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American University
Admissions

Interested in attending American University?

On this page, you'll learn how difficult it is to get into American University, we'll dig into high school grades and test scores, and you'll find out the factors the school considers when reviewing applications.

65
%
Acceptance rate
January 15
Regular admission deadline

Admission Rates

Is it difficult to get into American University?

65%

Using the most up-to-date data on record, American accepted 65% of applicants. We classify this as somewhat selective.

In the most recent year, 20,938 people applied and 13,741 were accepted.

Accepted/Applied
Women
9129 / 13697 (67%)
Men
4605 / 7241 (64%)

Acceptance rates at colleges can change over time, with some becoming more competitive and others accepting more students. Here’s a look at the acceptance rate trend for the past 3 years at American University:

100%
86.0
72.0
58.0
44.0
30.0
2024
2025
2026

Acceptance rates at schools can vary depending on if the student is in-state, out-of-state, or international.

11%
Enrollment of those accepted
Low
Yield rate

Of those accepted, 11% ended up enrolling at American University, making their yield rate Low. The yield rate is the percentage of accepted students who enroll at the school. You can use the yield rate to find out how coveted a school is for the students who apply to it.

Application Factors

You can increase your chances of getting into American University by looking at what the school considers during the application process.

Here are the things American considers:

Very Important

  • Academic GPA
  • Level of Applicant's Interest
  • Rigor of Secondary School Record

Important

  • Application Essay
  • Character/Personal Qualities
  • Extracurricular Activities
  • Recommendation(s)
  • Talent/Ability
  • Volunteer Work

Considered

  • First Generation
  • Geographical Residence
  • Standardized Test Scores
  • Work Experience

Not Considered

  • Alumni/AE Relation
  • Class Rank
  • Interview
  • Religious Affiliation/Commitment
  • State Residency

Grades & Testing

Do you have the grades and test scores to get into American University?

Grades

Applicants submitting SAT Scores

22%

Applicants submitting ACT Scores

8%
SAT Math Scores
25th Percentile
680
75th Percentile
740
SAT Verb Scores
25th Percentile
630
75th Percentile
710
SAT Composite Scores
25th Percentile
1320
75th Percentile
1440

Application Deadlines

These are the deadlines for applying to American University. Application deadlines are subject to change, so please verify all deadlines with the school.

Regular Admissions

January 15
Regular admission deadline
April 1
Application notification

Early Decision

Early Decision is a program in which students commit to attend a school if they are accepted. Some schools have a higher acceptance rate for Early Decision than regular decision. American's Early Decision acceptance rate is 81%, compared to 65% overall. If you’re sure you want to attend American University, you might consider applying Early Decision.

November 1
Applications Due
December 31
Notification Date
81%
Early Decision Acceptance Rate
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CollegeIQ® relies on data from government and private resources. Always confer with the individual college or university for the most recent data. Learn more about our data and methodology.

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