American University

www.american.edu/

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2021 Undergraduate Tuition

$50,542

2021 Average Net Price

$28,622

After Financial Aid

2019 Student Loan

0.99%

Default Rate

2021 Acceptance Rate

64.1%

19,650 Applicants

2021 Enrolled Students

14,852

75.7% Full-Time

2021 Graduation Rate

78.7%

1,400 Graduates

About

American University is a higher education institution located in District of Columbia, DC. In 2021, the most popular Bachelors Degree concentrations at American University were International Relations & Affairs (415 degrees awarded), General Political Science & Government (226 degrees), and General Business Administration & Management (191 degrees).

In 2021, 4,631 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at American University. 63.6% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 36.4% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was white (2,259 degrees), 4.53 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (499 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at American University is $50,542, which is $21,550 more than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($28,992).

Photo by Ted Eytan

Doctoral Universities: Higher Research Activity Doctoral Universities

Costs

In 2021, the median undergraduate tuition at American University is $50,542, which is $21,550 more than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($28,992).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $28,622.

In 2021, 44% of undergraduate students attending American University received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 33% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

Tuition Costs

$50,542

2021 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2021, the cost of tuition at American University was $50,542. The cost of tuition at American University is $21,550 more than than the overall (public and private) national average for Doctoral Universities ($28,992).

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

Average Net Price

$28,622

2021 Value

23.3%

1 Year Growth

In 2021 American University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $28,622. Between 2020 and 2021, the average net price of American University grew by 23.3%.

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

$14,980

Room and Board

$800

Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at American University was of $14,980 in 2021. The cost of room and board increased by 0.672% between 2020 and 2021.

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

44%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

33%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

44% of undergraduate students at American University received financial aid through grants or loans in 2021. This represents a growth of 0% with respect to 2020, when 44% 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.

0.99%

2019 Default Rate

Number of Defaults

In 2019 the default rate for borrower's at American University was 0.99%, which represents 29 out of the 2930 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 19,650 undergraduate applications in 2021, which represents a 1.93% annual growth. Out of those 19,650 applicants, 12,594 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 64.1% acceptance rate.

There were 14,852 students enrolled at American University in 2021. 28% of first-time enrollees submitted SAT scores with their applications.

American University has an overall enrollment yield of 18.8%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.

Acceptance Rate

64.1%

Acceptance Rate in 2021

12,594

Accepted Out of 19,650

In 2021, the undergraduate acceptance rate of American University was 64.1% (12,594 admissions from 19,650 applications). This is higher than the acceptance rate of 2020, which was 38.7%. Between 2020 and 2021, the number of applicants grew by 1.93%, while admissions grew by 62.6%..

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

28%

Submission Percentage (2021)

672

Scores Submitted (2021)

28% of enrolled first-time students at American University in 2021 submitted SAT scores with their applications.

This chart shows the SAT scores for the 25th and 75th percentile of applicants broken out into each section of the test that their are evaluated on.

Enrollment

American University had a total enrollment of 14,852 students in 2021. The full-time enrollment at American University is 11,240 students and the part-time enrollment is 3,612. This means that 75.7% of students enrolled at American University are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at American University, both undergraduate and graduate, is 50.8% White, 11.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.9% Black or African American, 6.15% Asian, 4.71% Two or More Races, 0.101% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.0875% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders.

Students enrolled at American University in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly White Female (34.3%), followed by White Male (19.9%) and Hispanic or Latino Female (7.43%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are most commonly White Female (32.6%), followed by White Male (19.4%) and Hispanic or Latino Female (7.19%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

75.7%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at American University in 2021, both undergraduate and graduate, is 14,852 students. The full-time enrollment at American University is 11,240 and the part-time enrollment is 3,612. This means that 75.7% of students enrolled at American University are enrolled full-time compared with 76.6% 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

90%

2021 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 90%. 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 (2021)

White
7,542 enrolled students
Hispanic or Latino
1,642 enrolled students
Black or African American
1,471 enrolled students

The enrolled student population at American University is 50.8% White, 11.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.9% Black or African American, 6.15% Asian, 4.71% Two or More Races, 0.101% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.0875% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders. This includes both full-time and part-time students as well as graduate and undergraduates. By comparison, enrollment for all Doctoral Universities is 48.9% White, 15.1% Hispanic or Latino, and 9.56% 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, 984 students (6.63%) did not report their race.

Graduates

In 2021, 1,257 more women than men received degrees from American University. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients at American University is white (2,259 degrees awarded). There were 4.53 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (499 degrees).

The most common Bachelor's Degree concentration at American University is International Relations & Affairs (415 degrees awarded), followed by General Political Science & Government (226 degrees) and General Business Administration & Management (191 degrees).

In 2021, 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 (555 degrees awarded), Social Sciences (1,186 degrees), and Cultural & Gender Studies (45 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 (367,084 people), Other managers (331,356 people), Social workers, all other (208,128 people), Elementary & middle school teachers (193,020 people), and Chief executives & legislators (146,849 people).

The most specialized majors at American University in 2021 are Legal (555 degrees awarded), Social Sciences (1,186 degrees), Cultural & Gender Studies (45 degrees), Communications (323 degrees), and Public Administration and Social Service (225 degrees) (as of 2021).

Highest Paying Jobs by Major

Media and communication workers, all other

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 Media and communication workers, all other, Securities, commodities, & financial services sales agents, Surgeons, Nuclear medicine technologists and medical dosimetrists, and Aircraft pilots & flight engineers

The most specialized majors at American University are Legal (555 degrees awarded), Social Sciences (1,186 degrees), Cultural & Gender Studies (45 degrees), Communications (323 degrees), and Public Administration and Social Service (225 degrees) (as of 2021).

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 (472,335 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (354,849 people), Legal services (311,072 people), Computer Systems Design (233,500 people), and Justice, public order, & safety activities (222,527 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 (2021)

International Relations & Affairs
415 degree-majors awarded
General Political Science & Government
226 degree-majors awarded
General Business Administration & Management
191 degree-majors awarded

In 2021, the most common bachelors degree concentration at American University was International Relations & Affairs with 415 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

1,687

Degrees Awarded to Men

in 2021

2,944

Degrees Awarded to Women

in 2021

In 2021, 1,687 degrees were awarded to men at American University, which is 0.573 times less than the number of degrees awarded to females (2,944).

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

Most Common Male Majors

In 2021, 263 degrees were awarded to men at American University in International Relations & Affairs, which is 0.602 times less than the 437 female recipients with that same degree.

Most Common Female Majors

In 2021, 437 degrees were awarded to men at American University in International Relations & Affairs, which is 1.66 times more than the 263 male recipients with that same degree.

Time to Complete

75%

100% Completion Time

79%

150% Completion Time

In 2021, 75% 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.

Asian Female

Highest Graduation Rate (87%)

The student demographic with the highest graduation rate in 2021 at American University is Female and Asian (87% graduation rate). Across all Doctoral Universities, Asian Female students have the highest graduation rate (72.9%).

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, 1.93% of graduates (27 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity (2021)

White
2,259 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino
499 degrees awarded
Black or African American
409 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at American University is white (2,259 degrees awarded). There were 4.53 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (499 degrees).

8.62% of degree recipients (399 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Sex

Most Common Sex Demographic (2021)

White Female
1,386 degrees awarded
White Male
873 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino Female
336 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at American University is white female (1,386 degrees awarded). There were 1.59 times more white female recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white male (873 degrees).

Operations

American University has an endowment valued at nearly $884M, as of the end of the 2021 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of 272M (30.8%) compared to the 10.4% average return (40.5M on 388M) across all Doctoral Universities.

In 2021, American University had a total salary expenditure of 561M. American University employs 319 Instructors, 187 Professors and 183 Associate professors. Most academics at American University are Female Instructor (179), Male Instructor (140), and Male Professor (120).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at American University are: Management, with 435 employees, Community, Social Service, Legal, Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media, with 315 employees, and Business and Financial Operations with 260 employees.

Endowment

$884M

2021 Endowment

26.1%

growth from 2020

American University has an endowment valued at about $884M, as of the end of the 2021 fiscal year. The endowment of American University grew 26.1% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $497M 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

$262M

2021 Salaries

5.99%

decline from 2020

In 2021, American University paid a median of $262M in salaries, which represents 46.6% of their overall expenditure ($561M) and a 5.99% decline from the previous year.

The median for similar Doctoral Universities is 234M (42.8% of overall expenditures).

Instructional Salaries

$90.5M

Instructional Salaries

812

Number of Employees

In 2021, American University paid a total of $90.5M to 812 employees working as instructors, which represents 34.6% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $71M (30.3%) for similar Doctoral Universities.

Occupations by Share

Instructor

Most Common Instructor

319 Employees

Management

Most Common Non-Instructional Employee

435 Employees

In 2021, the most common positions for instructional staff at American University were Instructor with 319 employees, Professor with 187 employees, and Associate professor with 183 employees.

In 2021, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at American University were Management with 435 employees, Community, Social Service, Legal, Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media with 315 employees, and Business and Financial Operations with 260 employees.

Instructors by Academic Rank and Sex

Most Common Demographic (2021)

Female Instructor
Male Instructor
Male Professor

In 2021, the most common demographic for instructional staff at American University was Female Instructor with 179 employees, Male Instructor with 140 employees, and Male Professor with 120 employees.

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