Acceptance rate
62.0%
American University
Admission Chances & Acceptance Rate
Located in Washington, DC, this private university enrolls about 13,900 students and accepts 62% of applicants. Social Sciences is the dominant field, representing 36% of degrees awarded. Graduates earn a median of $77,370 ten years after entry, and the school maintains an 88% first-year retention rate with a 75% six-year graduation rate.
Enrollment
13,885
Test policy
optional
Grad rate (6-yr)
75%
Will you get into American University?
Enter your GPA, SAT & ACT and get your personal admission probability — free, no credit card.
Calculate my chances →◴ Admitted Student Profile
The middle 50% of admitted students (25th–75th percentile), self-reported by the school.
SAT (combined)
1280 – 1460
ACT (composite)
29 – 32
GPA
Not published
$ What You'll Actually Pay
Average yearly net price after grants & scholarships, by family income (federal cohort averages — not a personal quote).
$0–30k
$23,233
family income
$30–48k
$20,444
family income
$48–75k
$26,035
family income
$75–110k
$30,063
family income
$110k+
$53,673
family income
14% receive Pell grants
38% take federal loans
✦ Strongest Programs
The fields American University graduates the most students in — a signal of depth, faculty, and alumni networks.
Social Sciences
35.6%
Business & Marketing
13.4%
Multi/Interdisciplinary
9.3%
Communications
7.2%
Criminal Justice
5.4%
↗ Outcomes
School-level averages across all students who enrolled (College Scorecard). Not a personal forecast.
Earnings (10 yr)
$77,370
Earnings (6 yr)
$61,328
Completion
75%
Retention
88%
Median debt
$22,750
? Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at American University?
American University has an acceptance rate of 62.0%, making it relatively accessible.
What SAT score do you need for American University?
The middle 50% of admitted students scored between 1280 and 1460 on the SAT. The ACT range is 29–32.
How much does American University actually cost?
After grants and scholarships, the average net price for the lowest income band is $23,233 per year, rising to $53,673 for families earning $110k+. These are federal cohort averages, not a personal quote.
What are my chances of getting into American University?
Your odds depend on how your GPA and test scores compare to admitted students, plus factors like major, residency, and early decision. UniversityOdds calculates a personalized probability for free — enter your stats to see yours.
See your real odds at American University and ~50 top schools
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Get my free odds →Data sourced from IPEDS, the Common Data Set, and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Acceptance probabilities calculated by UniversityOdds are estimates based on published academic data and are not a guarantee of admission. Net price figures are federal cohort averages, not personalized quotes — run the school's official net price calculator for your own estimate.