American University acceptance rate is 39%, marking it highly competitive. AU offers 160 programs that include more than 70 undergraduate programs, and over 80 master's degree programs and 10 doctoral programs. Admission applications are accepted from Fall, Winter, and Spring intakes.

  • Student Enrollment: American University has a total student population of 14,311. Out of which, 15% are international students belonging to 122 countries.
  • Academic Profile: A minimum GPA of 3.0 in the scale of 4.0 is required to be eligible for admission. The average of 1st year students admitted to AU is seen to be around 3.63 to 4.15 at middle 50%.
  • Test Score: Submission of SAT is optional yet the AU accepted it between 1310-1460. On the other hand, ACT score was in the middle 50 percent which was 29-33.

American University Class Profile

Class profile for the fall 2021 is tabulated below.

American University Admission Deadlines

The applications for undergraduate programs are accepted for fall and spring semesters. International students applying for Spring semesters are encouraged to apply by September 1 to avoid any further delay in the admission process. The deadlines for graduate courses vary from program to program.

Undergraduate Program Deadlines

Application Round Term Deadlines
Early Decision I Fall November 15
Early Decision II January 15
Regular Decision January 15
All Applicants Spring October 1
International Applicants September 1

Graduate Program Deadlines

Program Term Deadlines
Master’s Degrees (On-Campus), BA/MA Combined Degree Programs, & Graduate Certificate Programs Fall Round 1: February 15th Final Deadline: May 1
Spring Round 1: October 15th Final Deadline: November 1st
Executive Master’s Degree Fall June 1
Spring November 1
PhD Fall January 10

American University Undergraduate Admissions

The undergraduate offers more than 60 undergraduate majors to choose from. The top undergraduate majors include accounting, business administration, anthropology, biology, chemistry, computer science, and law. To remain eligible for undergraduate programs the candidate must have a GPA between 3.5 to 4.0 in their high school.

Application Portal: Common ApplicationApplication Fee: 75 USD

Application Requirements:

  • Completed online application
  • Official High School transcripts translated into English
  • Secondary school record
  • TOEFL-iBT Score
  • Personal statement or essay
  • Two academic letters of recommendation
  • Financial certificates
  • Passport

All documents must sent directly to the below address:

Office of Enrollment
4801 Massachusetts Ave., NW STE-218
Washington, DC 20016-8001
USA
Tel: +1-202-885-6000

American University Graduate Admissions

There are more than 140 master's and doctoral degrees to choose from at American University. The graduate courses of AU attract those seeking to upscale their knowledge in fields like Business, international affairs, arts, and film. Around 44% percent graduates are studying in part-time mode while 33% are pursuing their degrees online.

Application Portal: Graduate ApplicationApplication Fee: 55 USD

Application Requirements: below are the application requirements for some of the top graduate programs.

Requirements MBA MS in Finance Master of Public Administration MS in Chemistry MS in Computer Science
Application Fee 100 USD 100 USD 55 USD 55 USD 55 USD
GPA Required 3.0 or above 3.25 3.1 3.0 3.0
Letter of Recommendation 1 letter of Recommendation 1 letter of Recommendation 2 letter of Recommendation 2 letter of Recommendation 2 letter of Recommendation
Statement of Purpose 750 words 750 words Not Required Required Required
Resume Required Required Required Required Required
Work Experience 2 or more years Not Required Not Required Not Required Not Required
GMAT/GRE GMAT required Can be waived GRE (can be waived) GRE required GRE (optional)
Essay Required Not Required Not Required Not required Not required

English Proficiency Test Score for International Students

All international students must provide English language test scores like TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo and PTE in order to demonstrate their proficiency in English. Below are the minimum language scores required for undergraduate and graduate admission.

Test Undergraduate Score Graduate Score
TOEFL 85 IBT: 100 CBT: 250 PBT: 600
IELTS 6.5 7.0
PTE 6.0 68
Duolingo 115 120

Visa Requirements for International students

International students seeking admission in the United States must apply for an F-1 students Visa. The J-1 Visa is only issued to scholars based on the requirements of their sponsors or exchange program. The students may visit the US embassy in their country to apply for a Visa.

Documents Required for Visa:

  • Accepted offer letter from the University
  • A valid passport
  • I-20 or DS-2019
  • Financial support evidence
  • Acceptance letter from American University Washington
  • Proof of permanent residence outside United States
  • Two Passport-sized photographs
  • Receipt for payment of I-901 SEVIS fee

Other requirements may be:

  • English proficiency proof
  • Application fee
  • Personal interview
  • Academic transcripts

American University Admissions Decisions

After submitting their application the students may receive any of the below decisions based on holistic review by the admission department.

  • Admission for Fall term: The eligible students will be accepted for admission for fall term. The notification will be sent to the selected candidates including an invitation to cornerstone program, study abroad as well as internship program.
  • Waiting List: some students may be put under a waiting list due to limited space. If the student remains on the waiting list and space becomes available for the fall semester, they will receive an admission decision by May.
  • Denial: students who could not meet minimum eligibility criteria may be denied for admission. Such candidates are encouraged to apply as transfer students after completing their first year from another Institute.

The admission at American University is highly selective with an acceptance rate of 39%. Students with exceptional academic records and possess leadership skills are more likely to get selected. Most of the students applying to AU have an average GPA between 3.63 to 4.15.

FAQs

Ques. Are there any special requirements for international students?

Ans. International applicants are required to provide proof of English language proficiency and provide transcripts translated into English.

Ques. What are the admission deadlines for graduate courses?

Ans. Graduate and Ph.D. courses have specific deadlines that depend on the course faculty. Thus there aren’t any fixed deadlines.

Ques. What is the average GPA at American University?

Ans. The average GPA is around 3.5 on a 4.0 scale.

Ques. Are international students eligible to get scholarships?

Ans. Yes, international students are eligible to obtain merit-based scholarships.

Ques. Will classes be held online or in person in the fall semester due to COVID-19?

Ans. To provide the students with safe and accessible educational opportunities, American University offers a residential campus experience to provide a mixture of in-person/online and purely online classes.

Ques. Will there be changes to the Academic Calendar in terms of add/drop or refund deadlines?

Ans. There are no changes to the academic calendar at this time. American University will continue to monitor any changes in public health conditions and follow guidance of global, national and local health and government officials.

Ques. When will the fall semester begin and end?

Ans. The fall 2020 academic calendar will be followed as it is. Classes will start from August 21 for the Washington College of Law and August 24 for the rest of the university. Face‐to‐face instruction will end at Thanksgiving break to allow students to return home and remain there to complete courses online, including finals, avoiding additional travel costs, exposure and reducing community spread.

Ques. Will I receive a discount for any classes held entirely online?

Ans. No. Faculty of University are working hard to provide the students with access to their courses from wherever they are and to continue towards completing their degree and achieving their academic goals. Along with this, University will be offering a variety of skills workshops to students to enhance their overall learning.

Ques. Are campus tours cancelled?

Ans. Operations in the Admissions Welcome Center have been suspended and there are no group information sessions or tours at this time. AU encourages everyone to enjoy a virtual tour of the University.