American University acceptance rate, cost and outcomes
American University · Private nonprofit · Washington, DC · 7,817 undergraduates (IPEDS fall 2023)
American University admitted 47.4% of applicants for fall 2023, up from 43.1% in 2013. Tuition and fees are $62,242 for every student in 2025-26.
Admit rate, 2013 to 2023
Show as table
| Fall | Admit rate | Applicants | Admitted |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 43.1% | 17,545 | 7,566 |
| 2014 | 45.8% | 15,119 | 6,931 |
| 2015 | 35.0% | 16,735 | 5,860 |
| 2016 | 25.9% | 19,325 | 5,008 |
| 2017 | 29.4% | 18,699 | 5,498 |
| 2018 | 31.5% | 18,984 | 5,988 |
| 2019 | 36.1% | 18,545 | 6,691 |
| 2020 | 38.7% | 20,036 | 7,744 |
| 2021 | 64.1% | 19,650 | 12,594 |
| 2022 | 40.6% | 19,510 | 7,926 |
| 2023 | 47.4% | 17,786 | 8,427 |
Applications went from 17,545 in fall 2013 to 17,786 in fall 2023. Admit rate = admitted ÷ applicants. Source: IPEDS fall admissions.1
What families actually pay
Show as table
| Family income | Net price / year, 2024-25 |
|---|---|
| $0 to $30,000 | $28,397 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 | $19,487 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 | $27,150 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 | $31,984 |
| Over $110,000 | $53,571 |
| Tuition and fees, all students (2025-26) | $62,242 |
| Cost of attendance (2024-25) | $79,369 |
| Average net price, students with federal aid (2024-25) | $41,302 |
Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants, for first-time full-time students with federal aid, 2024-25. Tuition is 2025-26. Source: College Scorecard.2
SAT and ACT
Middle 50% (25th to 75th percentile) of enrolled first-year students who submitted scores: 26% submitted the SAT, 16% the ACT. Source: IPEDS fall 2023.1
Similar private colleges
| College | Admit rate | Tuition and fees |
|---|---|---|
| GWU DC | 43.5% | $70,170 same for all |
| Howard University DC | 34.9% | $38,936 same for all |
| Georgetown DC | 13.1% | $71,338 same for all |
Same state and type first, then the nearest admit rate. Fall 2023 and 2025-26 figures.
What the numbers say
American University received 17,786 applications for fall 2023 and extended offers to 8,427 of them, a rate of 47.4%.1 Compared with 43.1% in fall 2013, the rate is up 4.3 percentage points.1 The path between was irregular, with a low of 25.9% in 2016 and a high of 64.1% in 2021, and only 3 of the 10 yearly changes were declines.1 Applications grew 1% over the span, while the number admitted grew 11%.1
Test scores are optional. Among enrolled students, 26% submitted SAT scores and 16% submitted ACT scores.1
Tuition and fees for 2025-26 are $62,242, above the $49,675 median of the 8 private colleges in the District of Columbia.2 Families earning $0 to $30,000 faced an average net price of $28,397 in 2024-25, those earning $48,001 to $75,000 faced $27,150, and those earning over $110,000 faced $53,571.2
About 75% of students who entered in 2019 graduated within 6 years, compared with a District median of 74%.2 Retention was 88%, and Pell grants went to 18% of undergraduates.2 Median earnings reached $85,458 10 years after entry, above the $69,682 District median.2 Borrowers left with a median debt of $22,250.2
Every number on this page, with its source field
| Figure | Value | File, field, year |
|---|---|---|
| Applicants | 17,786 | IPEDS ADM2023, APPLCN, fall 20231 |
| Admitted | 8,427 | IPEDS ADM2023, ADMSSN, fall 20231 |
| Enrolled first-years | 1,856 | IPEDS ADM2023, ENRLT, fall 20231 |
| Undergraduates | 7,817 | IPEDS DRVEF2023, EFUG, fall 20234 |
| Admission policy | Selective (not open admission) | IPEDS IC2023, OPENADMP, 2023-243 |
| Test policy | Test-optional | IPEDS ADM2023, ADMCON7, fall 20231 |
| SAT reading/writing, 25th percentile | 670 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATVR25, fall 20231 |
| SAT reading/writing, 75th percentile | 740 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATVR75, fall 20231 |
| SAT math, 25th percentile | 630 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATMT25, fall 20231 |
| SAT math, 75th percentile | 710 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATMT75, fall 20231 |
| ACT composite, 25th percentile | 29 | IPEDS ADM2023, ACTCM25, fall 20231 |
| ACT composite, 75th percentile | 33 | IPEDS ADM2023, ACTCM75, fall 20231 |
| Enrolled students submitting SAT | 26% | IPEDS ADM2023, SATPCT, fall 20231 |
| Enrolled students submitting ACT | 16% | IPEDS ADM2023, ACTPCT, fall 20231 |
| Tuition and fees, all students | $62,242 | College Scorecard, TUITIONFEE_IN, 2025-262 |
| Cost of attendance | $79,369 | College Scorecard, COSTT4_A, 2024-252 |
| Average net price, students with federal aid | $41,302 | College Scorecard, NPT4_PRIV, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $0 to $30,000 | $28,397 | College Scorecard, NPT41_PRIV, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $30,001 to $48,000 | $19,487 | College Scorecard, NPT42_PRIV, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $48,001 to $75,000 | $27,150 | College Scorecard, NPT43_PRIV, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $75,001 to $110,000 | $31,984 | College Scorecard, NPT44_PRIV, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income over $110,000 | $53,571 | College Scorecard, NPT45_PRIV, 2024-252 |
| Graduation rate within 6 years | 75% | College Scorecard, C150_4, 2019 entrants2 |
| First-year retention | 88% | College Scorecard, RET_FT4, fall 2023 entrants2 |
| Undergraduates with a Pell grant | 18% | College Scorecard, PCTPELL, 2024-252 |
| Median earnings 10 years after entry | $85,458 | College Scorecard, MD_EARN_WNE_P10, 2022-232 |
| Median federal debt of graduates | $22,250 | College Scorecard, GRAD_DEBT_MDN, FY2024-252 |
| Median tuition and fees, private nonprofit colleges, District of Columbia (N = 8) | $49,675 | College Scorecard, median TUITIONFEE_IN, private nonprofit bachelor's institutions, 2025-262 |
| Median graduation rate within 6 years, District of Columbia (N = 8) | 74% | College Scorecard, median C150_4, bachelor's institutions, 2019 entrants2 |
| Median earnings 10 years after entry, District of Columbia (N = 9) | $69,682 | College Scorecard, median MD_EARN_WNE_P10, bachelor's institutions, 2022-232 |
Sources
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): IPEDS admissions files, fall 2013 to fall 2023 (IC2013, ADM2014, ADM2015, ADM2016, ADM2017, ADM2018, ADM2019, ADM2020, ADM2021, ADM2022, ADM2023). Checked 26 Oct 2026.
- U.S. Department of Education: College Scorecard, Most Recent Institution-Level Data (Most-Recent-Cohorts-Institution (release of 15 Oct 2026)). Data years: 2019 entrants, 2022-23, 2024-25, 2025-26, FY2024-25, fall 2023 entrants. Checked 25 Oct 2026.
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): IPEDS Institutional Characteristics 2023-24 (IC2023.zip). Data years: 2023-24. Checked 26 Oct 2026.
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): IPEDS Fall Enrollment, derived variables, fall 2023 (DRVEF2023.zip). Data years: 2023. Checked 26 Oct 2026.
AdmitFacts is not affiliated with American University, the U.S. Department of Education or NCES. Missing values are shown as Not reported, never estimated. The file field behind each figure is listed under "Every number on this page". How we build each page