Covering Innovation & Inequality in Education
This year at American University, we project that on average students will pay $45,035, while the advertised price of attendance is $80,348. That’s a difference of $35,314.
| Year | Net in-state price at American University | In-state sticker price at American University |
|---|---|---|
| 25-26 | $45,035 | $80,348 |
| 24-25 | $43,849 | $78,234 |
| 23-24 | $42,696 | $76,175 |
| 22-23 | $40,189 | $71,703 |
| 21-22 | $41,369 | $70,512 |
| 20-21 | $28,622 | $69,366 |
| 19-20 | $37,319 | $67,694 |
| 18-19 | $40,469 | $66,268 |
| 17-18 | $33,034 | $64,234 |
| 16-17 | $32,732 | $62,272 |
| 15-16 | $31,758 | $60,586 |
| 14-15 | $34,812 | $59,120 |
| 13-14 | $33,778 | $56,808 |
How much a student actually pays usually depends, at least in part, on their family's household income. At American University this year, we project students with incomes over $110K will pay around $59,678, while students with incomes between $30K and $48K will pay around $20,876. That's a difference of $38,802.
| Income bracket | Projected net price at American University |
|---|---|
| <$30K | $23,729 |
| $30K-$48K | $20,876 |
| $48K-$75K | $26,308 |
| $75K-$110K | $38,757 |
| >$110K | $59,678 |
A school’s graduation rate can indicate how likely a student is to complete their degree. At American University, over the last five years 79% of students earned their bachelor’s degree within six years of enrolling.
Students from different demographic backgrounds often graduate at different rates, so it can be helpful to look beyond the overall graduation rate. This chart shows how students of different races and ethnicities fare earning their degrees at American University.
| Demographic category | Graduation rate at American University | National average |
|---|---|---|
| American Indian/Alaska Native | 67% | 31% |
| Asian | 81% | 45% |
| Black | 75% | 34% |
| Hispanic | 77% | 41% |
| Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander | 100% | 28% |
| White | 80% | 50% |
| Multiple races | 75% | 37% |
| Unknown race | 77% | 37% |
Student retention, or how often students return to continue their degree after completing their first year, is another helpful indicator. Over the last five years, at American University, about 87% of full-time students returned the following fall to continue their degree.
The size and demographic makeup of a school’s student body can have a large impact on a student’s experience. American University has 16,240 students, which puts it in the {SIZE_PERCENTILE} percentile of private, 4-year schools.
About 63% of students are female.
And about 47% of students are white.