American University

What is the accreditation of American University?

American University is institutionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Institutional accreditation evaluates the university as a whole; it does not mean that every individual degree has a separate professional endorsement.

For students, recognized institutional accreditation is relevant to eligibility for federal student aid and to how other institutions may review academic credit. It does not guarantee that another college will accept a particular course. Some professions also impose separate program-accreditation or licensing requirements: for example, the Washington College of Law's legal education is subject to American Bar Association approval. Applicants entering a regulated profession should check the requirements for their specific degree and the state where they intend to practice.

What are the admission requirements at American University?

First-year admission to American University is selective rather than open. Applicants generally submit an application, a secondary-school transcript, recommendations, and information about their academic preparation. A high school diploma or accepted equivalent is needed for degree-seeking enrollment; applicants with a GED should confirm the documentation the admissions office requires.

American University has used a test-optional approach for undergraduate admission, so applicants should check the policy for their intended entry term before deciding whether to send SAT or ACT results. In the reported entering class, about 16% submitted SAT scores and about 6% submitted ACT scores. The median scores among enrolled students who submitted them were 1360 and 31, respectively; those figures do not describe the entire class or establish an admission cutoff. The reported first-year admission rate was 62%, but an applicant's chances depend on the strength and context of the full application.

Applicants should also review the current application's essay or writing questions and the requirements for their chosen admission round. Students whose prior education does not establish English proficiency may need to submit an accepted English-language test or qualify for an exemption. Graduate, law, and other program-specific applications follow different rules; the undergraduate checklist should not be used for those programs.

What are the application fees and waivers at American University?

American University's reported undergraduate application fee is $75. This is a charge to submit an application, not an enrollment deposit or a payment toward tuition. Applicants should verify the fee shown in their application portal, particularly if they are applying to a graduate or professional program.

Eligible applicants can seek an application-fee waiver through the application process or by asking undergraduate admissions about documented financial hardship and other qualifying circumstances. Because a waiver usually has to be applied before payment, applicants who need one should resolve that question before submitting the application. Fee-waiver rules for law and graduate applications may differ from undergraduate rules.

What types of ROTC programs are available at American University?

American University students can pursue Army ROTC and Air Force ROTC through arrangements with cooperating institutions rather than assuming that American University operates a full unit for each branch on its own campus. Participation can require travel to a host institution for classes, training, or both, so scheduling matters alongside a student's regular courses.

ROTC participation and an ROTC scholarship are separate decisions. Scholarship eligibility, medical and fitness standards, citizenship rules, and any resulting service obligation depend on the branch and the student's circumstances. Interested applicants should obtain the current cross-enrollment instructions and training schedule from the relevant ROTC host unit before building a semester timetable.

What are the requirements for transfer students at American University?

American University accepts transfer applicants and generally considers college credit earned at other accredited institutions. Transfer admission and the award of transfer credit are separate decisions: being admitted does not mean that every previous course will satisfy an American University degree requirement.

Transfer applicants should expect to provide transcripts from every college attended and to follow the application instructions for their intended entry term; high school records may also be requested depending on their educational history. American University has reported transfer enrollment for fall, spring, and summer terms, but applicants should confirm the current deadline and available entry term for their program. The university also reports accepting certain examination and recommended credits, including CLEP and American Council on Education recommendations, subject to its credit policies.

Before enrolling, request an official transfer-credit evaluation and compare it with the degree audit for the intended major. A course may transfer as elective credit without replacing a required course. This distinction, along with any limits on transferable credits or required coursework at American University, can materially affect time to graduation and cost.

What types of study abroad programs are available at American University?

American University offers study-abroad opportunities that can fit into a semester or shorter period, depending on the program. AU Abroad coordinates options that include university-approved programs and international partner arrangements; available locations and formats can change from year to year.

Students should obtain academic approval before committing, particularly if they need overseas courses to meet major, language, or graduation requirements. Costs and the treatment of financial aid may vary by program, and an international internship is not necessarily interchangeable with a course-bearing study-abroad placement. Early advising is especially useful in majors with tightly sequenced required classes.