American University
Washington, DC
American University admitted 13,741 of 20,960 applicants for the fall 2025 entering class (65.6%).
Every figure on this page is published by the college or a federal survey, and carries the source it came from. They describe the fall 2025 entering class, a read on the school, not a prediction about any one applicant.
What stands out at American University
Three things American University published, ranked by how much each could change what you actually do, not by how impressive it looks. Every one describes a class that has already enrolled.
1,182 admitted from a waitlist of 4,928.
1,785 students accepted a place on that list, and 1,182 were admitted from it, 66.2% of the students who waited. A waitlist offer here is not a near-miss anyone can plan around.
Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025
15.9% of the enrolled class sent an SAT.
The SAT band on this page describes that share of the class, not all of it. Another 6.1% sent an ACT. American University files test scores under “considered”.
Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025
Families paid $41,943 on average after aid.
Averaged across students who received federal aid: the price after grants and scholarships, not the sticker price.
Source: the College Scorecard
Every figure, in full
The same measured fields on every one of these pages. Nothing is filled in where the school published nothing.
Acceptance rate
65.6%
13,741 admitted of 20,960 applicants
Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025
SAT, middle 50%
1320–1440
Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025
ACT, middle 50%
30–33
Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025
Enrolled students who sent an SAT
15.9%
Counted per test: a student may send both.
Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025
Enrolled students who sent an ACT
6.1%
Counted per test: a student may send both.
Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025
Where do you actually stand at American University?
The figures above describe a class that already enrolled. GoodGoblin reads them against your own transcript, scores and activities, then builds the balanced list, the essay plan and the deadline calendar around what it finds.
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How the rate has moved
Two measured admit rates from the federal survey, the years apart it reports them. A rate that moved, not a forecast.
Over 5 years the admit rate rose from 32% to 47%.
What American University says it weighs
The school's own words, from the form it fills in every year. Ranked as it ranks them.
- Course rigorvery important
Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025
- GPAvery important
Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025
- Essayimportant
Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025
- Recommendationsimportant
Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025
- Test scoresconsidered
Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025
Not considered
- Class rank
Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025
- Legacy
Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025
The early round, in counts
Two published rates side by side. Early applicants are a different group of students, so the gap is a fact about those pools, not a lever anyone can pull.
Early Decision
1.2× the rateEarly Decision admitted 80.6% (316 of 392), against 65.3% in the regular round.
13,425 of 20,568 in the comparison pool.
Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025
The waitlist, as the school reported it
Published counts, including the ones schools rarely lead with.
- Offered a waitlist place
- 4,928
- Accepted the place
- 1,785
- Admitted from the waitlist
- 1,182
Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025
What students actually pay
Net price after grants and scholarships: not the sticker price.
Average net price: $41,943 a year.
- Family income under $30k
- $23,233
- $30k–$48k
- $20,444
- $48k–$75k
- $26,035
- $75k–$110k
- $30,063
- Over $110k
- $53,673
Source: the College Scorecard
Essays on this application
1 essay prompt on the application: 1 you would write.
Published deadlines
Each date is read from the college's own materials and re-checked on a schedule.
More colleges on the record
Every one of these carries the same measured figures, with the same sources.
Other colleges in Washington, D.C.
The pages nearest this one on acceptance rate, in the same state.
Colleges with a nearby acceptance rate
Anywhere in the country, ordered by how close the published rate is to this one. A selection rule, not a ranking.
Build the list this school belongs on.
The figures above describe a class that already enrolled. GoodGoblin reads them against your own transcript, scores and activities, then builds the balanced list, the essay plan and the deadline calendar around what it finds.
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