$39,676/yr
Average net price per year, what students actually pay
American University
Washington, DC·Private · 4-year
GradFax Verified · Federal IPEDS data, updated July 26, 2026
Overview
This school is moderately selective, giving a well-prepared applicant a realistic shot. Most students pay far less than the sticker price: the average student receiving aid pays $39,676 a year against a $79,371 list price, a 50% gap.
American University is a urban private four-year institution located in Washington, DC. It enrolls a mid-sized student body of approximately 12,321 undergraduate students. As a private institution, it sets its own tuition and operates independently of state funding.
At a glance
Data from IPEDS, U.S. Dept. of Education.
Admissions
Acceptance rate
62%
SAT range
1280 - 1460
Academic fit
Admission probability
Students like you
Application tracker
Deadline tracker
Essay prompts
Data from IPEDS, U.S. Dept. of Education. Verify current figures with the school.
Academics
Student:faculty
10:1
Avg class size (est.)
~25 students
Data from IPEDS, U.S. Dept. of Education. Verify current figures with the school.
Costs
Sticker price
$79,371
Avg net price after aid
$39,676
Net price calculator
Data from IPEDS, U.S. Dept. of Education. Verify current figures with the school.
Financial aid
Receiving financial aid
51%
Avg grant aid
$33,548
Data from College Scorecard, U.S. Dept. of Education.
Student body
Data from IPEDS, U.S. Dept. of Education. Verify current figures with the school.
Campus life
Food near campus
Housing & living costs
Find off-campus housing
Data from IPEDS, U.S. Dept. of Education. Verify current figures with the school.
Location
Distance from home
Cost of living
Data from IPEDS, U.S. Dept. of Education. Verify current figures with the school.
Graduate programs
Search grad programs →Detailed graduate program data coming soon.
More about American University
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20 reported figures shown on this page. Every one is sourced from a federal database, a verified API, or clearly labeled community data.