American University

Washington, District of Columbia · Private nonprofit · Predominantly bachelor's · City: Large

Official websiteNet price calculatorAccreditor: Middle States Commission on Higher Education

The average annual net price for first-time, full-time undergraduates receiving federal aid is $41,302. 75% of first-time, full-time students completed within 150% of normal time. Students who received federal aid had median earnings of $85,458 ten years after entering. The median federal loan debt of graduates is $22,250.

Average net price
$41,302
per year Verified data
Completion rate
75%
within 150% of normal time Verified data
Median earnings
$85,458
10 years after entry Verified data
Median debt
$22,250
graduates, federal loans Verified data

Cost and net price

In-state tuition and fees$62,242
Out-of-state tuition and fees$62,242
Average cost of attendance$79,369
Books and supplies$1,200
Room and board, on campus$18,618
Average net price, all aided students$41,302
Average net price, family income $0 to $30,000$28,397
Average net price, family income over $110,000$53,571

Net price is the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time undergraduates who receive federal aid. Your price depends on your family finances; use the school's net price calculator for an estimate. Tuition: AcadYr 2025-26, reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26. Net price and cost of attendance: AcadYr 2024-25, reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26.

Admissions and enrollment

Admission rate
62%
SAT range, middle 50% (reading plus math)
1280 to 1460
ACT composite range, middle 50%
29 to 32
Undergraduate enrollment
7,266
Graduate enrollment
4,845
Students receiving Pell grants
18%
Student to faculty ratio
10 to 1

Admission rate and enrollment: Fall 2024, reported in IPEDS DCY2024-25. SAT and ACT ranges come from IPEDS and may not reflect test-optional policies.

Aiming for this range? ConnectPrep's advising view is that students should target the 75th percentile of a school's range. See SAT prep or take a free diagnostic.

Graduation, earnings, and debt

Completion within 150% of normal time75%
Completion within normal time66%
First-year retention (full-time)88%
Median federal debt, graduates$22,250
Typical monthly payment on that debt (10 years)$253
Median Parent PLUS debt, completers$43,157
Share earning more than a typical high school graduate, 6 years after entry84%
1 year after completion$52,809
4 years after completion$79,081
6 years after entry$64,737
8 years after entry$76,696
10 years after entry$85,458
Median earnings of former students who received federal aid and are working and not enrolled. Ten years after entry the median is $85,458; the middle half earned $58,575 to $120,120. Cohorts differ by measure; see definitions below.
Measure definitions and cohorts
  • Median earnings of students working and not enrolled 10 years after entry (MD_EARN_WNE_P10): Treasury AY2011-12, AY2012-13 pooled cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
  • Median earnings of graduates working and not enrolled 1 year after completing (MD_EARN_WNE_1YR): Treasury AY2020-21, AY2021-22 pooled cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
  • Median earnings of graduates working and not enrolled 4 years after completing (MD_EARN_WNE_4YR): Treasury AY2017-18, AY2018-19 pooled cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
  • The median debt for students who have completed (GRAD_DEBT_MDN): NSLDS FY2024, FY2025 pooled cohorts
  • Completion rate for first-time, full-time students at four-year institutions (150% of expected time to completion) (C150_4): Fall 2019 or AcadYr 2019-20 cohort (differs by institutional calendar), reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26
  • Average net price for Title IV institutions (public institutions) (NPT4_PUB): AcadYr 2024-25, reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26

Institution-level earnings cover students who received federal financial aid, including students who did not complete. Debt figures include federal loans only and exclude private loans.

Programs and program-level outcomes

Highest early earnings among programs at American University

Median earnings of graduates working and not enrolled one year after completing, by program. Programs with too few graduates are suppressed for privacy and not shown.

169 programs reported. Program earnings are for graduates of this school's program, which is different from the wages of everyone working in a related occupation.

Undergraduate certificate (14)
Program (CIP)Graduates (recent year)Median earnings, 1 yrMedian debt
Anthropology
CIP 45.02 · All credentials fully online
0Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Area Studies
CIP 05.01 · No credentials fully online
1Data unavailableSuppressed for privacy
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management
CIP 11.10 · No credentials fully online
13Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Data Analytics
CIP 30.71 · No credentials fully online
2Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies
CIP 05.02 · No credentials fully online
4Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Health/Medical Preparatory Programs
CIP 51.11 · No credentials fully online
1Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
International/Globalization Studies
CIP 30.20 · No credentials fully online
6Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services
CIP 16.01 · No credentials fully online
35$51,356$20,500
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
CIP 30.99 · No credentials fully online
67$47,971$23,000
Philosophy
CIP 38.01 · No credentials fully online
4Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Physical Sciences, Other
CIP 40.99 · No credentials fully online
2Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Political Science and Government
CIP 45.10 · No credentials fully online
52$55,185$21,229
Statistics
CIP 27.05 · No credentials fully online
1Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language
CIP 13.14 · No credentials fully online
0Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Associate's degree (1)
Program (CIP)Graduates (recent year)Median earnings, 1 yrMedian debt
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
CIP 24.01 · No credentials fully online
0Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Bachelor's degree (46)
Program (CIP)Graduates (recent year)Median earnings, 1 yrMedian debt
Accounting and Related Services
CIP 52.03 · No credentials fully online
11Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Anthropology
CIP 45.02 · No credentials fully online
8Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Applied Mathematics
CIP 27.03 · No credentials fully online
0Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Area Studies
CIP 05.01 · No credentials fully online
14$31,796Suppressed for privacy
Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians
CIP 10.02 · No credentials fully online
7Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
CIP 26.02 · No credentials fully online
8Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Biology, General
CIP 26.01 · No credentials fully online
37Suppressed for privacy$20,375
Business Administration, Management and Operations
CIP 52.02 · No credentials fully online
215$58,346$20,750
Chemistry
CIP 40.05 · No credentials fully online
6Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Communication and Media Studies
CIP 09.01 · No credentials fully online
31$56,275Suppressed for privacy
Computational Science
CIP 30.30 · No credentials fully online
2Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Computer Science
CIP 11.07 · No credentials fully online
20Suppressed for privacy$21,991
Criminal Justice and Corrections
CIP 43.01 · No credentials fully online
120$50,419$20,875
Dance
CIP 50.03 · No credentials fully online
0Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Data Science
CIP 30.70 · No credentials fully online
4Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Design and Applied Arts
CIP 50.04 · No credentials fully online
13Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
CIP 50.05 · No credentials fully online
17$36,862Suppressed for privacy
East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
CIP 16.03 · No credentials fully online
2Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Economics
CIP 45.06 · No credentials fully online
72$59,345$19,062
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies
CIP 05.02 · No credentials fully online
14Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
CIP 50.06 · No credentials fully online
54$38,663$20,167
Finance and Financial Management Services
CIP 52.08 · No credentials fully online
43$76,317$23,250
Fine and Studio Arts
CIP 50.07 · No credentials fully online
11Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
History
CIP 54.01 · No credentials fully online
34$46,964$23,250
International Relations and National Security Studies
CIP 45.09 · No credentials fully online
391$52,053$20,500
Journalism
CIP 09.04 · No credentials fully online
60$50,406$20,500
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
CIP 24.01 · No credentials fully online
0Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Literature
CIP 23.14 · No credentials fully online
34$45,230$22,176
Mathematics
CIP 27.01 · No credentials fully online
10Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
CIP 16.11 · No credentials fully online
2Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
CIP 30.99 · No credentials fully online
107$55,587$19,500
Music
CIP 50.09 · No credentials fully online
8Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
CIP 03.01 · No credentials fully online
44$38,268$21,250
Neurobiology and Neurosciences
CIP 26.15 · No credentials fully online
15Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Non-Professional Legal Studies
CIP 22.00 · No credentials fully online
40$57,941$21,375
Philosophy
CIP 38.01 · No credentials fully online
8Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Physics
CIP 40.08 · No credentials fully online
6Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Political Science and Government
CIP 45.10 · No credentials fully online
208$56,964$19,875
Psychology, General
CIP 42.01 · No credentials fully online
85$48,145$23,250
Public Health
CIP 51.22 · No credentials fully online
66$49,977$19,930
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
CIP 09.09 · No credentials fully online
59$55,454$22,250
Religion/Religious Studies
CIP 38.02 · No credentials fully online
2Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
CIP 16.09 · No credentials fully online
8Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Sociology
CIP 45.11 · No credentials fully online
14$39,978$27,000
Statistics
CIP 27.05 · No credentials fully online
19Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
CIP 13.12 · No credentials fully online
23Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Master's degree (58)
Program (CIP)Graduates (recent year)Median earnings, 1 yrMedian debt
Accounting and Related Services
CIP 52.03 · Some credentials fully online
10$81,731Suppressed for privacy
Anthropology
CIP 45.02 · No credentials fully online
7$49,375Suppressed for privacy
Applied Mathematics
CIP 27.03 · No credentials fully online
1Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management
CIP 50.10 · No credentials fully online
10Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians
CIP 10.02 · No credentials fully online
13Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Biology, General
CIP 26.01 · No credentials fully online
3Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology
CIP 26.11
Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Biotechnology
CIP 26.12 · No credentials fully online
4Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Business Administration, Management and Operations
CIP 52.02 · Some credentials fully online
105$105,389Suppressed for privacy
Chemistry
CIP 40.05 · No credentials fully online
0Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Communication and Media Studies
CIP 09.01 · Some credentials fully online
50$72,279Suppressed for privacy
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other
CIP 09.99 · No credentials fully online
3Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Computer Science
CIP 11.07 · No credentials fully online
6Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Criminal Justice and Corrections
CIP 43.01 · No credentials fully online
29$59,598Suppressed for privacy
Data Analytics
CIP 30.71 · No credentials fully online
6Data unavailableSuppressed for privacy
Data Science
CIP 30.70 · Some credentials fully online
31Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Design and Applied Arts
CIP 50.04 · No credentials fully online
11Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Economics
CIP 45.06 · Some credentials fully online
36$78,792Suppressed for privacy
Educational Administration and Supervision
CIP 13.04 · Some credentials fully online
67$74,976Suppressed for privacy
Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research
CIP 13.06 · All credentials fully online
0Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
CIP 50.06 · No credentials fully online
25$54,168Suppressed for privacy
Finance and Financial Management Services
CIP 52.08 · No credentials fully online
6Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Fine and Studio Arts
CIP 50.07 · No credentials fully online
11$37,814Suppressed for privacy
Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services
CIP 19.05 · All credentials fully online
36$54,996Suppressed for privacy
Health and Medical Administrative Services
CIP 51.07 · All credentials fully online
8$88,939Suppressed for privacy
History
CIP 54.01 · No credentials fully online
20$51,742Suppressed for privacy
Homeland Security
CIP 43.03 · Some credentials fully online
77$77,963Suppressed for privacy
Human Resources Management and Services
CIP 52.10 · All credentials fully online
21$83,895Suppressed for privacy
Information Science/Studies
CIP 11.04 · No credentials fully online
7$118,124Suppressed for privacy
International Business
CIP 52.11 · All credentials fully online
10$68,420Suppressed for privacy
International Relations and National Security Studies
CIP 45.09 · Some credentials fully online
383$73,678Suppressed for privacy
International and Comparative Education
CIP 13.07 · No credentials fully online
9Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Journalism
CIP 09.04 · No credentials fully online
17$61,469Suppressed for privacy
Legal Professions and Studies, Other
CIP 22.99 · No credentials fully online
1Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies
CIP 22.02 · Some credentials fully online
139$74,345Suppressed for privacy
Literature
CIP 23.14 · No credentials fully online
5Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
CIP 52.13 · Some credentials fully online
88$101,587Suppressed for privacy
Marketing
CIP 52.14 · No credentials fully online
18$65,449Suppressed for privacy
Mathematics
CIP 27.01
Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
CIP 03.01 · Some credentials fully online
51$71,013Suppressed for privacy
Neurobiology and Neurosciences
CIP 26.15 · No credentials fully online
3Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution
CIP 30.05 · No credentials fully online
35$61,780Suppressed for privacy
Philosophy
CIP 38.01 · No credentials fully online
30$55,267Suppressed for privacy
Political Science and Government
CIP 45.10 · No credentials fully online
25$67,270Suppressed for privacy
Psychology, General
CIP 42.01 · No credentials fully online
24Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Public Administration
CIP 44.04 · Some credentials fully online
153$79,444Suppressed for privacy
Public Health
CIP 51.22 · Some credentials fully online
9Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Public Policy Analysis
CIP 44.05 · No credentials fully online
97$73,753Suppressed for privacy
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
CIP 09.09 · No credentials fully online
31$63,787Suppressed for privacy
Real Estate
CIP 52.15 · No credentials fully online
5Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
CIP 23.13 · No credentials fully online
11Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Sociology
CIP 45.11 · No credentials fully online
4Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Special Education and Teaching
CIP 13.10 · Some credentials fully online
1Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
CIP 31.05 · All credentials fully online
21$62,685Suppressed for privacy
Statistics
CIP 27.05 · No credentials fully online
8Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Taxation
CIP 52.16 · No credentials fully online
4Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
CIP 13.12 · Some credentials fully online
150$63,853Suppressed for privacy
Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language
CIP 13.14 · No credentials fully online
5Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Graduate certificate (37)
Program (CIP)Graduates (recent year)Median earnings, 1 yrMedian debt
Accounting and Related Services
CIP 52.03 · No credentials fully online
5Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Anthropology
CIP 45.02 · Some credentials fully online
1Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Area Studies
CIP 05.01 · No credentials fully online
0Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management
CIP 50.10 · No credentials fully online
1Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians
CIP 10.02 · No credentials fully online
0Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Business Administration, Management and Operations
CIP 52.02 · Some credentials fully online
4Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Design and Applied Arts
CIP 50.04 · No credentials fully online
0Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Economics
CIP 45.06 · No credentials fully online
5Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Educational Administration and Supervision
CIP 13.04 · No credentials fully online
0Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research
CIP 13.06 · All credentials fully online
0Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations
CIP 52.07 · No credentials fully online
0Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies
CIP 05.02 · No credentials fully online
2Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services
CIP 19.05 · All credentials fully online
0Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Health/Medical Preparatory Programs
CIP 51.11 · No credentials fully online
0Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Human Resources Management and Services
CIP 52.10 · All credentials fully online
1Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
International Business
CIP 52.11 · No credentials fully online
0Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
International Relations and National Security Studies
CIP 45.09 · No credentials fully online
12Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
International and Comparative Education
CIP 13.07 · No credentials fully online
4Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies
CIP 22.02 · No credentials fully online
12Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services
CIP 16.01 · No credentials fully online
0Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
CIP 52.13 · Some credentials fully online
21$124,976Suppressed for privacy
Mathematics and Statistics, Other
CIP 27.99 · No credentials fully online
10Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
CIP 03.01 · Some credentials fully online
1Data unavailableSuppressed for privacy
Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution
CIP 30.05 · No credentials fully online
1Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration
CIP 51.20 · No credentials fully online
1Data unavailableSuppressed for privacy
Political Science and Government
CIP 45.10 · No credentials fully online
1Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Public Administration
CIP 44.04 · No credentials fully online
0Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Public Administration and Social Service Professions, Other
CIP 44.99 · No credentials fully online
2Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Public Policy Analysis
CIP 44.05 · No credentials fully online
1Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Real Estate
CIP 52.15 · No credentials fully online
2Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Security Science and Technology
CIP 43.04 · No credentials fully online
5Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Social Sciences, Other
CIP 45.99 · No credentials fully online
1Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Sociology
CIP 45.11 · No credentials fully online
0Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
CIP 31.05 · All credentials fully online
0Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Statistics
CIP 27.05 · No credentials fully online
2Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Taxation
CIP 52.16 · No credentials fully online
1Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language
CIP 13.14 · No credentials fully online
0Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Doctoral degree (12)
Program (CIP)Graduates (recent year)Median earnings, 1 yrMedian debt
Anthropology
CIP 45.02 · No credentials fully online
1Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
CIP 42.28 · No credentials fully online
2Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Communication and Media Studies
CIP 09.01 · No credentials fully online
3Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Criminal Justice and Corrections
CIP 43.01 · No credentials fully online
5Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Economics
CIP 45.06 · No credentials fully online
7Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Educational Administration and Supervision
CIP 13.04 · All credentials fully online
34Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
History
CIP 54.01 · No credentials fully online
6Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
International Relations and National Security Studies
CIP 45.09 · No credentials fully online
8Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies
CIP 22.02 · No credentials fully online
2Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Neurobiology and Neurosciences
CIP 26.15 · No credentials fully online
5Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Political Science and Government
CIP 45.10 · No credentials fully online
2Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Public Administration
CIP 44.04 · No credentials fully online
9Suppressed for privacySuppressed for privacy
Professional degree (JD, MD, and similar) (1)
Program (CIP)Graduates (recent year)Median earnings, 1 yrMedian debt
Law
CIP 22.01 · No credentials fully online
378$83,340Suppressed for privacy
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, Most Recent Field of Study Data. Varies by measure; see measure definitions. Published October 15, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
UNITID 131159, OPEID 001434. Data unavailable means the Department of Education did not publish the figure or suppressed it for privacy. Report a data issue.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, Most Recent Institution-Level Data. Varies by measure; see measure definitions. Published October 15, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.