Quad

American University

Washington, DCQuad's selectivityVery selective
Known forDraws students nationallyPell students graduate at the same rateTest-optional heavy
WebsiteAdmissionsApplyFinancial aid

Admissions · Fall 2024

6 in 10 applicants admitted

American admits about 6 in 10 applicants (62%). That puts it in the "Very selective" tier, more selective than 74% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

62%

62%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivityVery selective

Applied

17,173

Admitted

10,640

Yield

16%

of admits enroll

SAT middle 50%

1280–1460

10001600
ACT middle 50%

29–32

1836
Applications +14% since fall 2014 · admit rate 46% → 62%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A medium campus of 7,266 undergrads, where 14% receive Pell Grants, a low share compared to other colleges.

7.3K

undergrads · larger than 84% of colleges

Diversity index

0.65

Pell Grant

14%

below the median

First generation

16%

below the median

Large cityNCAA D-I · Patriot LeagueROTCStudy abroadUndergrad research
Steady · index 0.64 → 0.65 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is International Relations and Affairs (18% of graduates). 10 students for every faculty member, fewer than at 76% of colleges. 59% of faculty are full-time. Spends $19,197 a year on instruction per student.

10 to 1

students per faculty member · fewer than at 76% of colleges

Most popular major

International Relations and Affairs

18% of 2024–25 graduates

Top-earning major

Finance and Financial Management Services

$134.3K four years after completion

Full-time faculty

59%

of faculty

Instruction spending

$19.2K

per student a year

All majors with search, earnings by major, and faculty

Cost & aid · 2023–24

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $51,726 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $27.4K more than the national median. The 67% who received grants paid $39,676 on average; the other 33% paid the full sticker price of $76,175.

32%

$51.7K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $27.4K above the national median

$0$110K$400K+
Full price
$76,175 a year
tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid
Published data end at $110K
use the college's net price calculator for higher incomes
Merit aid
12% · avg $25K
of first-years got a grant without federal aid (a proxy: at most colleges that's merit aid)
Aid generosity

Moderate

grants cover 32% of full price

Federal loans

38%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits
Cost steady · −3% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $77,370 ten years after enrolling, more than at 89% of colleges; 79% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 2.7 years of that salary.

79%

79%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$77.4K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$22.8K

≈ $241/month for 10 years

Retention

88%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 82% → 75% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price rose 2% after inflation, while what the average first-year paid fell 3%, because grants grew faster. Applications rose 14% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 46% to 62%.

  • Cost

    Steady

    −3% after inflation

  • Applications

    Growing

    +14%

  • Selectivity

    Less selective

    admit rate 46% → 62%

  • Diversity

    Steady

    index 0.64 → 0.65

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

Schools like this one

Southern Methodist University

63% admit · SAT 1415 · 7.3K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresSimilar size
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Syracuse University

49% admit · SAT 1360 · 15.5K undergrads

Similar scoresAlso private
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Emerson College

51% admit · SAT 1345 · 3.9K undergrads

Similar scoresAlso private
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Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach

65% admit · SAT 1260 · 7.9K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar sizeAlso Southeast
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Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

  1. 1
    IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  2. 2
    College Scorecard

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Entered fall 2023; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  3. 3
    IPEDS Admissions survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  4. 4
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  5. 5
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  6. 6
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  7. 7
    IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12

  8. 8
    College Scorecard Field of Study data

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  9. 9
    IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  10. 10
    IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  11. 11
    Common Data Set

    Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  12. 12
    IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  13. 13
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  14. 14
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  15. 15
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  16. 16
    IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  17. 17
    IPEDS Outcome Measures survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12

IPEDS unit ID 131159 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything