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American University, Washington
Washington, United States of America | Estd in 1893 | Private University
CWUR Rank : 1009
About American University
American University is a private research university in Washington D.C, USA. The university was established in 1893 and offers 170+ courses in undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programmes across its eight schools and colleges. The American University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
American University is a leading research institution and is classified as an R2 Institution and ranked "Doctoral: Higher Research Activity" by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. The top majors offered at the university include law, business, medicine, psychology, finance, etc. The American University’s rankings for 2024 are 791-800th in the QS and 601-800th in THE.
American University’s acceptance rate is approximately 64% making the admittance of international students moderately selective and highly competitive. The university requires a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4-point scale for most undergraduate and postgraduate courses. The English proficiency tests accepted at American University include IELTS, PTE, CAE, TOEFL, etc.
The American University is home to more than 13,000 students and has been ranked as one of the most diverse colleges in America with 1,830 international students from over 122 countries. American University’s main campus is located in a residential district of Washington spreading across 90 acres. The facilities provided at American University to students include accommodation, student union sororities, disability services, work opportunities after study in the USA, and more, making its campus life an amazing experience.
Also Read: Benefits of studying in the USA.
American University Highlights
- Domestic: 7600
- International: 317
American University Ranking and Stats
American University’s rankings for 2024 are 791-800th in the QS World University Rankings, and 51-100th in the QS WUR Ranking By Subject. The Times Higher Education 2024 report has ranked the institution at 601–800th in the World University Rankings.
As per the US News and World Report, 2024, the American University is number 105 out of 439 National Universities in the US, whereas the QS has placed the university 131st out of 140 universities in the US UNI rankings.
Parametric Score and Ranking 2024
| Domain | Year | Score | Rank | Rank Band |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 2019 | NA | NA | 44.0–46.3 |
| Overall | 2020 | NA | NA | 38.8–42.3 |
| Overall | 2021 | NA | NA | 39.8–43.5 |
| Overall | 2022 | NA | NA | 38.1–40.8 |
| Overall | 2023 | NA | NA | 34.0–39.2 |
| Overall | 2024 | NA | NA | 37.0-41.8 |
American University Courses
The American University offers over 170 programmes including bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees across its 8 schools and colleges. AU offers nearly 70 majors and minors and preprofessional advising programmes in the fields of law and medicine. Some of the American University’s most popular majors include business administration and management, law, economics, medicine, psychology, political science, finance, public relations, etc.
Accreditations
American University Cost Of Living
American University’s tuition fees for international students are calculated based on credit hours attended. A minimum of 120 credit hours are required to graduate as a full-time student from American University. The table below shows the tuition fees and credit rates per semester for undergraduate, graduate, and law programmes.
American University International Tuition Fee - Undergraduate 2023-24
Undergraduate Credit Rate per semester | Undergraduate Tuition in USD | Undergraduate Tuition in INR |
Part-Time (less than 12 credit hours, per credit hour) | 1,856 | 1,54,280 |
Full-Time (12-17.5 credit hours) | 27,862 | 23,16,027 |
Full-Time(18 credit hours) | 29,718 | 24,70,307 |
Note: Students are charged USD 1,856 per additional credit hour for above 18 credit hours.
American University International Tuition Fee - Law Courses 2023-24
Law Credit Rate per semester | Tuition fee in USD | Tuition fee in INR |
Full-Time (12-17 credit hours) | 30,968 | 25,74,213 |
Part-time (less than 12 credit hours per credit hour) | 2,294 | 1,90,689 |
Note: Students are charged USD 2,294 per additional credit hour for above 17 credit hours.
American University International Tuition Fee - Graduate Courses 2023-24
Graduate Credit Rate per semester | Tuition fee in USD | Tuition fee in INR |
Per credit hour | 1,922 | 1,59,766 |
Is it expensive to study at American University?
American University is located in Washington DC which is a costly place to live, although affordable compared to cities like New York, Boston, and California. As per the university’s official estimates, an international student can expect a total expenditure of USD 78,296 for the first year of study and living expenses. Also, the university requires a bank statement showing the same amount to be possessed by the student.
American University cost of living for international students for 2023-24 session- UG
Items | Expenses for 9 months in USD |
Tuition (12-17 credits/semester) | 55,724 |
Mandatory Fees | 548 |
Room (double occupancy) | 11,402 |
Board (based on a 175-block meal plan) | 5,610 |
Books | 1,000 |
Health Insurance | 2,178 |
Personal (include clothing, telephone, transportation & miscellaneous expenses) | 1,834 |
Total | 78,296 (INR 65,08,351) |
American University Admission and Application
American University’s acceptance rate is approximately 64% as per the unofficial sources making it one of the top 25% of the most difficult universities to gain admission to in the United States. International applicants can apply to the university via Common Application or Coalition Application. Students must also confirm the scholarship availability as well as visa requirements before applying. This will ensure that American University admission occurs smoothly.
How to Apply to American University for Undergraduate and Postgraduate Programmes?
Visit the official university website- .american.edu and under admissions, click on international applications and then follow it up by clicking on first-year applications.
Undergraduate students must apply by clicking on the common application and registering.
Postgraduate students must finalise a programme, and mode of study and then create an account.
Fill out the application, upload the supporting documents, and pay the application fee.
Apply and follow up for further procedure.
Documents Required for American University Admission
Students applying for American University admission must submit specific documents. They must properly verify the documents before submitting them to the university.
Common Application.
Academic Records from classes 9th to 12th.
A bachelor’s degree from an accredited university, recognised by American University.
High School Transcript(s) equivalent to the U.S.
Two letters of Recommendation, one academic letter from a teacher, and one from a counsellor.
GRE scorecard (if required for master’s but compulsory for doctoral studies).
English Proficiency test certificates.
Updated CV or Resume.
Advanced Credit for IB, AP, A Level, and CAPE Secondary Exams.
Bank Letter and AU Certification of Finances for International Students (AU CFIS)
Interruption of studies statement (if have taken a temporary break from studies).
International students graduating from a secondary school located outside the United States are not required to submit ACT or SAT scorecards.
American University Application Deadlines
Particulars | Decision | Deadlines |
Fall Semester | Early Decision II/Regular Decision | January 15, 2024 |
Spring Semester | — | September 1, 2024 |
American University Application Fees
International applicants must submit an application fee of USD 75 (INR 6,235) and USD 55 (INR 4,572.55) for undergraduate and postgraduate programmes respectively.
American University Institutional Codes
TOEFL | 5007 |
GRE | 5007 |
American University Scholarship
American University offers various scholarships for international students, however, these scholarship awards are not offered in full but partial. The scholarships are generally offered based on merit, excellent communication skills in English, leadership, academic achievements, volunteerism, and community service and are highly competitive.
No separate application form or process is required to be considered for AU merit scholarships, however, a separate application is required only for the AU Emerging Global Leader Scholarship. Talented international master's and doctoral students may qualify for Graduate Merit Awards through their departments. The deadline for university-wide merit awards is February 1 for fall applicants. The American University does not offer need-based financial aid to international students.
Related Article: Scholarships in the US
American University Eligibility
American University's eligibility criteria are course-specific. Applicants can check their eligibility under their selected degree course or graduate school. However, the general eligibility for Indian applicants is listed below.
Most programmes require a minimum GPA of 3.0 in high school as well as bachelor’s for UG and PG admissions, however, the actual GPA requirements may vary with the courses.
English proficiency requirements must be met.
Any other course-specific requirements must be fulfilled.
English Language Proficiency Requirements
Applicants who are non-native speakers of English must prove their proficiency level to meet the university standards. American University's English proficiency requirements can be met by submitting the following tests- TOEFL iBT, Duolingo English Test (DET), IELTS Academic, PTE Academic, and Cambridge Assessment English (CAE).
American University English Proficiency Requirements for International Students - UG
Tests | Minimum Overall Score |
TOEFL iBT | 85 |
PTE | 60 |
IELTS | 6.5 no less than 6.0 in any one component. |
Cambridge Assessment English | 176 |
Duolingo English Test | 120 |
SAT Reading Test sub-score | 30 |
ACT English score | 25 |
Note: International applicants who have taken the SAT or ACT can submit their English scores as mentioned in the table.
American University English Proficiency Requirements for International Students - PG
Tests | Minimum Overall Score |
TOEFL iBT | 100 |
IELTS | 7.0 |
PTE | 68 |
Duolingo English Test | 120 |
American University Campus Facilities
Library
The American University Library is also an academic library that has over 1 million books in collections, and 600+ database subscriptions. In addition to this, the library has books, journals, and other resources in print and electronic formats. The materials in the general collection are either immediately accessible or requestable through AU Library Search. AU Library Search is a Google-style search for the vast majority of the library's electronic resources. This library has an option that allows unaffiliated visitors to visit the library.
American University facilities provided at the library include-
- Research Assistance
- Search Databases
- Subject Guides
- Citation Style Guide
- AU Digital Research Archive
- Streaming Video
- Faculty Canvas Support
- Course Reserves
- Subject Specialists
- Classroom Audio/Visual Support
- Borrowing & Library Accounts
- Interlibrary Loan
- Instructional Support for Courses
- Online Learner Support
- Academic Multimedia Services
- Assistive Technology
- Audio Visual Services
- Canvas
- Mac Lab
Sports
The American University is very invested in the health of its students. The American University facilities include club sports sponsored by the Department of Athletics & Recreation like Men's Basketball, Baseball, Climbing, Crew, E-Sports, Equestrian, Field Hockey, Gymnastics, Ice Hockey, Women's Lacrosse, and, more. There are fitness and wellness facilities like Group Exercise, personal training, wellness programs, special events, and team challenges.
Additional Recreational Sports and Fitness Facilities include Jacobs Fitness Center, Reeves Aquatic Center, Cassell Fitness Center, Congressional Fitness Center, Bender Arena, and outdoor facilities include Greenberg Track and Reeves Athletic Complex, William I Jacobs Recreational Complex, Six unlit outdoor tennis courts and more.
Gym
Transport Facility
There is accessible transportation for students provided by the American University. The students can travel by bus, bike, train, and more.
Biking is a sustainable mode of transportation, and it is a convenient, healthy, budget-friendly, and eco-conscious way to travel around campus. The university also provides a U·Pass established in 2016, which provides unlimited rides throughout the semester on Metrorail and Metrobus for students.
Parking Facility
Cafeteria
The American University facilities for food and drink are varied. There are many options available for students and these include-
Cravetown, Terrace Dining Room, Eagles Nest C-Store, Starbucks
Subway, Einstein Bagel, Halal Shack, District Pickle, Paper Lantern, True Burger
Baba's Pizza, Hissho Sushi, East Campus C-Store, Freshens
The food choice includes flatbreads, toasted wraps, artisan melts, bakery and confectionery items, Deli, homestyle and more. The food is made with consideration of the sentiments of its students and has options like vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free food, allergens, and more.
American University International Office Details
American University has a total enrollment of 13,855 students as per the fall 2022 data and has a diverse community of 1,830 international students around from over 123 countries. American University helps international students with financial assistance through scholarships and helps students with their application processes, fees and funding, visas, immigration, the English language and pathway programmes, international events like webinars, and more.
Additional information is available on the university website- .american.edu regarding accommodation, commute, sports and societies, eateries and drink outlets, and the work opportunities after studying in the USA. The university has a team dedicated to international students to advise them on any doubts and to ensure their stay is a memorable experience.
Is it hard to get into American University?
American University’s acceptance rate stands around 64% as per the unofficial estimates, making it a moderately selective yet highly competitive institution. For the 2022 session, the admit rate of the university was 31% (official source). The applicants must have a very strong academic background to get into the university, as the average GPA accepted in the 2022 session was 3.70 on a 4-point scale.
International students can contact American University at the given details.
Address: 4400 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
Phone No. 1-202-885-6000
Email: admissions@american.edu
American University Gallery
Gallery
FAQ's
American University is a private research institution located in Washington, D.C, USA. The university is classified as an R2 Institution and ranked "Doctoral: Higher Research Activity" by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. The university is among the top 110 universities in the US and ranked 105 out of 439 National Universities in the country.
American University is a highly competitive university and requires its applicants to have a good academic record to meet its admission requirements. The minimum GPA required by the university is 3.0 out of a 4-point scale, however, this requirement may vary with the courses. The average GPA accepted by the American University for the 2022 intake was in the range of 3.70-4.20, hence applicants with a GPA of 3.5 or above have good chances of getting considered for admission.
The American University is placed among the top 800 universities as per the recent QS rankings. The university is ranked 791-800th in the QS World University Rankings, 2024, where it has shown a decline from its previous QS rank of 701-750th in 2023. American University is 131st out of 140 universities in the United States as per the QS US UNI rankings.
American University has an acceptance rate of 64% as calculated by unofficial sources, which makes the university moderately selective and highly competitive. This shows that out of 100 applicants, only 64 will be admitted, however, for the 2022 session, the admission rate for the university was 31%. The applicants who wish to get into the American University must have a strong academic record and should meet all the eligibility criteria of their selected course of study.
American University, Washington is among the top 1000 universities in the world as per the recent rankings. In 2024, the university is ranked 791-800th in the QS World University Rankings, and 601–800th in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings. In the USA, the university is ranked 105 out of 439 National Universities by the US News and World Report, 2024, whereas the QS has placed the university 131st out of 140 universities in the US UNI rankings.
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