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American University

4400 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20016, USA

American University award
American University award
US ranking
position: 504
Tuition & fees per year: $61,720
Acceptance rate: 47.00%
Median alumni salary: $50,329
Avg. SAT and ACT: 1360 SAT, 31 ACT
Entrance difficulty: N/A

What are the graduation rates for students at American University?

American University demonstrates strong student success as reflected in its graduation statistics. The overall graduation rate stands at 78%, placing the university in the top 15% nationally. This high performance is consistent across gender lines, with graduation rates of 75% for men and 81% for women, both also ranking in the top 15%. Notably, the four-year graduation rate reaches 72%, a figure that is considered very high and positions the institution among the top 10% of universities in this metric.

The six-year graduation rate confirms the institution's effectiveness in supporting its students through to degree completion, remaining at 78%, which is within the top 15%. Student retention also remains robust at 86%, ranking in the top 25%, suggesting that students continue their studies beyond their first year and are likely to graduate. These figures collectively indicate that American University maintains a strong commitment to student progress and completion.

What is the earning potential for graduates at American University?

Graduates of American University find that their earning potential varies significantly depending on their chosen field of study. Among the highest earners are those with degrees in Computer Science, who report median annual earnings of $73,918. Finance and Financial Management Services also offer strong financial prospects, with graduates earning around $64,161 on average.

Business Administration, Management and Operations is another degree with solid income potential, boasting median earnings of $50,809. Other fields related to communication, such as Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication, yield an average income of $45,098, while graduates in Political Science and Government earn roughly $45,217.

Students pursuing Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other can expect earnings close to $44,939, and those in Non-Professional General Legal Studies report median salaries near $44,628. Degrees in Design and Applied Arts also show respectable earnings, averaging $43,551.

In the broader liberal arts and social sciences, Economics graduates earn approximately $48,661, while those in Communication and Media Studies take home close to $42,806. International Relations and National Security Studies provide earnings near $41,948, and Journalism graduates earn around $40,534 annually.

Fields such as Psychology, General and Sociology tend to offer more modest returns, with median earnings of $35,226 and $34,261 respectively, and Public Health graduates earn around $36,775. Biology, General majors earn $33,080, whereas those in Criminal Justice and Corrections make about $39,002. Visual and performing arts disciplines like Film/Video and Photographic Arts and Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft report lower median incomes, with $28,838 and $25,854 respectively.

American University Graduation Rate

Avg. graduation 78%
Graduation rate, total cohort
4-year Graduation 72%
Graduation rate - Bachelor degree within 4 years, total
6-year Graduation 78%
Graduation rate - Bachelor degree within 6 years, total

American University Career Help & Outcomes

Career Centers:

Full time employees: Data not available

Part time employees: Data not available

Career Counselling:

Individual: All undergraduates

Group: Data not available

Career Center services:

  • Job Interviews
  • Career library
  • Resume preparation
  • Resume refers to employers
  • Career/Interest testing
  • Alumni network

Other information:

Job bank on campus

Yes

Job fairs on campus

Yes

On campus employer recruitment

All undergraduates

American University Graduations Per Degree

BACHELOR’S Degree

Women Men Total

Natural Resources and Conservation

19423

Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, and Group Studies

15823

Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs

13336169

Communications Technologies/Technicians and Support Services

459

Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services

72128

Education

11011

Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

213

Legal Professions and Studies

18523

English Language and Literature/Letters

10212

Biological and Biomedical Sciences

331043

Mathematics and Statistics

101626

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies

7249121

Philosophy and Religious Studies

437

Physical Sciences

5712

Psychology

551166

Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services

632588

Social Sciences

387272659

Visual and Performing Arts

602282

Health Professions and Related Programs

61263

Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services

158184342

History

71623

MASTER’S Degree

Women Men Total

Natural Resources and Conservation

371350

Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs

10933142

Communications Technologies/Technicians and Support Services

21416

Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services

212748

Education

15031181

Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences

41142

Legal Professions and Studies

7551126

English Language and Literature/Letters

20727

Biological and Biomedical Sciences

15217

Mathematics and Statistics

527

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies

371451

Parks, Recreation, Leisure, Fitness, and Kinesiology

22729

Philosophy and Religious Studies

27936

Physical Sciences

202

Psychology

16117

Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services

7455129

Public Administration and Social Service Professions

195130325

Social Sciences

331253584

Visual and Performing Arts

471663

Health Professions and Related Programs

18826

Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services

146108254

History

21627

DOCTOR’S Degree

Women Men Total

Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs

325

Education

20828

Legal Professions and Studies

022

Biological and Biomedical Sciences

404

Psychology

718

Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services

404

Public Administration and Social Service Professions

303

Social Sciences

91019

History

314