American

American University

American
#277 / #96
Global Influence / U.S. Influence
#113
Most Desirable School
Private liberal arts and research-based university in Washington, D.C.

American University Featured Rankings

About American University

American University (AU) was founded in 1893. AU offers more than 160 academic programs, including 71 bachelor’s degrees, 87 master’s degrees, and 10 doctorates. It is especially known for its programs in political science and government, in international relations, and in business.

AU does not offer online undergraduate degrees, though it does offer several online graduate-level degree programs.

AU is associated with two Nobel laureates—Robert S. Mulliken for chemistry and H.S. Gasser for physiology or medicine.

Other distinguished AU-connected individuals include the following:

  • Computer scientist, Bruce Schneier
  • Novelists—Arnošt Lustig, Ann Beattie, Florence King, and Robert Bausch
  • Biographer, David Garrow
  • Film directors, Barry Levinson and Nancy Meyers
  • Actors—Goldie Hawn, Gale Harold, and Benjamin Salisbury
  • Comedian, Bryan Callen
  • Contemporary classical composer, Lloyd Ultan
  • Popular musician, Henry Rollins (Henry Lawrence Garfield)
  • Sculptor, Frederick Hart
  • Physicist, Ross Gunn
  • Chemist and educator, James B. Conant
  • Psychologist and African American Studies scholar, Edmund W. Gordon
  • Historian, Elizabeth Eisenstein
  • Economists, Julian Simon and Dambisa Moyo
  • Political scientists, James A. Thurber and Mary King
  • Legal scholar, Kenneth Anderson
  • Anthropologist and crime writer, Kathy Reichs
  • Radio talk show hosts, Bob Edwards and Clark Howard
  • Television news commentators—Cal Thomas, Steve Scully, Alisyn Camerota, David Gregory, Neil Cavuto, Barry McCaffrey, and Ayman Mohyeldin
  • Television personalities, Judith Susan Sheindlin (Jude Judy) and Willard Scott
  • Women’s rights activist, Alice Paul
  • Civil rights activist, Julian Bond
  • FIRE (Foundation for Individual Rights in Education) founder and president, Greg Lukianoff
  • Political consultant, Corey Lewandowski
  • German Green Party co-founder, Petra Kelly
  • US foreign-policy commentator and historian, Robert Kagan
  • Political activist and 2000 US presidential candidate, Ralph Nader
  • Former US Representative, Paul Ryan
  • Current US Representatives—Donna Shalala, Jim Ramstad, Haley Stevens, Jamie Raskin, and Jim McGovern
  • Former US Senators, Robert Byrd and Max Cleland
  • Lebanese diplomat and philosopher, Charles Malick
  • Current Kurdish Prime Minister, Masrour Barzani
  • Current President of Sierra Leone, Julius Maada Bio
  • Current President of Columbia, Iván Duque Márquez

AU is regionally accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSACS).

According to Wikipedia, The American University is a private federally chartered research university in Washington, D.C. Its main campus spans 90 acres on Ward Circle, mostly in the Spring Valley neighborhood of Northwest D.C. AU was chartered by an Act of Congress in 1893 at the urging of Methodist bishop John Fletcher Hurst, who sought to create an institution that would promote public service, internationalism, and pragmatic idealism. AU broke ground in 1902, opened as a graduate education institution in 1914, and admitted its first undergraduates in 1925. Although affiliated with the United Methodist Church, religious affiliation is not a criterion for admission.

American University's Online Degrees

American University Admissions, Retention, and Graduation Information

Annual ApplicationsAcceptanceGraduation RateMedian SAT ScoreMedian ACT Score
19,51041%79%136030

How Much Does American University Cost To Attend?

Tuition (in-state)
$53,889
Price by Family Income
IncomeAverage Net Cost
0 - 30K$25,678
30K - 48K$22,059
48K - 75K$30,528
75K - 110K$34,332
110K+$50,571

Source: National Center for Education Statistics

How Much Do American University Graduates Make?

If you graduate from American University, then you can expect to earn an average of $67,700 per year. You also have a 89% chance of being employed after 10 years.

American University's Demographics

Demographic data is for full-time, on-campus students.

Student BodyUnder-GradsGraduates
16,9349,4807,454

Where is American University?

American University is located at 4400 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington DC 20016-8001

How Safe is American University?

Washington has a violent crime rate of less than .01% and a property crime rate of less than .01%.

What Is American University Known For?

American University is known for it's academic work in the following disciplines:

American University's Top Areas of Influence With Degrees Offered

Political Science
#65
World Rank
#72
Historical Rank
#22
USA Rank
political-science Degrees
Criminal Justice
#45
World Rank
#48
Historical Rank
#38
USA Rank
criminal-justice Degrees
Law
#124
World Rank
#130
Historical Rank
#40
USA Rank
Economics
#207
World Rank
#227
Historical Rank
#54
USA Rank
economics Degrees
Education
#198
World Rank
#201
Historical Rank
#61
USA Rank
education Degrees
Business
#152
World Rank
#152
Historical Rank
#62
USA Rank
business Degrees
Sociology
#213
World Rank
#228
Historical Rank
#73
USA Rank
sociology Degrees
Anthropology
#202
World Rank
#228
Historical Rank
#77
USA Rank
anthropology Degrees
Communications
#255
World Rank
#283
Historical Rank
#79
USA Rank
communications Degrees
History
#260
World Rank
#258
Historical Rank
#99
USA Rank
history Degrees
Computer Science
#374
World Rank
#377
Historical Rank
#101
USA Rank
computer-science Degrees
Religious Studies
#426
World Rank
#449
Historical Rank
#101
USA Rank
religious-studies-hub Degrees
Mathematics
#437
World Rank
#482
Historical Rank
#115
USA Rank
math Degrees
Literature
#344
World Rank
#400
Historical Rank
#122
USA Rank
literature Degrees
Philosophy
#421
World Rank
#465
Historical Rank
#131
USA Rank
philosophy Degrees
Physics
#585
World Rank
#622
Historical Rank
#147
USA Rank
physics Degrees
Psychology
#380
World Rank
#386
Historical Rank
#160
USA Rank
psychology Degrees
Biology
#559
World Rank
#593
Historical Rank
#161
USA Rank
biology Degrees
Chemistry
#765
World Rank
#789
Historical Rank
#171
USA Rank
chemistry Degrees
Medical
#618
World Rank
#628
Historical Rank
#184
USA Rank
medicine Degrees

Who Are American University's Most Influential Alumni?

American University's most influential alumni include professors and professionals in the fields of Criminal Justice, Political Science, and Law. Here are some of American University's most famous alumni:

Bruce Schneier
Bruce Schneier
An American computer scientist, (1963 - ), New York, New York.
Oliver North
Oliver North
An American political commentator.
Alice Paul
Alice Paul
An American suffragist, feminist, and activist .
Stephen A. Kent
Stephen A. Kent
A Canadian sociologist.
Queen Rania of Jordan
Queen Rania of Jordan
A Queen consort of Jordan.
Corey Lewandowski
Corey Lewandowski
An American political operative and commentator.
Juan E. Méndez
An Argentine lawyer and activist.
Robert Kagan
Robert Kagan
An American historian .
Kathy Reichs
Kathy Reichs
An American writer and forensic anthropologist.
James Alan Fox
An American criminologist.
Clark Howard
Clark Howard
A Syndicated Talk radio host, Consumer Advocate, & author.
Max Brooks
Max Brooks
An American author.

Who Are American University's Most Influential Faculty?

American University's most influential faculty include professors in the fields of Criminal Justice, Political Science, and Law. Here are some of American University's most famous alumni:

Ibram X. Kendi
Ibram X. Kendi
An American author and historian.
Stephen Thompson
An American editor.
Jason Wingard
Jason Wingard
An American university president.
Peter Jaszi
Peter Jaszi
An American legal scholar.
Kavita Bala
An Indian computer scientist and academic.
Jennifer Daskal
Jennifer Daskal
An American lawyer.
Tom Cochran
Tom Cochran
An Obama administration technology official.
Lydia X. Z. Brown
Lydia X. Z. Brown
An Autistic disability rights activist.
Alexandra Silverthorne
An American photographer.
Trevor Owens
An American librarian.
Megan Gebbia
An American basketball player.