American University
American University's main campus occupies 90 acres in the Spring Valley and Tenleytown neighborhoods of Northwest D.C. Students are drawn to its focus on public service and internationalism. Its location in the nation's capital provides access to internships and resources related to government and policy. The university also maintains a strong relationship with the United Methodist Church.
Financial Aid
The sticker price is rarely what families actually pay. American University's grant and scholarship aid lowers the net price for most income brackets. 13% of students receive Pell Grants; 35% take federal loans.
Average net price across income brackets is $30,225, roughly 47% lower than the published tuition.
Net Price by Family Income
Academic Year 2025| Income Bracket | Avg Net Price | 4-Year Net Cost |
|---|---|---|
| $0 – $30K | $21,176 | $84,704 |
| $30K – $48K | $18,630 | $74,520 |
| $48K – $75K | $23,477 | $93,908 |
| $75K – $110K | $34,587 | $138,348 |
| $110K+ | $53,257 | $213,028 |
| Sticker price (no aid) | $56,543 | $226,172 |
Programs at American University
24 degree programs ranked by DegreeOutlook Score. Click any program for AI scenario analysis and 10-year earnings projections.
| Degree Program | DW Score | 1-yr Earnings | AI Risk | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Finance
Finance and Financial Management Services Compare across schools → |
75
|
$83,505/yr | Very High | 3.6x |
|
Business Administration
Business Administration, Management and Operations Compare across schools → |
65
|
$58,299/yr | High | 2.9x |
| Economics Compare across schools → |
60
|
$58,151/yr | Very High | 2.4x |
|
Public Relations & Advertising
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication Compare across schools → |
59
|
$50,026/yr | High | 3.2x |
|
Teacher Education
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods Compare across schools → |
58
|
$55,625/yr | High | 1.9x |
|
Political Science
Political Science and Government Compare across schools → |
52
|
$48,034/yr | Very High | 2.5x |
|
Legal Studies
Non-Professional General Legal Studies (Undergraduate) Compare across schools → |
48
|
$45,790/yr | Moderate | 3.5x |
|
International Relations
International Relations and National Security Studies Compare across schools → |
44
|
$47,551/yr | High | 2.1x |
| Public Health Compare across schools → |
44
|
$42,194/yr | High | 2.0x |
|
Natural Resources & Conservation Research
Natural Resources Conservation and Research Compare across schools → |
42
|
$46,780/yr | High | 2.5x |
|
Criminal Justice
Criminal Justice and Corrections Compare across schools → |
42
|
$37,147/yr | Moderate | 1.7x |
| History Compare across schools → |
39
|
$43,809/yr | High | 1.4x |
| Communication and Media Studies Compare across schools → |
37
|
$36,980/yr | High | 2.3x |
| Sociology Compare across schools → |
36
|
$40,119/yr | High | 1.8x |
|
Ethnic & Cultural Studies
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies Compare across schools → |
33
|
$46,206/yr | Very High | 2.0x |
| Area Studies Compare across schools → |
32
|
$43,671/yr | Very High | 2.0x |
|
Fine Arts
Fine and Studio Arts Compare across schools → |
32
|
$35,115/yr | Moderate | 0.6x |
| Journalism Compare across schools → |
31
|
$44,387/yr | Very High | 1.5x |
|
Biology
Biology, General Compare across schools → |
26
|
$33,917/yr | High | 1.4x |
|
Psychology
Psychology, General Compare across schools → |
24
|
$25,773/yr | High | 1.8x |
|
Film & Photography
Film/Video and Photographic Arts Compare across schools → |
23
|
$26,767/yr | High | 2.1x |
|
Theater & Drama
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft Compare across schools → |
17
|
$23,979/yr | Moderate | 1.1x |
|
Audio & Video Technology
Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians Compare across schools → |
16
|
$19,337/yr | High | 1.9x |
| Literature Compare across schools → |
12
|
$23,164/yr | Very High | 1.3x |
More Colleges in District of Columbia
Top-scored 4-year colleges and universities elsewhere in District of Columbia, ranked by average DegreeOutlook Score across their programs.