018 Graduates Who Took Out Loans
- 63%
- Average Indebtedness of 2018 Graduates
- $35,122
- Parents of Students Receiving Aid
- 11.0%
- Parents of Students Not Receiving Aid
- 1.0%
Financial Aid Programs
Loans
- Federal Loans
- Direct subsidized Stafford loans, direct unsubsidized Stafford loans, direct PLUS loans, Federal Perkins loans
- State Loans
- Other Loans
- College/university loans
Scholarships and Grants
- Need-Based Available
- Federal Pell grants, SEOG, Institutional scholarships, Private scholarships
- Non-Need–Based Available
- None
Non-Need Awards
- Academic Interest/Achievement Award Areas
- Not reported
- Number of Awards
- Not reported
- Top Areas (By Money Awarded)
- Creative Arts/Performance Award Areas
- Not reported
- Number of Awards
- Not reported
- Top Areas (By Money Awarded)
- Special Achievements/Activities Award Areas
- Leadership, Memberships
- Number of Awards
- Not reported
- Top Areas (By Money Awarded)
- Special Characteristics Award Areas
- Ethnic Background, Members of Minorities, Relatives of Clergy
- Number of Awards
- Not reported
- Top Areas (By Money Awarded)
Employment
- Work-Study Programs
- Federal work study available
- Average Earnings from On-Campus Employment
- Not reported
- Academic Calendar System
- Semester
- Summer Session
- Offered
- General Catalog/Bulletin
- Online Catalog
Undergraduate Education
Undergraduate Majors
- Accounting
- African-American/Black Studies
- American/United States Studies/Civilization
- Anthropology
- Applied Mathematics, General
- Arabic Language and Literature
- Art History, Criticism and Conservation
- Asian Studies/Civilization
- Biochemistry
- Biology/Biological Sciences, General
- Business Administration and Management, General
- Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other
- Chemistry, General
- Cinematography and Film/Video Production
- Computational Science
- Computer and Information Sciences, General
- Criminal Justice/Safety Studies
- Dance, General
- Design and Visual Communications, General
- Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General
- Econometrics and Quantitative Economics
- Economics, General
- Elementary Education and Teaching
- Environmental Science
- Environmental Studies
- Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies, Other
- Finance, General
- Financial Mathematics
- Fine/Studio Arts, General
- French Language and Literature
- French Studies
- General Literature
- German Language and Literature
- German Studies
- Graphic Design
- History, General
- International Public Health/International Health
- International Relations and Affairs
- Jewish/Judaic Studies
- Journalism
- Latin American Studies
- Legal Studies, General
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies
- Mass Communication/Media Studies
- Mathematics, General
- Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
- Music History, Literature, and Theory
- Music Technology
- Music, General
- Musical Theatre
- Near and Middle Eastern Studies
- Neuroscience
- Philosophy
- Physics, General
- Political Science and Government, General
- Pre-Dentistry Studies
- Pre-Medicine/Pre-Medical Studies
- Pre-Veterinary Studies
- Psychology, General
- Public Health Education and Promotion
- Public Health, General
- Recording Arts Technology/Technician
- Religion/Religious Studies
- Russian Language and Literature
- Russian Studies
- Secondary Education and Teaching
- Social Sciences, General
- Sociology
- Spanish Language and Literature
- Speech Communication and Rhetoric
- Statistics, General
- Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language/ESL Language Instructor
- Women's Studies
- Most Popular Disciplines
- Social sciences, Business/marketing, Communication/journalism
- Combined Liberal Arts/Professional Degree Programs
- Engineering
- Special Programs
- Accelerated program, Cooperative work study program, Student-designed major, Distance learning, Double major, English as a second language, Honors program, Independent study, Internships, Study abroad, Summer session
- Study Abroad
- Offered
- Online Degrees
- Some online degree programs
Curriculum and Graduation Requirements
- General Education/Core Curriculum
- Required for most or all students
- Computer
- Students not required to own/lease a computer
- Foreign Language
- Not required
- Math/Science
- Required for all students
Faculty and Instruction
- Full-Time Faculty
- 818
- Part-Time Faculty
- 699
- Full-Time Faculty with Ph.D./Terminal Degree
- 51%
- Regular Class Size
- 2-9 students: 5% of classes
10-19 students: 47% of classes
20-29 students: 26% of classes
30-39 students: 17% of classes
40-49 students: 4% of classes
50-99 students: 1% of classes
Over 100 students: 1% of classes - Discussion Section/Lab Class Size
- Not reported
Advanced Placement
- International Baccalaureate
- Accepted
- Advanced Placement (AP) Examinations
- Accepted for placement and credit
- Sophomore Standing
- Available through AP examinations
Academic Resources
- Library Available on Campus
- Yes
- Holdings
- 1,646,150
- Computer Ownership
- Students not required to own/lease a computer
- Computers Available on Campus
- 700
- Internet/E-mail Access
- Not reported
Academic Support Services
- Remedial Instruction
- Tutoring
- Available
- Services for Learning Disabled Students
- Available
- Services for Physically Disabled Students
- Hearing impaired services, visually impaired services, wheelchair access
Graduate/Professional School Education
Master's Degrees Offered
Master of Laws, Master of Arts, Master of Fine Arts, Master of Public Administration and Policy, Master of Science, Master of Public Policy, Master of Public Administration, Master of Arts in Teaching, Master of Science in Organizational Development
Master's Programs of Study
- Anthropology
- Art History
- Arts Administration
- Biological and Biomedical Sciences--General
- Biopsychology
- Biotechnology
- Chemistry
- Clinical Psychology
- Cognitive Sciences
- Criminal Justice and Criminology
- Economics
- Ethics
- Gender Studies
- History
- International Economics
- Law
- Marketing
- Music
- Neuroscience
- Nonprofit Management
- Organizational Management
- Philosophy
- Political Science
- Psychology--General
- Public Administration
- Public Policy
Doctoral Degrees Offered
Juris Doctor, Doctor of Philosophy, Doctor of Juridical Sciences
Doctoral Programs of Study
- Anthropology
- Biopsychology
- Clinical Psychology
- Cognitive Sciences
- Criminal Justice and Criminology
- Economics
- Gender Studies
- History
- International Economics
- Law
- Neuroscience
- Nonprofit Management
- Organizational Management
- Political Science
- Psychology--General
- Public Administration
- Public Policy
Location and Setting
- Washington Population
- 632,323
- Nearest Metropolitan Area
- Washington, DC
- Campus Size
- 84 acres
Weather
- Temperature
- 26.8 average low in January, 84.7 average high in September
- Rain
- 118 rainy days per year
Getting Around
- Campus Map
- Map
- Nearest Bus Station
- 10 mile(s) from campus in Washington, D.C.
- Nearest Train Station
- 10 mile(s) from campus in Washington, D.C.
Housing
- College Housing
- College offers housing to students
- Types of Housing
- Coed housing, disabled student housing
- Students in College Housing
- Housing Requirements
- Freshman Housing Guarantee
- Freshmen are guaranteed housing
- Students Living Off Campus/Commuting
- Off-Campus Housing Assistance
Security
- 24-Hour Emergency Phone/Alarm Devices
- Available
- 24-Hour Security Patrols
- Available
- Late-Night Transport/Escort Services
- Available
- Electronically Operated Housing Entrances
- Available
- Other
Personal Support Services
- Health Service
- Offered
- Personal Counseling
- Offered
- Child Care
- Offered
Sports and Recreation
Intercollegiate Athletics
- Athletic Conferences
- NCAA Division I
- Mascot
- Eagle (Clawed)
- School Colors
- Red and blue
Intercollegiate Sports Offered
Sports | Women | Men | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Offered | Scholarships | Offered | Scholarships | |
Basketball | x | x | x | x |
Cross-Country Running | x | x | x | x |
Field Hockey | x | x | ||
Lacrosse | x | x | ||
Soccer | x | x | x | x |
Swimming And Diving | x | x | ||
Track And Field | x | x | x | x |
Volleyball | x | x | ||
Wrestling | x | x |
Women's Sports | Offered | Scholarships |
---|---|---|
Basketball | x | x |
Cross-Country Running | x | x |
Field Hockey | x | x |
Lacrosse | x | x |
Soccer | x | x |
Swimming And Diving | x | |
Track And Field | x | x |
Volleyball | x | x |
Wrestling |
Mens's Sports | Offered | Scholarships |
---|---|---|
Basketball | x | x |
Cross-Country Running | x | x |
Field Hockey | ||
Lacrosse | ||
Soccer | x | x |
Swimming And Diving | x | |
Track And Field | x | x |
Volleyball | ||
Wrestling | x | x |
- Women's Club Sports
- Men's Club Sports
Recreational Sports
- Intramural Sports
- basketball, football, soccer, table tennis, tennis, track and field, volleyball, water polo, weight lifting
Student Activities
- Activities and Organizations
- choral groups, drama theatre, radio station, student newspaper, television station, national fraternities, national sororities, kennedy political union, habitat for humanity, student government, amnesty international, multiple ethnic and religious organizations
- Sororities
- 11% of women participate
- Fraternities
- 9% of men participate
- ROTC
- Army ROTC is offered off campus, Air Force ROTC offered off campus
Student Body
- Coeducational
- Yes
- All Undergraduates
- 8,287
- Women
- 5,098 (61.5%)
- Men
- 3,189 (38.5%)
- Full-Time Undergraduates
- 7,952
- Ethnicity of Students from U.S.
- 0.1% American Indian/Alaskan Native
7.6% Asian
7.7% Black/African-American
14.3% Hispanic/Latino
4.7% Multi-race (not Hispanic/Latino)
0.1% Native Hawaiian/ Pacific Islander
60.6% White
4.9% Unknown - International Students.
- 12.9% from 123 countries
- Average Age
- 20
- All Graduate Students
- 6,024
Undergraduate Retention and Graduation
- First-Year Students Returning
- 87.8%
- Students Graduating Within 4 Years
- 75.0%
- Students Graduating Within 5 Years
- 79.4%
- Students Graduating Within 6 Years
- 79.2%
After Graduation
- Graduates Offered Full-Time Employment Within 6 Months
- Not reported
- Average Starting Salary
- Not reported
- Graduates Pursuing Advanced Study Directly
- Not reported
- Disciplines Pursued
- Not reported
A portion of the College Profile data is provided under license by:
Peterson's Undergraduate and Undergraduate Financial Aid Databases, copyright © 2019 Peterson's, a Nelnet company. All rights reserved."