Finance and Financial Management Services at American University

Washington, DC · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
75 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
77
Optimistic
75
Base Case
72
Pessimistic
Earnings $83,505/yr (51% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (55% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (622,100 openings/yr)
ROI 3.7x earnings multiple
Ranked #162 of 431 Finance and Financial Management Services programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Finance and Financial Management Services graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $894K $845K $725K
Earnings Multiple 4.0x 3.7x 3.2x
Probability of Field Employment 69% 61% 44%
DegreeOutlook Score 77 75 72

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$226,172
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$167,780
26% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$22,625
3.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$103,137
24% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

American University Finance and Financial Management Services graduates command $83,505/yr out of the gate, well above the $55,340 national median. That 51% premium suggests the program's reputation carries real labor-market weight.

An earnings multiple of 3.7x means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition, but not by a dramatic margin. Returns are positive but modest.

Some AI exposure exists in Finance and Financial Management Services's typical career paths, with 55% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 19% gap from the optimistic case.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $22,625 in median debt clears quickly against $83,505 in annual earnings.

At #162 of 431 Finance and Financial Management Services programs, American University scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Earnings grow from $83,505 to $103,137 over five years — a 24% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About American University

American University's 47% acceptance rate reflects moderate selectivity, enrolling 7,593 students in Washington, DC.

See all programs and financial aid at American University →

Top Career Paths

Chief executives $206,420/yr
Financial managers $161,700/yr
Financial risk specialists $106,000/yr
View all 20 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Finance and Financial Management Services at American University?
This program scores 75/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for Finance and Financial Management Services nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, manageable AI risk, and solid financial return.
Will AI replace Finance and Financial Management Services careers?
With 55% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $724,855 in decade earnings vs $894,367 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →