University

American University

Washington, District of Columbia, United States

Verified · last verified 2026-09-02

University details

Institution type: Private, nonprofit
Campus setting: Urban
Application platforms: Not available
Testing policy: Not available
In-state tuition: $58,771
Out-of-state tuition: $58,771
Cost of attendance: Not available (2024–2025)
Undergraduate enrollment: 7,266

Website

Common Data Set

Institution-reported facts by reporting cycle. Missing and withheld values are shown explicitly.

2025–2026 · most recent available

First-year admission rate

65.6%

Calculated from applications and admissions reported in CDS C1. This is a factual calculation, not a CollegePath rating.

Enrollment

Undergraduate enrollment (B1): 6,730 students
Full-time undergraduate enrollment (B1): 6,517 students
Part-time undergraduate enrollment (B1): 213 students

First-year admission

Majors

Accounting and Related Services
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
Anthropology
Social Sciences
Applied Mathematics
Mathematics and Statistics
Area Studies
Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, and Group Studies
Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians
Communications Technologies/Technicians and Support Services
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Biology, General
Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Business Administration, Management and Operations
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services

Deadlines

Early action · 2026–2027
2026-11-01 — First-year deadline listed in the Common App 2026–2027 Requirements Grid, updated 2026-08-14.
https://content.commonapp.org/Files/ReqGrid.pdf
Early decision · 2026–2027
2026-11-01 — First-year deadline listed in the Common App 2026–2027 Requirements Grid, updated 2026-08-14.
https://content.commonapp.org/Files/ReqGrid.pdf
Early decision II · 2026–2027
2027-01-15 — First-year deadline listed in the Common App 2026–2027 Requirements Grid, updated 2026-08-14.
https://content.commonapp.org/Files/ReqGrid.pdf
Regular decision · 2026–2027
2027-01-15 — First-year deadline listed in the Common App 2026–2027 Requirements Grid, updated 2026-08-14.
https://content.commonapp.org/Files/ReqGrid.pdf

Supplemental essays

How many responses?

1 AU supplemental short-answer response

American University requires one supplemental short-answer response in addition to the Common Application personal essay.

2026–2027

Required · First-year applicants
American University students identify as changemakers and describe themselves as passionate. Describe a belief, hobby, idea, issue, or topic about which you’re excited.
No length limit reported — Required AU supplemental short-answer prompt for the 2026–2027 cycle.
https://www.american.edu/admissions/first-year/checklist.cfm

Application requirements

2026–2027

Application fee · Required
Value: $75
First-year U.S. application fee listed in the Common App 2026–2027 Requirements Grid, updated 2026-08-28.
https://content.commonapp.org/Files/ReqGrid.pdf
Fee waiver · Optional
Value: Accepted
Common App fee-waiver availability listed in the 2026–2027 Requirements Grid, updated 2026-08-28.
https://content.commonapp.org/Files/ReqGrid.pdf
Personal essay · Required
The Common App personal essay is marked required in the Common App 2026–2027 Requirements Grid, updated 2026-08-28.
https://content.commonapp.org/Files/ReqGrid.pdf
Supplemental essays · Required

Sources

Direct sources supporting this university’s facts, with retrieval dates.

Secondary source · supports requirements:2026–2027
https://content.commonapp.org/Files/ReqGrid.pdf
Retrieved 2026-09-02 — Common App member-reported first-year fee, waiver, and personal-essay fields; grid updated 2026-08-28.
Official source · supports supplemental_essays:2026–2027
https://www.american.edu/admissions/first-year/checklist.cfm
Retrieved 2026-09-02 — Official American University first-year checklist with the 2026–2027 AU supplemental short-answer prompt.
Common App 2026–2027 Requirements Grid · supports deadlines:2026–2027
https://content.commonapp.org/Files/ReqGrid.pdf
Retrieved 2026-08-20 — Common App member-reported first-year deadlines; grid updated 2026-08-14.
Official source

First-year applications (C1)

First-year students admitted (C1)

13,741 students

First-year students enrolled (C1)

1,545 students

High-school GPA distribution · GPA 4.0 (C11)

Not reported by institution

High-school GPA distribution · GPA 3.75-3.99 (C11)

Not reported by institution

High-school GPA distribution · GPA 3.50-3.74 (C11)

Not reported by institution

High-school GPA distribution · GPA 3.25-3.49 (C11)

Not reported by institution

High-school GPA distribution · GPA 3.00-3.24 (C11)

Not reported by institution

High-school GPA distribution · GPA 2.50-2.99 (C11)

Not reported by institution

High-school GPA distribution · GPA 2.00-2.49 (C11)

Not reported by institution

High-school GPA distribution · GPA 1.00-1.99 (C11)

Not reported by institution

High-school GPA distribution · GPA below 1.0 (C11)

Not reported by institution

Average high-school GPA (C12)

Not reported by institution

The official CDS does not report GPA distribution or average GPA values.

Testing

Enrolled students submitting scores · SAT (C9): 15.92%
Enrolled students submitting scores · ACT (C9): 6.08%
SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing · 25th percentile (C9): 630 score
SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing · 75th percentile (C9): 710 score
SAT Math · 25th percentile (C9): 680 score
SAT Math · 75th percentile (C9): 740 score
ACT Composite · 25th percentile (C9): 30 score
ACT Composite · 75th percentile (C9): 33 score

Academics and class size

Student-to-faculty ratio (I2): 10:1; The canonical PDF form field reports the Fall 2025 ratio.

Source: American University Common Data Set 2025-2026 · Retrieved 2026-09-01

Open the official institutional source

Document ID: sha256:028afe7523ad134163d2b745a05e440d290bb7e42512303514795b930ae10286 · Import: cds-2026-09-v20

Communication and Media Studies

Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs

Computational Science

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies

Computer Science

Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services

Criminal Justice and Corrections

Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services

Dance

Visual and Performing Arts

Design and Applied Arts

Visual and Performing Arts

Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft

Visual and Performing Arts

Economics

Social Sciences

Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies

Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, and Group Studies

Film/Video and Photographic Arts

Visual and Performing Arts

Finance and Financial Management Services

Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services

Fine and Studio Arts

Visual and Performing Arts

International Relations and National Security Studies

Social Sciences

Journalism

Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities

Literature

English Language and Literature/Letters

Mathematics

Mathematics and Statistics

Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies

Music

Visual and Performing Arts

Natural Resources Conservation and Research

Natural Resources and Conservation

Neurobiology and Neurosciences

Biological and Biomedical Sciences

Non-Professional Legal Studies

Legal Professions and Studies

Philosophy

Philosophy and Religious Studies

Physics

Physical Sciences

Political Science and Government

Social Sciences

Psychology, General

Psychology

Public Health

Health Professions and Related Programs

Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication

Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs

Religion/Religious Studies

Philosophy and Religious Studies

Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

Sociology

Social Sciences

Statistics

Mathematics and Statistics

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods

Education

Value: 1 AU supplemental short-answer response

American University requires one supplemental short-answer response in addition to the Common Application personal essay.

Retrieved 2026-06-10