American University

www.american.edu

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2024 Undergraduate Tuition

$57,952

4% growth from 2023

2024 Average Net Price

$39,676

After Financial Aid

2024 Acceptance Rate

62%

17,173 Applicants

2024 Enrolled Students

12,321

82.3% Full-Time

2024 Graduation Rate

75.5%

1,321 Graduates

About

American University is a higher education institution located in District of Columbia, DC. In 2024, the most popular Bachelors Degree concentrations at American University were International Relations & Affairs (391 degrees awarded), General Political Science & Government (203 degrees), and General Business Administration & Management (183 degrees).

In 2024, 4,638 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at American University. 64.4% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 35.6% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was white (2,258 degrees), 4.03 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (560 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at American University is $57,952, which is $26,032 more than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,920).

Photo by Ted Eytan

Doctoral Universities: Higher Research Activity Doctoral Universities

Costs

In 2024, the median undergraduate tuition at American University is $57,952, which is $26,032 more than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,920).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $39,676.

In 2024, 51% of undergraduate students attending American University received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 38% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

Tuition Costs

$57,952

2024 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2024, the cost of tuition at American University was $57,952. The cost of tuition at American University is $26,032 more than than the overall (public and private) national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,920).

This chart compares the tuition costs of American University (in red) with those of other similar universities.

Average Net Price

$39,676

2024 Value

1.28%

1 Year Growth

In 2024 American University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $39,676. Between 2023 and 2024, the average net price of American University grew by 1.28%.

This chart compares the average net price of American University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

Average net price is calculated from full-time beginning undergraduate students who were awarded a grant or scholarship from federal, state or local governments, or the institution.

Other Student Expenses

$15,862

Room and Board

$1,000

Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at American University was of $15,862 in 2024. The cost of room and board increased by 0.993% between 2023 and 2024.

During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $1,000. The cost of books and supplies increased by 25% during the same period.

This chart compares the average student costs at American University (in red) with that of similar universities.

Financial Aid by Income Level

51%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

38%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

51% of undergraduate students at American University received financial aid through grants or loans in 2024. This represents a growth of 6.25% with respect to 2023, when 48% of undergraduate students received financial aid.

This chart compares the average award discount at American University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

The average award discount is the ratio between the average grant or scholarship value, and the cost, which is the sum of out-of-state tuition, room, board, book, supplies, and other expenses.

Admissions

American University received 17,173 undergraduate applications in 2024, which represents a 3.45% annual growth. Out of those 17,173 applicants, 10,640 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 62% acceptance rate.

There were 12,321 students enrolled at American University in 2024. 22% of first-time enrollees submitted SAT scores with their applications.

American University has an overall enrollment yield of 15.6%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.

Acceptance Rate

62%

Acceptance Rate in 2024

10,640

Accepted Out of 17,173

In 2024, the undergraduate acceptance rate of American University was 62% (10,640 admissions from 17,173 applications). This is higher than the acceptance rate of 2023, which was 47.4%. Between 2023 and 2024, the number of applicants declined by 3.45%, while admissions grew by 26.3%.

This chart compares the acceptance rate of American University (in red) with that of other similar universities, and the chart below shows the acceptance rate by gender.

SAT Scores

22%

Submission Percentage (2024)

366

Scores Submitted (2024)

22% of enrolled first-time students at American University in 2024 submitted SAT scores with their applications.

The following chart shows the average SAT scores for the 25th, 50th, and 75th percentile of applicants for each section of the test that they are evaluated on.

Enrollment

American University had a total enrollment of 12,321 students in 2024. The full-time enrollment at American University is 10,136 students and the part-time enrollment is 2,185. This means that 82.3% of students enrolled at American University are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at American University, both undergraduate and graduate, is 49.8% White, 13.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.63% Black or African American, 6.65% Asian, 4.88% Two or More Races, 0.0568% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders, and 0.0487% American Indian or Alaska Native.

Students enrolled at American University in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly White Female (34.6%), followed by White Male (21%) and Hispanic or Latino Female (8.45%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are most commonly White Female (28.1%), followed by White Male (17%) and Hispanic or Latino Female (7.71%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

82.3%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at American University in 2024, both undergraduate and graduate, is 12,321 students. The full-time enrollment at American University is 10,136 and the part-time enrollment is 2,185. This means that 82.3% of students enrolled at American University are enrolled full-time compared with 77.3% at similar Doctoral Universities.

This chart shows the full-time vs part-time enrollment status at American University (in red) compares to similar universities.

Retention Rate over Time

88%

2024 Retention Rate

Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall. The retention rate for full-time undergraduates at American University was 88%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Doctoral Universities (82%), American University had a retention rate higher than its peers.

This chart shows the retention rate over time at American University (highlighted in red) compares to similar universities.

Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

Most Common Race or Ethnicity (2024)

White
6,136 enrolled students
Hispanic or Latino
1,618 enrolled students
Black or African American
1,187 enrolled students

The enrolled student population at American University is 49.8% White, 13.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.63% Black or African American, 6.65% Asian, 4.88% Two or More Races, 0.0568% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders, and 0.0487% American Indian or Alaska Native. This includes both full-time and part-time students as well as graduate and undergraduates. By comparison, enrollment for all Doctoral Universities is 46.2% White, 16.3% Hispanic or Latino, and 10.4% Black or African American.

Any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis is categorized as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the share of those students are shown in the chart below. Additionally, 832 students (6.75%) did not report their race.

Graduates

In 2024, 1,334 more women than men received degrees from American University. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients at American University is white (2,258 degrees awarded). There were 4.03 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (560 degrees).

The most common Bachelor's Degree concentration at American University is International Relations & Affairs (391 degrees awarded), followed by General Political Science & Government (203 degrees) and General Business Administration & Management (183 degrees).

In 2024, the most specialized majors across all degree types at American University, meaning they have significantly more degrees awarded in that concentration than the national average across all institutions, are Legal (572 degrees awarded), Social Sciences (1,238 degrees), and Natural Resources & Conservation (96 degrees).

Common Jobs by Major

Other managers

Most Common Job

The most common jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at American University are Other managers (406,863 people), Lawyers, & judges, magistrates, & other judicial workers (386,504 people), Social workers, all other (207,277 people), Elementary & middle school teachers (189,849 people), and Chief executives & legislators (171,405 people).

The most specialized majors at American University in 2024 are Legal (572 degrees awarded), Social Sciences (1,238 degrees), Natural Resources & Conservation (96 degrees), Public Administration and Social Service (262 degrees), and Communications (254 degrees) (as of 2024).

Highest Paying Jobs by Major

Surgeons

Highest Paying Job

The highest paying jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at American University are Surgeons, Diagnostic medical sonographers, Securities, commodities, & financial services sales agents, Nurse anesthetists, and Magnetic resonance imaging technologists

The most specialized majors at American University are Legal (572 degrees awarded), Social Sciences (1,238 degrees), Natural Resources & Conservation (96 degrees), Public Administration and Social Service (262 degrees), and Communications (254 degrees) (as of 2024).

Common Industries by Major

Elementary & secondary schools

Most Common Industry

The most common industries for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at American University are Elementary & secondary schools (525,521 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (385,364 people), Legal services (328,231 people), Computer Systems Design (299,557 people), and Justice, public order, & safety activities (240,144 people).

Majors Awarded

IPEDS uses the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) standard, so the categories may not match the exact concentrations offered by American University.

Most Common (2024)

International Relations & Affairs
391 degrees awarded
General Political Science & Government
203 degrees awarded
General Business Administration & Management
183 degrees awarded

In 2024, the most common bachelors degree concentration at American University was International Relations & Affairs with 391 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of degree-majors recipients from bachelors degree programs at American University according to their major.

Sex Breakdown for Common Majors

1,652

Degrees Awarded to Men

in 2024

2,986

Degrees Awarded to Women

in 2024

In 2024, 1,652 degrees were awarded to men at American University, which is 0.553 times less than the number of degrees awarded to females (2,986).

This chart displays the sex disparity between the top 5 majors at American University by degrees awarded.

Most Common Male Majors

In 2024, 323 degrees were awarded to men at American University in International Relations & Affairs, which is 0.686 times less than the 471 female recipients with that same degree.

Most Common Female Majors

In 2024, 471 degrees were awarded to men at American University in International Relations & Affairs, which is 1.46 times more than the 323 male recipients with that same degree.

Time to Complete

74%

100% Completion Time

79%

150% Completion Time

In 2024, 74% of students graduating from American University completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 79% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 80% within 200%.

The following chart shows these completion rates over time compared to the average for the Doctoral Universities Carnegie Classification group.

Graduation rate is defined as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within a specific percentage of "normal time" to completion for their program.

Graduation Rate by Race and Sex

Showing demographic groups with ≥ 5 graduating students.

Asian Female

Highest Graduation Rate (81.3%)

The student demographic with the highest graduation rate in 2024 at American University is Female and Asian (81.3% graduation rate). Across all Doctoral Universities, Asian Female students have the highest graduation rate (75.5%).

The department of education defines graduation rate as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within 150% of "normal time" to completion.

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) categorizes any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the graduation rate of those students is shown in the chart below. Additionally, 3.11% of graduates (41 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity (2024)

White
2,258 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino
560 degrees awarded
Black or African American
466 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at American University is white (2,258 degrees awarded). There were 4.03 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (560 degrees).

6.75% of degree recipients (313 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Sex

Most Common Sex Demographic (2024)

White Female
1,507 degrees awarded
White Female
1,445 degrees awarded
White Female
1,413 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at American University is white female (1,507 degrees awarded). There were 1.04 times more white female recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white female (1,445 degrees).

Operations

American University has an endowment valued at nearly $1.03B, as of the end of the 2024 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of 143M (13.8%) compared to the 9.4% average return (23.7M on 252M) across all Doctoral Universities.

In 2024, American University had a total salary expenditure of 714M. American University employs 307 Lecturers, 198 Professors and 172 Associate professors. Most academics at American University are Female Lecturer (178), Male Lecturer (129), and Male Professor (120).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at American University are: Management, with 480 employees, Community, Social Service, Legal, Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media, with 287 employees, and Business and Financial Operations with 248 employees.

Endowment

$1.03B

2024 Endowment

7.37%

growth from 2023

American University has an endowment valued at about $1.03B, as of the end of the 2024 fiscal year. The endowment of American University grew 7.37% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $780M higher than than the median endowment of Doctoral Universities according to the Carnegie Classification grouping.

This line chart shows how the endowment at American University (in red) compares to that of some similar universities.

The small bar chart below shows the endowment quintiles for all universities in the Doctoral Universities: Higher Research Activity Carnegie Classification grouping.

Salary Expenditure

$311M

2024 Salaries

5.42%

growth from 2023

In 2024, American University paid a median of $311M in salaries, which represents 43.5% of their overall expenditure ($714M) and a 5.42% growth from the previous year. This is compared to a 6.3% growth between 2022 and 2023, and a 6.08% growth between 2021 and 2022.

Instructional Salaries

$101M

Instructional Salaries

815

Number of Employees

In 2024, American University paid a total of $101M to 815 employees working as instructors, which represents 32.4% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $4.1M (2.29%) for similar Doctoral Universities.

Occupations by Share

In 2024, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at American University were Management with 480 employees, Community, Social Service, Legal, Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media with 287 employees, and Business and Financial Operations with 248 employees.

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