American University

Quick Stats

4400 Massachusetts Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20016: [map]

Phone: (202) 885-1000

2011-2012 Tuition

$38,071: tuition and fees

Students

7,070: enrolled

40%: male /

60%: female

Admissions

Jan. 15: application deadline

43.5%: accepted

More Information

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U.S. News Rankings

Ranking score and category

U.S. News rank	Category Name
#82	National Universities

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Summary

American University is a private institution that was founded in 1893. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 7,070, its setting is urban, and the campus size is 84 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. American University's ranking in the 2012 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 82. Its tuition and fees are $38,071 (2011-12).

Students at American University benefit from the school’s location in the political hub of the nation. Washington, D.C., is a playground for the politically and socially oriented with its countless museums, restaurants, clubs, and year-round events. The university, located in a suburban pocket of northwest Washington, is close to a stop on the D.C.-area Metrorail transit system. Rides downtown take about 15 minutes. Students at American have been rated among the most politically active in the nation, and there are more than 300 student clubs and organizations on campus. The school also has a sizeable Greek system, with about 30 fraternities and sororities. The American University Eagles sports teams compete in the NCAA Division I Patriot League, and the school’s mascot is, accordingly, an eagle. Catching a professional sports contest, such as a Redskins football game or a Nationals baseball game, is a quick trip from campus, too. Freshmen do not have to live on campus, though most choose to do so. The university is affiliated with the Methodist church, but its Kay Spiritual Life Center houses 25 groups of different faiths. The confluence of opportunities on and off campus clearly works for most students: American University boasts a notably high freshmen retention rate close to 90 percent.

American University has six unique schools, including the well-regarded Washington College of Law. All students can take advantage of the school’s cultural hubs, such as the Katzen Arts Center and Greenberg Theatre. For time away from the nation’s capital, American University has the largest school of international affairs in the country, and more than half of undergraduates study abroad. Dozens of politicians are alumni of American University, including U.S. Representatives Loretta Sanchez, Donald Manzullo, Betsy Markey, and Bill Shuster. Mike Panetta, the elected shadow representative for Washington, D.C., is also an American University graduate.

School mission (as provided by the school):

At American University (AU) in Washington, D.C., students learn from award-winning authors, policymakers, artists, scholars and researchers, filmmakers, lawyers, scientists, and journalists. AU faculty are both leaders in their discipline and committed teachers, with 94 percent holding the highest degree in their field. Leveraging our location, AU faculty provide students with the necessary balance between theory and practice, with our nation's capital serving as their laboratory for learning. But it's not just what AU students learn. Rather, it's what they do with that knowledge. AU students are doers, active citizens who strive to serve the world around them via hands-on research, internships, community and volunteer service, and study abroad.
For undergraduate students, there are five schools and colleges, which include the School of Public Affairs, one of the nation's oldest and best; the School of International Service, the world's largest of its kind; and the Kogod School of Business, which was named among the top U.S. business schools in Forbes and Business Week in 2009. The School of Communication has risen to prominence for new models of investigative journalism and news media, and it excels as well in campaign communication and documentary film. The College of Arts and Sciences is the liberal arts foundation of the university and home to distinguished artists, scientists, educators, and renowned presidential and judicial historians. In any of these schools, a student can choose to double major, pursue an interdisciplinary program, or design a unique major that cuts across departments and even schools.
Located in the heart of one of the world's most influential cities, American University's beautiful 84-acre campus itself an arboretum provides an attractive collegiate setting. Our Katzen Arts Center serves the AU and D.C. community by providing state-of-the-art rehearsal, performance, exhibition, and creative space. In 2010, the School of International Service moved to its new home, a Gold LEED Certified building, further enhancing the opportunities for one of the world's most renowned international programs. Of course, Washington's unparalleled sites and opportunities surround and inform the AU campus.
Outside the classroom, students have a choice of more than 200 student organizations covering a wide variety of outlooks and interests, as befits a campus twice named since 2006 the most politically active in the country. For those looking to go abroad, AU Abroad offers options in more than 145 locations in 44 countries. American University's award-winning Career Center helps students land internships and careers available nowhere else in the world.

General Information

School type	private, coed college
Year founded	1893
Religious affiliation	United Methodist
Academic calendar	semester
Setting	urban
2010 Endowment	$385,000,000

Applying

When applying to American University, it's important to note the application deadline is January 15, and the early decision deadline is November 15. Scores for either the ACT or SAT test are due January 15. The application fee at American University is $65. It is more selective, with an acceptance rate of 43.5 percent.

For more information about the tests, essays, interviews, and admissions process, visit the Applying to College knowledge center.

Selectivity	more selective
Fall 2010 acceptance rate	43%
Application deadline	January 15
SAT/ACT scores must be received by	January 15

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Academic Life

The student-faculty ratio at American University is 13:1, and the school has 43.4 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at American University include: International Relations and Affairs; Business Administration and Management, General; Political Science and Government, General; Speech Communication and Rhetoric; and Psychology, General. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 88.8 percent.

Class sizes

Student-faculty ratio

13:1

4-year graduation rate

75% - High

Five most popular majors for 2010 graduates

International Relations and Affairs	26%
Business Administration and Management, General	15%
Political Science and Government, General	10%
Speech Communication and Rhetoric	6%
Psychology, General	5%

More About Academic Life

Student Life

American University has a total undergraduate enrollment of 7,070, with a gender distribution of 40.4 percent male students and 59.6 percent female students. American University is part of the NCAA I athletic conference.

See what students are saying about life at American University.

Total enrollment	12,795
Student gender distribution

Undergraduate men who are members of a fraternity

Undergraduate women who are members of a sorority

Collegiate athletic association	NCAA I

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Campus Info & Services

American University offers a number of student services including nonremedial tutoring, women's center, day care, health service, and health insurance. American University also offers campus safety and security services like 24-hour foot and vehicle patrols, late night transport/escort service, 24-hour emergency telephones, lighted pathways/sidewalks, and controlled dormitory access (key, security card, etc). Alcohol is not permitted for students of legal age at American University.

Students who have cars on campus	N/A
Health insurance offered	Yes
Students required to own/lease a computer	No

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Paying for School

At American University, 47.5 percent of full-time undergraduates receive some kind of need-based financial aid and the average need-based scholarship or grant award is $14,150.

Paying for college doesn't have to be difficult or devastating. Go to the Paying for College knowledge center to get advice on raising cash and reducing costs.

Tuition and fees	$38,071 (2011-12)
Room and board	$13,648 (2011-12) - High
Financial aid statistics

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Student Reviews Ratings data provided by Unigo

American is the best of both worlds. You get the opportunities of the nation's capital along with the close knit community of a small campus. I see people I know every time I walk to class (which is never more than a seven minute walk). We don't have a football team, which is a problem for a lot of people. But hey, at least we are undefeated. The other teams are also decent, so there is a fair amount of school spirit in terms of athletic support. The dining options when you have a meal plan are very limited. There's only one dining hall, and most of the other options cost money instead of taking a meal swipe.

Rachel Freshman

American's size is perfect. As a part of DC, American is connected to a larger community, with a number of other schools in the area and plenty of access to the city. The small campus is great, and the fact that it is distinct and not integrated into the city make it easier to feel a part of the school. I like that I can go anywhere on campus and be guaranteed to see a few folks I know and a good number of those I don't. The Davenport Lounge Cafe (the "Dav") is the best place to hang out, catch up with people, and do softcore work-- plus it's the cheapest coffee on campus. The library is terrible; it has limited work space, a lot of disruption, and decent-but-not-outstanding resources. American's rep is on the rise, I've heard, but a lot of people have just never heard of it. The administration is difficult to navigate, but they're pretty responsive to direct communication. They genuinely want to work with and help students, and President Kerwin genuinely seems to dig AU (hopefully more than the fact that it's apparently really easy to embezzle funds). Student Activities has a form for everything, likely including the anticipated number of toilet flushes at your next club's event. School pride is nearly non-existent; a lot of students are here because of financial aid, and I'm pretty sure athletes are the only ones that care about sports. We don't even have a football team, but if we did, Bender Arena would still the most action during Obama rallies.

Jenna Freshman

I think the best thing about AU is that almost anyone can find a place to fit in here. The school isn't dominated by one religion, sport, club or anything else so there's no presure to not be yourself. There's really not much about AU I'd change besides the Housing and Dining program. The food's fine and the rooms are nice, but the rules and regulations Housing and Dining implement especially as a Freshman are really annoying I think the size of the school is just right, big enough that you for the most part can avoid people you don't want to see, and small enough that you never feel like you're friendless on campus. It's also possible to make it from one end of campus to the other in ten minutes if you powerwalk which makes it really easy to get to class on time, even if you oversleep. In DC AU is a well known and well liked school. It's not incredibly prestiegous but it's a good school and people know that. Back home however I have the problem of people going American University? Is that like National University? (which is a school that advertises in San Diego) On campus, outside my room and classes, I spend most of my time in the Tavern, which is an area that has food and tables which is still called the tavern even though AU is a dry campus and thus has no alcohol sold on it. They put on small shows and other events there. Like just last night the Residence Hall Assosiation (RHA) had a Karaoke night there that all my friends went to. DC isn't exactly a college town as it already has the whole capital of the united states and the seat of federal government thing going for it, but there are half a dozen colleges around DC that I can think of off the top of my head, so it is a very college friendly town. Certain offices in the AU administration are wonderful, such as their career center, that being said, most of the administration is annoying and slow, they've been known to loose forms and not reply to emails. You can get things done perfectly well, but you need to follow up on all emails sometimes by calling or going to the offices so they can't ignore you. Often times you end up beating your head against the wall when dealing with Health Services or Housing and Dining. As a whole, DC and AU are both highly democratic. There is a College Republicans group, but College Democrats has about 3 times the membership. That being said, the most well know recent controversy was when College Republicans invited Carl Rove to talk and the coalition for social justice (a bunch of socially left groups) lay down in front of Rove's car as a protest. Public Safety came, Police came it was a big deal. School pride is almost non-excistant at AU. There is the Blue Crew which is basically the pep club, but in my experience people love being at AU but don't feel the need to paint themselves in school colors at games or wear school sweatshirts everywhere. AU doesn't have any classes that start before 8:30 which is very much appresiated by the student population The most frequent student complaint I hear is how the food at our dining hall (TDR) gets miraculously better on preview days/parent days. If they can make better food why don't they do that all the time?

Aria Junior

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* Overview details based on 2010 data

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Summary

General Information

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