1. [College research](/) 2. / 3. [American University](/school/american-university/) 4. / 5. Programs & majors brief Programs & majors brief Copy linkPrint brief # American University Majors & Programs Updated September 30, 2026 [Overview](/school/american-university/)[Cost & aid](/school/american-university/cost/)[Outcomes](/school/american-university/outcomes/)[Admissions](/school/american-university/admissions/)Majors[Similar schools](/school/american-university/similar/) **On this page**+ ## Which majors earn the most at American? The program picture spans higher and more moderate earnings four years after completion across its named fields. Finance recorded median earnings of $134,332 with 75 degrees awarded, while Accounting recorded $119,020 across 18 degrees awarded. Computer Science posted median earnings of $117,293 four years after completion and 24 degrees awarded. At a more moderate level, International Relations and National Security Studies recorded $73,865 with 382 degrees awarded. The figures place the higher-earning fields alongside a large program with a lower median earnings figure. ### Major mix · each dot ≈ 1% of completions Share of reported completions in the bachelor’s programs included here. Each dot represents approximately 1% of those completions. Counts are credentials, not unique students; excluded programs are not zero activity. - Social sciences**681 · 35.1%** - Business**340 · 17.5%** - Communication**218 · 11.2%** - Interdisciplinary studies**110 · 5.7%** - Visual and performing arts**105 · 5.4%** - Other**484 · 25.0%** Find a field Sort programsLargest programsHighest four-year earningsBest national field rankProgram name 35 of 35 programs shown Four-year earnings · first six matching programs **Finance and Financial Management Services 75 degrees awarded** $134,332 **Accounting and Related Services 18 degrees awarded** $119,020 **Computer Science 24 degrees awarded** $117,293 **Business Administration, Management and Operations 247 degrees awarded** $88,359 **Economics 71 degrees awarded** $85,016 **Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication 132 degrees awarded** $78,410 Each bar is a field’s median. Program size counts degrees awarded, not unique people or the earnings sample. Compare all matching programs Reported bachelor’s programs · earnings, program size and field ranks | Program | Degrees awarded | 4-yr earnings | Field rank | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Finance and Financial Management Services | 75 | $134,332 | — | | Accounting and Related Services small degree count | 18 | $119,020 | — | | Computer Science | 24 | $117,293 | — | | Business Administration, Management and Operations | 247 | $88,359 | — | | Economics | 71 | $85,016 | — | | Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | 132 | $78,410 | — | | Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | 110 | $76,552 | — | | Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians small degree count | 10 | $75,461 | — | | International Relations and National Security Studies | 382 | $73,865 | — | | Political Science and Government | 192 | $73,604 | — | | Non-Professional Legal Studies | 30 | $72,792 | — | | Public Health | 76 | $70,831 | — | | Communication and Media Studies | 27 | $67,863 | — | | Criminal Justice and Corrections | 86 | $66,970 | — | | Journalism | 59 | $66,635 | — | | Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods small degree count | 14 | $66,160 | — | | Natural Resources Conservation and Research | 33 | $63,711 | — | | Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies small degree count | 9 | $63,553 | — | | Psychology, General | 64 | $62,240 | — | | History | 25 | $59,630 | — | | Literature small degree count | 17 | $54,436 | — | | Anthropology small degree count | 12 | $53,036 | — | | Film/Video and Photographic Arts | 53 | $52,661 | — | | Area Studies small degree count | 16 | Too few graduates to report | — | | Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics small degree count | 5 | Too few graduates to report | — | | Biology, General | 27 | Too few graduates to report | — | | Neurobiology and Neurosciences small degree count | 15 | Too few graduates to report | — | | Statistics small degree count | 14 | Too few graduates to report | — | | Mathematics small degree count | 7 | Too few graduates to report | — | | Philosophy small degree count | 12 | Too few graduates to report | — | | Sociology | 24 | Too few graduates to report | — | | Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | 20 | Too few graduates to report | — | | Design and Applied Arts small degree count | 16 | Too few graduates to report | — | | Fine and Studio Arts small degree count | 8 | Too few graduates to report | — | | Music small degree count | 8 | Too few graduates to report | — | [Program data and definitions](#page-sources) · [How to evaluate program rankings](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/) ## What are the largest programs at American? Ten largest programs by degrees awarded **International Relations and National Security Studies** 382 **Business Administration, Management and Operations** 247 **Political Science and Government** 192 **Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication** 132 **Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other** 110 **Criminal Justice and Corrections** 86 **Public Health** 76 **Finance and Financial Management Services** 75 **Economics** 71 **Psychology, General** 64 Counts describe degrees awarded in the reporting period, not current enrollment. [Program data and definitions](#page-sources) ## How do American majors rank nationally? National program ranks are not reported for this school. [How Azimuth compares programs across colleges](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/) ## Further analysis American University has 23 programs with published earnings data, and the figures below cover completers four years after completion; award counts are degrees conferred in one academic year. The degree mix is concentrated in the social sciences. Social Sciences accounts for 35.1% of bachelor's degrees awarded, followed by Business at 17.5% and Communication & Journalism at 11.2%. The largest single program, International Relations and National Security Studies, awards 382 degrees a year and its completers earn a median of $73,865 four years after completion. The highest earnings belong to a much smaller program. Finance graduates earn a median of $134,332 four years after completion, from 75 degrees awarded annually. Accounting follows at a median of $119,020 four years after completion, from 18 degrees. Across all fields, 7.7% of degrees are in STEM. ## Data & methodology Sources and reporting periods: [methodology](/methodology/). Analysis and methodology by [Daniel Rogers](/about/#founder), founder of College Azimuth. Explanatory text is AI-assisted drafting checked against those figures; it is not an additional data source. Figure notes link to sources and limitations. [About College Azimuth](/about/).