American University
Washington, District of Columbia · Private Nonprofit · 62.0% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 74/100 · Fair Value
American University, the private research institution in DC's Tenleytown neighborhood, posts an ROI score of 74 -- Fair Value tier and the upper end of that band. The metrics behind it are mixed but mostly positive: median 10-year earnings of $77,370 are strong (well above the typical private-college median), modeled payback runs 7.3 years, completion rate is 75.5% (solid for a private), and the 5-year repayment rate of 83.0% is excellent. Median debt of $22,750 produces a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.49 -- manageable. The dominant story is sticker shock: tuition is $58,771, average net price is $41,943, and four-year cost reaches $167,772 -- the highest in this batch by a meaningful margin. The earnings-premium subscore (55) is what drags overall ROI -- AU's graduates earn well in absolute terms but the premium over a high-school baseline is modest given the price point. The school's identity (international relations, public policy, communications, journalism in the DC ecosystem) drives both its draws and its ROI quirks: IR and government majors get strong DC placement at modest entry-level salaries that scale meaningfully with experience, while finance, accounting, and CS grads do exceptionally well thanks to the DC-corridor employer base. AU works for committed, prepared students who can either secure substantial aid or are headed into business, finance, or CS tracks; for full-pay families chasing a humanities degree, the math is harder.
American University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $58,771/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $58,771/yr |
| Average net price | $41,943/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $167,772 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $77,370 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $46,700 |
| Median debt at graduation | $22,750 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $241 |
| Estimated payback period | 7.3 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 75.5% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 7,266 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at American University is $58,771/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $41,943/year, or roughly $167,772 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $23,233/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $53,673/year.
The median graduate leaves with $22,750 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $241 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $77,370 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.49 - well within manageable territory.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $23,233 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $20,444 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $26,035 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $30,063 |
| $110,001+ | $53,673 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $23,233 net annually -- meaningful aid versus the $58,771 sticker, but still high in absolute terms. Pell, DC TAG, and AU institutional aid combine but cannot fully offset the price point. Four-year cost runs about $93,000. For a Pell-eligible IR or policy student headed to DC employment, the math can pencil; for low-income humanities majors, this is a heavy load to take on.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Note an inverted bracket: families earning $30,001-$48,000 pay $20,444 -- LESS than the lowest-income tier and the lowest in the schedule. This reflects strong middle-income institutional aid plus full Pell. The $48,001-$75,000 group pays $26,035, jumping to $30,063 at $75,001-$110,000. Middle-income four-year totals run $82,000-$120,000. The aid math at the bottom is genuinely competitive, but middle-upper-middle families face the steepest implied marginal rates in the schedule.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $53,673 -- over 91% of sticker, indicating minimal institutional discounting at the top. Four years runs roughly $215,000 -- one of the steepest in the dataset. With median 10-year earnings of $77,370, the lifetime ROI math relies heavily on graduate school or finance/CS career paths. High-income families pursuing humanities or social-science majors at AU should price-check against in-state flagships seriously.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at American University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| International Relations and National Security Studies | $73,865 | C+ |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $88,359 | B |
| International Relations | $73,604 | C+ |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $76,552 | C+ |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $78,410 | C+ |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $66,970 | C |
| Psychology | $62,240 | D |
| Economics | $85,016 | B |
| Finance and Financial Management | $134,332 | B+ |
| Public Health | $70,831 | C |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Finance and Financial Management
Finance is American's strongest ROI program by a wide margin -- 65 graduates per year, $83,505 first-year and $134,332 four-year median earnings, with median debt of $22,625 producing a 0.27 debt-to-earnings ratio and a B+ ROI grade. DC and New York placement drives the strong earnings. For prepared students focused on a finance career, AU's combination of Kogod School of Business credentials and DC-corridor access delivers comfortable ROI even at full sticker.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business is AU's largest cohort at 264 graduates, with $58,299 first-year and $88,359 four-year median earnings. Median debt of $24,697 yields a 0.42 debt-to-earnings ratio and a B ROI grade. Solid outcomes anchored by DC-corridor consulting, government-contracting, and trade-association employers. The math works at typical aid packages; full-pay families should still weigh against state flagship business schools.
International Relations and National Security Studies
International relations and national security is AU's signature program -- 387 graduates per year, the largest cohort on campus. First-year earnings of $47,551 are modest because federal entry-level pay is compressed, but four-year earnings recover to $73,865 as graduates move up GS scales or shift to consulting and policy roles. Median debt of $23,250 yields a 0.49 debt-to-earnings ratio and a C+ ROI grade. The DC employment pipeline is the value here -- IR grads at AU place into federal agencies and policy NGOs at rates few peers can match.
International Relations
International relations (216 graduates) shows essentially the same pattern as the national-security track -- $48,034 first-year and $73,604 four-year median earnings, median debt of $23,250, and a 0.48 debt-to-earnings ratio with a C+ ROI grade. Many graduates pursue master's or law degrees at Georgetown, SAIS, Fletcher, or AU itself; the bachelor's outcomes here are a launching pad rather than a terminal credential for most graduates.
Psychology
Psychology graduates 79 students per year and posts a D ROI grade. First-year earnings of $25,773 and four-year earnings of $62,240 are paired with median debt of $23,799, producing a 0.92 debt-to-earnings ratio. The four-year recovery is meaningful (suggesting many graduates pursue master's or doctoral programs), but bachelor's-only outcomes here cannot service AU's price point. Prospective psychology students should commit to graduate school as part of the plan or rethink paying private tuition for this major.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 82.0% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 86.2% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 83.0% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 85.2% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 62.0% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 620-720 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 660-740 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 29-32 |
| Enrollment | 7,266 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 13.9% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $13,722 |
American admits 62.0% of applicants -- moderately selective. SAT mid-range runs 620-720 math and 660-740 reading; ACT spans 29-32. These are strong scores reflecting a self-selecting applicant pool drawn to AU's IR and policy focus. The 75.5% completion rate aligns with this profile -- prepared students who matriculate generally finish, and AU's structured DC internship pipeline reinforces persistence. Selectivity correlates with completion here in the expected way.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
AU's named peers are The Catholic University of America, Gallaudet University, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach, Southern Methodist University, and Elon University. The peer set is uneven -- SMU and Elon are closer comps in selectivity and outcomes (both in the high 70s/low 80s on ROI typically), Embry-Riddle is more vocationally focused (engineering and aviation), and Catholic University and Gallaudet are smaller DC peers with narrower outcomes. Among the cohort, AU's IR/policy focus is unique and gives it an unusual graduate-school feeder identity (Georgetown, Hopkins SAIS, Fletcher), which influences early-career earnings.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| American University (this school) | 74 | $41,943 | $77,370 |
| Southern Methodist University | 79 | $40,892 | $78,354 |
| The Catholic University of America | 77 | $29,561 | $73,250 |
| Elon University | 75 | $41,555 | $74,545 |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach | 74 | $41,272 | $84,131 |
| Gallaudet University | 27 | $15,845 | $43,101 |
Who Thrives Here
American fits a politically engaged, internationally minded student drawn to DC -- typically interested in IR, government, policy, journalism, or public health. Enrollment of 7,266 is mid-sized; classes are small enough to connect with faculty, and the DC location is the central differentiator. Pell rate of 13.9% is low, reflecting a relatively affluent student body. Strong fits are students with clear DC-corridor career plans (IR, policy, lobbying, federal government, advocacy NGOs) who can secure substantial aid. Weaker fits are full-pay families pursuing arts or humanities degrees -- the price tag is hard to defend without focused career plans.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
American University offers fair financial value, though the ROI depends heavily on individual circumstances. The net cost of $41,943 per year leads to $167,772 over four years, while graduates earn a median of $77,370 a decade out. The payback period of 7.3 years is about average - not bad, but not a standout either.
The data highlights several strengths: a 75.5% graduation rate, manageable debt relative to earnings, high loan repayment success.
Median debt of $22,750 is very manageable against $77,370 in annual earnings - well within the financial advisor rule of thumb that total debt should not exceed first-year salary.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.