AU Admission Requirements
Washington, District Of ColumbiaChances of getting into American University
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance Rate
31.5%| Measure | Difficulty | |
|---|---|---|
| Admission Standards | Very High | |
| Applicant Competition | High |
How hard is it to get into AU and can I get accepted? The school has a 32% acceptance rate ranking it #3 in District Of Columbia for lowest rate of acceptance. Last year, 5,988 out of 18,984 applicants were admitted making AU a highly competitive school to get into with a lesser chance of acceptance for qualifying applicants. Academically, it has very high requirements for admission test scores, generally admitting students who score in the top 18 percent. American University typically accepts and attracts "A-" average high school students. Only 29% of those admitted chose to enroll in the school. Most incoming freshmen graduated in the top quarter of their high school class.
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Calculate My ChancesAU SAT Scores
SAT Requirements & Average SAT Score
SAT Range
1220-1380Applicants Submitting SAT
52%| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading 25th | 630 |
| SAT Math 25th | 590 |
| SAT Composite 25th | 1220 |
| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading 75th | 700 |
| SAT Math 75th | 680 |
| SAT Composite 75th | 1380 |
| Average SAT Score | 1300 |
SAT Scores you need to get in
What are the SAT requirements for students to be admitted to American University?
American University typically requires applicants to be in the top 22 percent of SAT test takers. The school consistently takes SAT composite scores down to 1220 on a 1600 scale, below which admission should be considered a reach. We estimate some students could be accepted with SAT's as low as 1140. The estimated average SAT composite for admitted freshman is 1300 out of 1600. The school ranks #3 in District Of Columbia for highest average SAT composite score. 52 percent of applicants submit SAT scores to the school. Note: SAT scores presented on this page have been adjusted upwards per the College Board's concordance tables for test takers after March 2016.
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Estimated Chance of Acceptance by SAT Score
| SAT Score (1600 scale) | Competitiveness | Admission Chances |
|---|---|---|
| 1380 and Above | Good | >44% |
| 1300 to 1380 | Avg + | 32%-44% |
| 1220 to 1300 | Avg - | 22%-32% |
| 1140 to 1220 | Reach | 14%-22% |
| Less than 1140 | Low | <14% |
AU ACT Scores
ACT Requirements & Average ACT Score
ACT Range
27-31Applicants Submitting ACT
36%| ACT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| ACT Reading 25th | 27 |
| ACT Math 25th | 24 |
| ACT Composite 25th | 27 |
| ACT Test | 75th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| ACT Reading 75th | 34 |
| ACT Math 75th | 29 |
| ACT Composite 75th | 31 |
| Average ACT Score | 29 |
ACT Scores needed to get accepted
What are the ACT requirements for prospective students to get into AU?
Admission data indicates that AU regularly accepts students with ACT's of 27 and above. Successful applicants typically send ACT scores in the top 15 percent nationally. We estimate the school accepting minimum ACT composite scores around 25 in some instances. Prospective students submitting an ACT composite of 29 or higher should be in the upper half of applicants - and students with a 31 and above have very competitive chances. The school ranks #3 in District Of Columbia for highest average ACT composite score. 36 percent of applicants submit ACT scores to American University.
Estimated Chance of Acceptance by ACT Score
| ACT Score | Competitiveness | Admission Chances |
|---|---|---|
| 31 and Above | Good | >44% |
| 29 to 31 | Avg + | 32%-44% |
| 27 to 29 | Avg - | 22%-32% |
| 25 to 27 | Reach | 14%-22% |
| Less than 25 | Low | <14% |
Estimated GPA Requirements & Average GPA
Avg. High School GPA
3.7*Typical High School Grades
A-You will need very good grades in high school to get into American University. The average high school GPA of the admitted freshman class at American University was 3.7 on the 4.0 scale indicating that primarily A- students are accepted and ultimately attend. The school ranks #3 in District Of Columbia for highest average GPA. Even with a competitive GPA, admission to AU will be challenging as the school denies more applicants than it admits.
| High School GPA | Freshmen Within Range | Competitiveness |
|---|---|---|
| 3.75+ | 51% | Good |
| 3.50 to 3.75 | 21% | Avg - |
| 3.25 to 3.50 | 14% | Avg - |
| 3.00 to 3.25 | 10% | Reach |
| 2.75 to 3.00 | 4% | Reach |
| 2.50 to 2.75 | N/A% | Low |
| 2.25 to 2.50 | N/A% | Low |
| 2.00 to 2.25 | N/A% | Low |
High School Class Rank
78% of American University freshman were in the top twenty five percent of their high school graduating class.
| High School Class Rank | Freshmen Within Range |
|---|---|
| Top 10% of class | 47% |
| Top 25% of class | 78% |
| Top 50% of class | 96% |
| Bottom 50% of class | 4% |
| Bottom 25% of class | 0% |
Admission Statistics
| Women | Men | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applied | 12,231 | 6,753 | 18,984 |
| Accepted | 4,030 | 1,958 | 5,988 |
| Acceptance Rate | 33% | 29% | 32% |
| Enrolled | 1,133 | 624 | 1,757 |
| Percent of Admitted Who Enrolled (Admission Yield) | 28% | 32% | 29% |
Fall 2020 Application Deadline
Applications were Due
Jan 15, 2020Days left to Apply
NoneThe application deadline for Fall 2020 has passed. Applications were due on Jan 15, 2020.
Admission Requirements
What are the requirements for admission to American University and what considerations affect admission decisions?
| Test Scores | Required |
| High School GPA | Required |
| High School Class Rank | Neither required nor recommended |
| Completion of College Preparatory Program | Required |
| Recommendations | Required |
| Demonstration of Competencies | Recommended |
Credits Accepted
| AP Credit | Yes |
| Dual Credit | Yes |
| Credit for Life Experiences | No |
Other Colleges to Consider
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=131159 IPEDS survey data for American University.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does American University prefer SAT or ACT?
52% of students submit their SAT scores to AU. 36% of applicants send their ACT scores when applying.
What is my chance of getting into American University?
32% of those who apply are granted admission to AU. Admission competition is high and the college has very high admission standards. See if your grades and scores are good enough for admission.
What SAT score is required for American University?
The middle 50% of addmitted applicants have SAT scores between 1220 and 1380. 52% of students submit SAT scores when applying. See if your SAT score is good enough for admission.
What ACT score is required for American University?
The middle 50% of addmitted applicants have ACT scores between 27 and 31. 36% of students submit ACT scores when applying. See if your ACT score is good enough for admission.
