American University

www.american.edu

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2023 Undergraduate Tuition

$55,724

5% growth from 2022

2023 Average Net Price

$40,189

After Financial Aid

2020 Default Rate

on Student Loans

2023 Acceptance Rate

47.4%

17,786 Applicants

2023 Enrolled Students

13,019

80.2% Full-Time

2023 Graduation Rate

78.5%

1,394 Graduates

About

American University is a higher education institution located in District of Columbia, DC. In 2023, the most popular Masters Degree concentrations at American University were International Relations & Affairs (486 degrees awarded), Public Administration (220 degrees), and General Educational Leadership & Administration (111 degrees).

In 2023, 4,863 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at American University. 63.7% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 36.3% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was white (2,399 degrees), 4.25 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (564 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at American University is $55,724, which is $24,721 more than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,004).

In 2020 the default rate for borrower's at American University was 0%, corresponding to 0 out of the 2,896 total borrowers.

Photo by Ted Eytan

Doctoral Universities: Higher Research Activity Doctoral Universities

Costs

In 2023, the median undergraduate tuition at American University is $55,724, which is $24,721 more than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,004).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $40,189.

In 2023, 48% of undergraduate students attending American University received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 35% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

Tuition Costs

$55,724

2023 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2023, the cost of tuition at American University was $55,724. The cost of tuition at American University is $24,721 more than than the overall (public and private) national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,004).

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

Average Net Price

$40,189

2023 Value

2.85%

1 Year Growth

In 2023 American University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $40,189. Between 2022 and 2023, the average net price of American University grew by 2.85%.

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

$15,706

Room and Board

$800

Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at American University was of $15,706 in 2023. The cost of room and board increased by 3.67% between 2022 and 2023.

During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $800. The cost of books and supplies did not change 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

48%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

35%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

48% of undergraduate students at American University received financial aid through grants or loans in 2023. This represents a growth of 2.13% with respect to 2022, when 47% 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.

Student Loan Default Rate

Cohort default rates only account for borrowers who default in the first three years, and some schools only have a small proportion of borrowers entering repayment. These rates should be interpreted with caution, as they may not be reflective of the entire school population.

2020 Default Rate

Number of Defaults

In 2020 the default rate for borrower's at American University was 0%, which represents 0 out of the 2896 total borrowers.

A cohort default rate is the percentage of a school's borrowers who enter repayment on certain Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program or William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program loans during a particular federal fiscal year (FY), October 1 to September 30, and default or meet other specified conditions prior to the end of the second following fiscal year.

Admissions

American University received 17,786 undergraduate applications in 2023, which represents a 8.84% annual growth. Out of those 17,786 applicants, 8,427 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 47.4% acceptance rate.

There were 13,019 students enrolled at American University in 2023. 26% of first-time enrollees submitted SAT scores with their applications.

American University has an overall enrollment yield of 22%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.

Acceptance Rate

47.4%

Acceptance Rate in 2023

8,427

Accepted Out of 17,786

In 2023, the undergraduate acceptance rate of American University was 47.4% (8,427 admissions from 17,786 applications). This is higher than the acceptance rate of 2022, which was 40.6%. Between 2022 and 2023, the number of applicants declined by 8.84%, while admissions grew by 6.32%.

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

26%

Submission Percentage (2023)

479

Scores Submitted (2023)

26% of enrolled first-time students at American University in 2023 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 13,019 students in 2023. The full-time enrollment at American University is 10,438 students and the part-time enrollment is 2,581. This means that 80.2% of students enrolled at American University are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at American University, both undergraduate and graduate, is 50.9% White, 12.3% Hispanic or Latino, 9.46% Black or African American, 6.53% Asian, 4.76% Two or More Races, 0.0768% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders, and 0.0461% American Indian or Alaska Native.

Students enrolled at American University in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly White Female (35.4%), followed by White Male (20.2%) and Hispanic or Latino Female (7.93%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are most commonly White Female (29.9%), followed by White Male (18.1%) and Hispanic or Latino Female (7.79%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

80.2%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at American University in 2023, both undergraduate and graduate, is 13,019 students. The full-time enrollment at American University is 10,438 and the part-time enrollment is 2,581. This means that 80.2% of students enrolled at American University are enrolled full-time compared with 77.9% 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

86%

2023 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 86%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Doctoral Universities (84%), 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 (2023)

White
6,629 enrolled students
Hispanic or Latino
1,595 enrolled students
Black or African American
1,232 enrolled students

The enrolled student population at American University is 50.9% White, 12.3% Hispanic or Latino, 9.46% Black or African American, 6.53% Asian, 4.76% Two or More Races, 0.0768% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders, and 0.0461% 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 46.5% White, 15.9% Hispanic or Latino, and 9.78% 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, 778 students (5.98%) did not report their race.

Graduates

In 2023, 1,335 more women than men received degrees from American University. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients at American University is white (2,399 degrees awarded). There were 4.25 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (564 degrees).

The most common Masters Degree concentration at American University is International Relations & Affairs (486 degrees awarded), followed by Public Administration (220 degrees) and General Educational Leadership & Administration (111 degrees).

In 2023, 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 (476 degrees awarded), Social Sciences (1,387 degrees), and Public Administration and Social Service (330 degrees).

Common Jobs by Major

Lawyers, & judges, magistrates, & other judicial workers

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 Lawyers, & judges, magistrates, & other judicial workers (385,887 people), Other managers (370,491 people), Social workers, all other (211,503 people), Elementary & middle school teachers (183,019 people), and Chief executives & legislators (164,811 people).

The most specialized majors at American University in 2023 are Legal (476 degrees awarded), Social Sciences (1,387 degrees), Public Administration and Social Service (330 degrees), Communications (330 degrees), and Cultural & Gender Studies (37 degrees) (as of 2023).

Highest Paying Jobs by Major

Diagnostic medical sonographers

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 Diagnostic medical sonographers, Surgeons, Cardiovascular technologists and technicians, Securities, commodities, & financial services sales agents, and Magnetic resonance imaging technologists

The most specialized majors at American University are Legal (476 degrees awarded), Social Sciences (1,387 degrees), Public Administration and Social Service (330 degrees), Communications (330 degrees), and Cultural & Gender Studies (37 degrees) (as of 2023).

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 (475,148 people), Legal services (358,749 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (333,375 people), Justice, public order, & safety activities (230,277 people), and Computer Systems Design (204,856 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 (2023)

International Relations & Affairs
486 degrees awarded
Public Administration
220 degrees awarded
General Educational Leadership & Administration
111 degrees awarded

In 2023, the most common masters degree concentration at American University was International Relations & Affairs with 486 degrees awarded.

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

Sex Breakdown for Common Majors

1,764

Degrees Awarded to Men

in 2023

3,099

Degrees Awarded to Women

in 2023

In 2023, 1,764 degrees were awarded to men at American University, which is 0.569 times less than the number of degrees awarded to females (3,099).

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

Most Common Male Majors

In 2023, 354 degrees were awarded to men at American University in International Relations & Affairs, which is 0.653 times less than the 542 female recipients with that same degree.

Most Common Female Majors

In 2023, 542 degrees were awarded to men at American University in International Relations & Affairs, which is 1.53 times more than the 354 male recipients with that same degree.

Time to Complete

73%

100% Completion Time

79%

150% Completion Time

In 2023, 73% 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 79% 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.

American Indian or Alaska Native Female

Highest Graduation Rate (100%)

The student demographic with the highest graduation rate in 2023 at American University is Female and American Indian or Alaska Native (100% graduation rate). Across all Doctoral Universities, Non-resident Alien Male students have the highest graduation rate (65.7%).

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, 3.59% of graduates (50 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity (2023)

White
2,399 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino
564 degrees awarded
Black or African American
426 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at American University is white (2,399 degrees awarded). There were 4.25 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (564 degrees).

7.46% of degree recipients (363 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Sex

Most Common Sex Demographic (2023)

White Female
1,507 degrees awarded
White Male
892 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino Female
390 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at American University is white female (1,507 degrees awarded). There were 1.69 times more white female recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white male (892 degrees).

Operations

American University has an endowment valued at nearly $961M, as of the end of the 2023 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of 103M (10.7%) compared to the 4.37% average return (19M on 434M) across all Doctoral Universities.

In 2023, American University had a total salary expenditure of 710M. American University employs 357 Instructors, 196 Professors and 176 Associate professors. Most academics at American University are Female Instructor (200), Male Instructor (157), and Male Professor (120).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at American University are: Management, with 482 employees, Community, Social Service, Legal, Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media, with 321 employees, and Business and Financial Operations with 275 employees.

Endowment

$961M

2023 Endowment

5.75%

growth from 2022

American University has an endowment valued at about $961M, as of the end of the 2023 fiscal year. The endowment of American University grew 5.75% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $527M 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

$295M

2023 Salaries

6.3%

growth from 2022

In 2023, American University paid a median of $295M in salaries, which represents 41.5% of their overall expenditure ($710M) and a 6.3% growth from the previous year. This is compared to a 6.08% growth between 2021 and 2022, and a 5.99% decline between 2020 and 2021.

The median for similar Doctoral Universities is 246M (41.5% of overall expenditures).

Instructional Salaries

$101M

Instructional Salaries

846

Number of Employees

In 2023, American University paid a total of $101M to 846 employees working as instructors, which represents 34.2% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $6.13M (2.35%) for similar Doctoral Universities.

Occupations by Share

Instructor

Most Common Instructor

357 Employees

Management

Most Common Non-Instructional Employee

482 Employees

In 2023, the most common positions for instructional staff at American University were Instructor with 357 employees, Professor with 196 employees, and Associate professor with 176 employees.

In 2023, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at American University were Management with 482 employees, Community, Social Service, Legal, Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media with 321 employees, and Business and Financial Operations with 275 employees.

Instructors by Academic Rank and Sex

Most Common Demographic (2023)

Female Instructor
Male Instructor
Male Professor

In 2023, the most common demographic for instructional staff at American University was Female Instructor with 200 employees, Male Instructor with 157 employees, and Male Professor with 120 employees.

This chart shows the sex split between each academic rank present at American University.

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