American University

American University's published cost of attendance is $76,058, but need-based aid reshapes that figure across income levels. Low-income families pay approximately $23,233; middle-income families pay around $26,035; higher-income families pay approximately $53,673.

Azimuth ranks American University #1359 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.

American University meets demonstrated financial need for admitted students through need-based aid packages that combine grants, loans, and work-study. The aid structure prioritizes grants over loans where possible, and families apply using the FAFSA and CSS Profile.

Merit aid is not part of the primary aid structure, keeping the focus on need-based support. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $22,750, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $39,169; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.

For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $79,081, median federal debt of $22,750 projects to a monthly payment of about $257 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).

Graduates of American University earn median 4-year earnings of $79,081, placing American University in the 86.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $1,251 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing American University in the 52.6 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.

Azimuth ranks American University #288 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects American University's concentration in social sciences and professional fields.

International Relations and National Security Studies is the largest program with 382 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $73,865, performing at 1.1x the national benchmark for the field. The Business Administration program graduates 247 students earning $88,359 four years after enrollment, while Political Science and Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication round out the top programs with four-year earnings of $73,604 and $78,410 respectively.

These programs anchor the institution's return profile, with International Relations and National Security Studies combining substantial enrollment scale with strong earnings outcomes to drive overall institutional performance.

American University's program mix is anchored in social sciences, policy, and international affairs—a portfolio shaped by the institution's location in Washington, DC and its research identity. International Relations and National Security Studies is the largest program with 382 graduates, followed by Business Administration, Political Science, Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication, and Interdisciplinary Studies.

The institution's dominant program family, Social Sciences, accounts for a substantial share of degrees across 35 total programs, with 0 meeting Azimuth's ranking threshold. The highest-earning programs reflect the institution's strength in policy-oriented and analytical fields.

Finance graduates earn median earnings of $134,332 four years after enrollment, while Business Administration graduates earn $88,359 and Economics graduates earn $85,016. Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication and Interdisciplinary Studies round out the top earners with median earnings of $78,410 and $76,552 respectively.

These outcomes reflect both the applied nature of many programs and the strong labor-market demand for graduates in policy, business, and international-affairs fields in the DC region. Most of American University's dominant programs are high-mobility pathways where graduates enter the workforce directly into policy, government, nonprofit, and business sectors.

The concentration in social sciences and policy-adjacent fields positions the institution for strong alignment with national demand for graduates in public affairs, international relations, and policy analysis. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these fields align with broader labor-market trends and career mobility patterns.