American University
School Overview: Acceptance Rate, Tuition, and More
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$51,361
Avg tuition
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About American University
American University, also known as AU, is a medium-sized private, nonprofit university located in Washington, D.C. AU was founded in 1893 by John Fletcher Hurst and is now home to around 14,000 students. The university has a strong focus on student-centered research, with nearly 250 programs that include Educational Leadership and Game & Media Design. AU has a total undergraduate enrollment of 8,463. Admissions are highly competitive, with an acceptance rate of 36%. The university offers 80 Bachelor’s Degrees, has an average graduation rate of 79% and a student faculty ratio of 11:1. AU’s average tuition and fees for students is $49,889. American University is consistently ranked as the #1 Doctorate program in Mass Communication and Media studies.
Rankings
Learn more about how this school compares to other schools with rankings by BestColleges.
- #1 Ranked in Best Doctorate in Mass Communication and Media Studies Programs
- #2 Ranked in Best Master's in Game and Media Design Programs
- #2 Ranked in Best Online Doctorate in Educational Leadership Programs
- #2 Ranked in Best Online Master's in Economics Programs
- #3 Ranked in Best Online Master's in Public Policy and Public Affairs Programs of 2022
- #6 Ranked in Master's in Healthcare Administration Programs
- #7 Ranked in Master's in Communication Degree Programs
- #8 Ranked in Best Public Relations and Image Management Programs
- #9 Ranked in Best Online Master's in Nutrition Programs
Admissions Breakdown
Acceptance Rate Insight
This school has a competitive acceptance rate.
This school is a little more selective about its students. Competitive acceptance schools welcome 15-50% of all applicants.
This school has a competitive acceptance rate.
This school is a little more selective about its students. Competitive acceptance schools welcome 15-50% of all applicants.
39% of students were accepted during the 2020-2021 school year. Sometimes schools with midrange acceptance rates have higher standards of entry but are still accessible to many students who apply.
Retention Rate Insight
85% of full-time students stayed to continue their studies the following academic year. These students started in Fall 2019 and returned in Fall 2020.
Graduation Rate Insight
79% of students graduated out of all full-time, first-time students who began their studies in Fall 2014. Keep in mind many students who enroll are not typically first-time students, as most are adult learners. Therefore, the number of first-time students is traditionally low.
Test scores Considered (not required)
High school rank Not required or recommended
High school GPA Required
Completion of college prep program Required
High school transcript Required
Letter of recommendation Required
Open admission No
Test of English as a foreign language (TOEFL) Required
SAT & ACT
Students who attend this school typically have higher standardized test scores than students at other schools.
While test scores can be an important aspect of college applications, schools determine admission based on several factors, and these test scores are only a suggested range.
Learn more about how we determine school awardsACT 25th-75th Percentile 27-32
SAT 25th-75th Percentile 1220-1390
Learning Environment
Student Body Stats
This school has a student body of between 5,000 and 15,000 students.
Learn more about how we determine school awards14k
Students enrolled
33%
Online student enrollment
11:1
Student to faculty ratio
Ways Students Can Learn
Demographics
White
48%
Non-U.S. Citizen
13%
Hispanic
11%
Black
10%
Unknown
7%
Asian
6%
Two or more races
5%
American Indian/Alaska Native
0%
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
0%
Female student population
62%
Socio-economic diversity
15% of students received an income-based Federal Pell Grant intended for low-income students.
Recommended for You
Online Programs
Offers Online Programs
Yes
Online Programs
13
Total Online Enrollment
4,609
Percent of Programs Online
93% On-campus
7% Online
Types of Online Programs Offered
Certificates 10% online
Associate Not offered
Bachelor's Not offered
Graduate Certificate 10% online
Master's 10% online
Doctorate 6% online
Financial Breakdown
Students Receiving Aid
Federal Grant Aid
15%
State Grant Aid
2%
Institution Grant Aid
53%
Pell Grant
15%
Average Aid Awarded
Financial Outlook
$24k
Average student debt after graduation
$47k
Average salary 6 years after starting school
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Data collected from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), [2020-2021]. In the absence of IPED data, information was collected directly from the school and is accurate as of the date of collection. Contact the school directly for the most current and complete information.
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