Financeat American University
Graduates earn $83,505/yr in their first year — about 51.0% above the national Finance average. Base-case 10-year earnings $845K; scenarios range from $725K to $894K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at American University
Your impressive earnings potential here is largely shaped by American University's unique position in Washington, D.C. While not a traditional Wall Street pipeline, the program excels by leveraging the capital's robust ecosystem of government agencies, international organizations, major consulting firms, and non-profits with significant financial operations. You're not just learning finance theory; you're immersed in a market demanding specialists in financial regulation, public finance, risk management for federal contracts, and strategic financial consulting. This often leads to roles with firms like Deloitte, Booz Allen Hamilton, or within federal departments and large endowments, rather than solely traditional investment banking. To maximize your outcome, actively engage in D.C.'s extensive internship and networking opportunities, tailoring your skills to these distinctive, high-value career paths.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to American University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Finance
How American University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at American University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at American University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Finance offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Finance trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Finance at American University
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Finance at American University?
This program scores 75/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for Finance nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, manageable AI risk, and solid financial return.
Will AI replace Finance 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.