- Acceptance rate: 62% for fall 2024
- SAT, middle 50%: 660–740 reading and writing, 620–720 math
- ACT, middle 50%: 29–32 composite
- Average net price: $40,189 a year (2022–23)
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How does your GPA compare?
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Where you standEnter your GPA
Add a test score to compare it with what American University reported: an acceptance rate of 62% for fall 2024 and an ACT middle 50% of 29–32.
Weighted GPAs above 4.0 can't be compared directly. Many colleges recalculate on their own scale, so use your unweighted GPA here.
A guide based on reported data, not a prediction. American University reviews each application.
American University GPA requirements
American University requires a high school GPA from first-year applicants, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Federal data doesn't include GPA averages, and American University hasn't published one we could verify, so this page doesn't list an average GPA.
American University acceptance rate
American University admitted 10,640 of 17,173 first-year applicants for fall 2024, an acceptance rate of 62%, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
American University is a private nonprofit 4-year university in Washington, District of Columbia, with 7,476 undergraduates.
SAT and ACT scores
Scores of the first-year students who entered American University in fall 2024 and submitted them. Half of them scored between the 25th and 75th percentiles:
| Test | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading and Writing | 660 | 700 | 740 |
| SAT Math | 620 | 670 | 720 |
| ACT Composite | 29 | 31 | 32 |
| ACT English | 28 | 33 | 35 |
| ACT Math | 25 | 27 | 29 |
The U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard estimates an average SAT score of 1381 for admitted students.
Admission requirements
What American University looks at when it decides on first-year applicants, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024:
| Admission factor | Status |
|---|---|
| High School GPAYour cumulative high school grade point average. | Required |
| High School RecordYour transcript: the courses you took and the grades you earned. | Required |
| College Preparatory ProgramCompletion of a college preparatory curriculum in high school. | Required |
| RecommendationsLetters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, or other mentors. | Required |
| Essay or Personal StatementA personal statement or essay written for your application. | Required |
| Test ScoresSAT or ACT scores. | Considered if submitted |
| Work ExperiencePaid or volunteer work. | Considered if submitted |
| High School Class RankYour ranking relative to other students in your graduating class. | Not considered |
| Other TestsOther admission tests, such as the Wonderlic or WISC-III. | Not considered |
| Demonstration of CompetenciesEvidence of specific skills through portfolios, auditions, or other demonstrations. | Not considered |
| Legacy StatusWhether a parent or other relative attended the college. | Not considered |
AP credit
American University awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
It doesn't award credit for life experience.
Average net price
First-time, full-time undergraduates who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average net price of $40,189 a year at American University in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
Net price is the full cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Frequently asked questions
How selective is American University?
Moderately selective: more than half of applicants got in. American University admitted 62% of first-year applicants for fall 2024.
What GPA do you need to get into American University?
American University requires a high school GPA from first-year applicants, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024. It hasn't published an average GPA we could verify, so we don't list one.
Do I have a chance at American University with a 3.0 GPA?
GPA alone can't tell you here. American University admitted 62% of first-year applicants for fall 2024. It requires a high school GPA but hasn't published an average we could verify, so there's no admitted-student GPA to compare a 3.0 against. Your transcript and test scores are the clearer guide.
What is American University's acceptance rate?
American University's acceptance rate was 62% for fall 2024: it admitted 10,640 of 17,173 first-year applicants, it said in its report to the U.S. Department of Education.
How important is GPA for getting into American University?
A lot: American University requires high school GPA, high school record, college preparatory program, recommendations and essay or personal statement. It considers test scores and work experience if you send them. It doesn't consider high school class rank, other tests, demonstration of competencies and legacy status. That's what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Does American University require the SAT or ACT?
Check American University's admissions website for the current rule: testing policies change from year to year. American University was test optional: it considered SAT or ACT scores if you sent them, according to its filing with the U.S. Department of Education (fall 2024). Of its fall 2024 first-year students, 22% sent SAT scores and 8% sent ACT scores.
What SAT and ACT scores do American University students have?
The middle 50% of American University's fall 2024 first-year students who sent scores had SAT 660–740 in reading and writing and 620–720 in math; ACT composite 29–32, according to what the college reported to the U.S. Department of Education. A quarter scored below that range.
What is the average net price at American University?
First-time, full-time undergraduates who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average of $40,189 a year at American University in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Can you get college credit for AP scores at American University?
Yes. American University awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, it said in its report to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
Does it matter at American University if a parent went there?
No. American University doesn't consider whether a parent or other relative attended, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Sources
- College Navigator: American UniversityU.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS (2024–25 provisional data): admissions, test scores and admission factors for fall 2024, undergraduate enrollment for fall 2024, net price for 2022–23 and credit policies for 2024–25.
- College Scorecard dataAverage SAT: an estimate by the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (June 10, 2026 release).
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