American University (AU)

Black Pinpoint 4400 Massachusetts Ave, NW | Washington, DC | 20016-8001

01. Overview

What the school is known for:

Tucked away in a beautiful part of Northwest D.C., American University offers students a "campus [that] has a suburban feel." However, being near the nation's capital means they enjoy "the best of both worlds." Here, classes are structured "in a way that not only encourages, but nearly expects students to undertake internships in their field of study." Specifically, students tout the School of International Service (SIS) and the School of Public Affairs (SPA), "both [of which] are among the best in the nation and offer students opportunities to not just learn about but experience their studies." And inside the classroom, students are greeted by professors who are "passionate about [their] subject [matter]" and who tend to have "real-world experience which is helpful for bringing the material to life." Even better, they're "accessible and constantly reach out and encourage students to attend events." Finally, as one student sums it up, "So many of my classes have wound up being better than I ever could have expected, and have launched me down paths I didn't know existed."

02. Rankings

Rankings and Lists

03. Admissions & Acceptance Rate

Applicants Icon
Applicants
17,786
Acceptance Icon
Acceptance Rate
47%

Deadlines

Early Decision
November 15
Early Decision II
January 15
Early Action
November 1
Regular
January 15

SAT & ACT Test Scores

SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing

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25th-75th percentile (enrolled students)
670 - 740

SAT Math

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25th-75th percentile (enrolled students)
620 - 710

SAT Composite Scores

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25th-75th percentile (enrolled students)
1300 - 1370

ACT Composite Scores

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25th-75th percentile (enrolled students)
29 - 32

What would you score on the digital SAT today?

Take an SAT Practice Test

Testing Policies

Standardized testing policy for
use in admission:
Test Optional

Other Admission Factors Academic

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Rigor of Secondary School Record
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Academic GPA

Non-Academic

Level of applicant's interest Icon
Level of applicant's interest

Selectivity

4. Cost, Tuition, Expenses

Expenses per Academic Year

Tuition
$57,952
Average Cost for Books and Supplies
$1,000
Tuition / Fees Vary by Year of Study
Yes
Board for Commuters
6354
Transportation for Commuters
$1,540
On-Campus Room and Board
16930
Approximate Expenses per year
$83,776

Students Also View These Schools

05. Academics

Student Faculty Icon
Student/Faculty
10 : 1
Acceptance Icon
Total Faculty
1,662
Terminal Degree Icon
Terminal Degree
1,295

Gender

Men
839
Women
823
Minority
334
International
31

Class/Lab sizes

Most frequent class size
10-19
Most frequent lab/sub section size
10-19

Rating

Graduation Rates

Graduate in 4 years
73%
Graduate in 5 years
77%
Graduate in 6 years
79%

University Degrees

Associate
Bachelor's
Certificate
Doctoral/Professional
Doctoral/Research
Master's
Post-Bachelor's certificate

06. Student Body

What students say:

Students at American are "truly passionate about what they are learning and are interested in exploring what both D.C. and the world have to offer." Indeed, "whenever you ask them what they are studying...they'll light up and talk for hours on end." Many are also "politically active," "knowledgeable about current events," and "convinced that they will save the world" someday. According to some, this mindset can be "pretty homogenous," as "the AU student body tends to be rather liberal-leaning and relatively affluent." However, another counters, "We have an incredibly diverse student body ranging from students from all across the U.S. to all across the world!" And many insist that "there is a place for everybody on campus." What's more, "everyone is friendly and so easy to strike up conversation with." AU undergrads "care about each other's successes and are there to build each other up, not tear each other down." As this grateful individual concludes, "No other student body both supports and challenges you to be the best student one could possibly be. I could not be more proud to call myself an AU student."

Gender

63% female37% male

Students

96% are
full time
4% are
part time

Student Body Profile

Total Undergraduate Enrollment
7,817
Foreign Countries Represented
93

Student Body Demographics

American Indian or Alaskan Native
0.03%
Asian
7.11%
Black
7.88%
Hispanic
12.80%
Caucasian
56.87%
Unknown
2.96%
International
6.61%

07. Mental Health

08. Campus Life

What students say:

Undergrads at American lead busy and involved lives. Outside of class, students "fill their days with internships and extracurricular activities." This includes anything from "Greek life [to] tutoring to [being a] tour guide," or even singing with an a cappella group. Additionally, "there's always one event or another happening on campus, [whether it's] a concert, cultural event, or movie screening." There's a lot to do both onand off-campus. Great local options include concerts, cultural events, and movie screenings, while in nearby D.C. you'll find undergrads "attending [a] music festival, visiting the National Mall, [or] going to a congressional hearing." In short, "there is always something going on." Students also love "checking out...museums [and] exploring new neighborhoods," which often sends them strolling through "Tenleytown, shopping in Georgetown...[or] walking around the waterfront." When the weather is nice, they also "love going [to] Rock Creek Park...or [the] farmer's markets on Sunday."

Campus Environment
Large Urban
Help finding off-campus housing
Yes

9. Campus Visits

Campus Visits Contact

Phone icon
202-885-6000

Campus Tours

Campus Visiting Center

Monday-Friday; Select Saturdays

Calendar icon
9am-5pm; 9am-2:00pm on Select Saturdays in Fall & Spring
Phone icon
202-885-6000

Campus Tours

Appointment Required:
Yes
Dates:
Year-round
Times:
Weekdays 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturdays 10:30 a.m. and 12 p.m.
Average Length:
2 hours

Visits

CLASS VISITS

Dates/Times Available
Academic Year
Arrangements
Contact Visiting Center

FACULTY AND COACH VISITS

Dates/Times Available
Year-round
Arrangements
Contact Athletic Department
Advance Notice
2 weeks
 

On Campus Interview

Campus Interviews:
Yes
Information Sessions:
Available
Times:
http://www.american.edu/admissions/experience-au/index.cfm

Overnight Dorm Stays

Overnight Dorm Stays
Available
Arrangements
Contact Visiting Center

Campus Tours


TYPES OF TRANSPORTATION AVAILABLE TO CAMPUS

Washington's Metrorail opens at 5:00 a.m. on weekdays and at 7:00 a.m. on weekends. It closes at midnight daily. Please consult WMATA website for scheduling changes (https://www.wmata.com/). The closest Metro stop to American University is Tenleytown/AU on the Red Line. Metro buses run regularly from Tenley Circle to American's campus, less than a mile away. A free AU shuttle bus is also available to take you from the Tenleytown/AU metro stop to AU's campus. Located 10 miles away, Reagan National Airport is the closest airport to the university.


DRIVING INSTRUCTIONS TO CAMPUS

From northeast of Washington (New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore), follow Interstate 95 south to Interstate 495 west toward Silver Spring. See from Interstate 495 (Capital Beltway). From south or west of Washington (Norfolk, Richmond, Charlottsville) follow interstate 95 north or Interstate 66 east to Interstate 495, the Capital Beltway. Follow Interstate 495 north. See from Interstate 495 (Capital Beltway). From northwest of Washington (western Pennsylvania, western Maryland), follow Interstate 270 south. Where Interstate 270 divides, follow the right-hand branch toward norther Virginia (not towards Washington). Merge with Interstate 495, the Capital Beltway, and soon afterwards take exit 39, River Road. See from Interstate 495 (Capital Beltway). From Interstate 495 (Capital Beltway), take exit 39 and carefully follow the signs for River Road (Maryland Route 190) east toward Washington. Continue east on River Road to the fifth traffic light. Turn right onto Goldsboro Road (Maryland Route 614). At the first traffic light, turn left onto Massachusetts Avenue (Maryland Route 396). Continue on Massachusetts Avenue for about two miles, through the first traffic circle (Westmoreland Circle).

LOCAL ACCOMMODATIONS

Please visit the link to the Campus Travel Management Portal located at the bottom of this page: https://www.american.edu/about/visiting-campus.cfm


10. Sports & Athletics

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Athletic Division I

Participate in intercollegiate sports
4%

Men's Sports (Eagles)

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Basketball
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Cross Country
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Diving
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Soccer
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Swimming
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Track Field Indoor
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Track Field Outdoor
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Wrestling

Women's Sports (Eagles)

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Basketball
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Cross Country
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Diving
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Lacrosse
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Soccer
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Swimming
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Track Field Indoor
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Track Field Outdoor
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Volleyball

11. Housing & Activities

Hosting Features

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Disabled Student
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Dorms Coed
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Other
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Theme Housing

Special Needs Admissions

Director
Lindsay Northup-Moore
College Entrance Tests Required
No
Interview Required
No

Student Activities

Registered Student Organizations
200

12. Student Services

Day Care
Health
Womens Center

Military

Army ROTC Offered at cooperating institutions: Georgetown University
Air Force ROTC Offered at cooperating institutions: Howard University

Sustainability

School Has Formal Sustainability Committee
Yes
Sustainability-focused degree available
Yes
School employs a sustainability officer
Yes
Public GHG inventory plan
Yes

Green rating

99%

Food budget spent on local/organic food

34%

Available Transportation Alternatives

Bike Share
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Car Sharing Program
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School Adopted A Policy Prohibiting Idling
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School Developed Bicycle Plan
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CAMPUS SECURITY REPORT

The Jeanne Clery Act requires colleges and universities to disclose their security policies, keep a public crime log, publish an annual crime report and provide timely warnings to students and campus employees about a crime posing an immediate or ongoing threat to students and campus employees.

Please visit The Princeton Review's page on campus safety for additional resources:

Visit Page
Warning Icon

The Princeton Review publishes links directly to each school's Campus Security Reports where available. Applicants can also access all school-specific campus safety information using the Campus Safety and Security Data Analysis Cutting Tool provided by the Office of Postsecondary Education of the U.S. Department of Education: https://ope.ed.gov/campussafety/#/

Other Information

Campus-wide Internet Network
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Fee for Network Use
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Partnerships with Technology Companies
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Personal computer included in tuition for each student
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Discounts Available with Hardware Vendors
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13. Financial Aid

Dates

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Application DeadlinesJan 15
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Notification DateApr 1

Required Forms

FAFSA
Forms CSSProfile

Financial Aid Statistics

Average Freshman Total Need-Based Gift Aid
$36,155
Average Undergraduate Total Need-Based Gift Aid
$30,096
Average Need-Based Loan
$4,210
Average amount of each freshman scholarship/grant package
$34,104
Financial aid provided to international students
Yes

Available Aid

Financial Aid Methodology
Scholarships and Grants

Need-Based Aid

01 - Need-Based College/University Scholarship or Grant Aid from Institutional Funds
02 - Need-Based Federal Pell
03 - Need-Based Private Scholarships
04 - Need-Based SEOG
05 - Need-Based State Scholarships

Federal Direct Student Loan Programs

01 - Direct PLUS Loans
02 - Direct Subsidized Stafford Loans
03 - Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans

Federal Family Education Loan Programs (FFEL):

01 - Federal Perkins Loans
Is Institutional Employment Available (other than Federal Work Study)
Yes

14. Career Services & Jobs

Graduation Rates

Graduate in 4 years
73%
Graduate in 5 years
77%
Graduate in 6 years
79%

Career Services

01 - Alumni Network
02 - Alumni Services
03 - Classes
04 - Interest Inventory
05 - Internships
06 - Regional Alumni

Opportunities at School

01 - Coop
02 - Experiential
03 - Internship

15. Majors

Down Arrow Icon

02 AREA, ETHNIC, CULTURAL, GENDER, AND GROUP STUDIES.

  • African-American/Black Studies.
  • American/United States Studies/Civilization.
  • Asian Studies/Civilization.
  • Ethnic Studies.
  • French Studies.
  • German Studies.
  • Latin American Studies.
  • Near and Middle Eastern Studies.
  • Russian Studies.
  • Women's Studies.
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03 BIOLOGICAL AND BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES.

  • Biochemistry.
  • Biology/Biological Sciences, General.
  • Neuroscience.
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04 BUSINESS, MANAGEMENT, MARKETING, AND RELATED SUPPORT SERVICES.

  • Accounting.
  • Business Administration and Management, General.
  • Business Administration, Management and Operations, Other.
  • Finance, General.
  • International Business/Trade/Commerce.
  • Management Information Systems, General.
  • Marketing/Marketing Management, General.
  • Real Estate.
  • Taxation.
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05 COMMUNICATION, JOURNALISM, AND RELATED PROGRAMS.

  • Journalism.
  • Mass Communication/Media Studies.
  • Public Relations/Image Management.
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08 EDUCATION.

  • Elementary Education and Teaching.
  • Secondary Education and Teaching.
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09 ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE/LETTERS.

  • English Language and Literature, General.
  • General Literature.
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10 FOREIGN LANGUAGES, LITERATURES, AND LINGUISTICS.

  • Arabic Language and Literature.
  • Chinese Language and Literature.
  • French Language and Literature.
  • Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics.
  • Japanese Language and Literature.
  • Language Interpretation and Translation.
  • Russian Language and Literature.
  • Spanish Language and Literature.
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11 HEALTH PROFESSIONS AND RELATED PROGRAMS.

  • Public Health Education and Promotion.
  • Public Health, General.
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12 HISTORY.

  • History, General.
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13 HOMELAND SECURITY, LAW ENFORCEMENT, FIREFIGHTING AND RELATED PROTECTIVE SERVICES.

  • Corrections and Criminal Justice, Other.
  • Criminal Justice/Safety Studies.
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14 LEGAL PROFESSIONS AND STUDIES.

  • Law.
  • Non-Professional General Legal Studies (Undergraduate).
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15 LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES, GENERAL STUDIES AND HUMANITIES.

  • Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, Other.
  • Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies.
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16 MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS.

  • Applied Mathematics.
  • Mathematics, General.
  • Statistics, General.
  • Statistics, Other.
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17 MULTI/INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES.

  • Computational Science.
  • Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other.
  • Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution.
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18 NATURAL RESOURCES AND CONSERVATION.

  • Environmental Science.
  • Environmental Studies.
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19 PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGIOUS STUDIES.

  • Ethics.
  • Jewish/Judaic Studies.
  • Philosophy.
  • Religion/Religious Studies.
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20 PHYSICAL SCIENCES.

  • Chemistry, General.
  • Physics, General.
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21 PSYCHOLOGY.

  • Psychology, General.
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22 SOCIAL SCIENCES.

  • Anthropology.
  • Development Economics and International Development.
  • Econometrics and Quantitative Economics.
  • Economics, General.
  • International Relations and Affairs.
  • Political Science and Government, General.
  • Sociology.
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23 VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS.

  • Art History, Criticism and Conservation.
  • Cinematography and Film/Video Production.
  • Dance, General.
  • Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General.
  • Film/Video and Photographic Arts.
  • Fine/Studio Arts, General.
  • Graphic Design.
  • Music History, Literature, and Theory.
  • Music, General.
  • Musical Theatre.
  • Painting.
  • Photography.
  • Printmaking.
  • Sculpture.
  • Visual and Performing Arts, General.

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