Introduction
American University (AU) was born of George Washington
American University
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Information Summary
| Overall Score (about) | 93.1 |
| Total Cost On-Campus Attendance | $66,268 |
| Admission Success rate | N/A |
| ACT / SAT 75%ile scores | 31 / 1380 |
| Student Ratio Students-to-Faculty | 14 : 1 |
| Retention (full-time / part-time) | 88% / N/A |
| Enrollment Total (all students) | 14,311 |
Academics
A private liberal arts school, the institution holds accreditation from the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools and offers undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, and professional degrees in addition to certificate and non-degree programs with professors typically holding the highest degree possible in their fields. The faculty/student ration is 13:1.
The College of Arts and Sciences, Kogod School of Business, the School of Communication, the School of International Service, the School of Public Affairs, and Washington School of Law are the main colleges. The university offers 57 undergraduate degrees, 53 graduate degrees, and 10 doctoral degree programs.
The university has also become well-known for its Washington Semester Program, which allows visiting students from around the world and the United States to study at the university and to undertake internships in the nation
Most Popular Fields of Study
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Admissions
Admissions are competitive with 53 percent of applicants receiving acceptance letters each year, earning the university a spot on U.S. News & World Report
Financial Aid
Students often fund their education through grants, scholarships, and loans with more than 80 percent of all freshmen receiving financial aid.
Grants
AU accepts grants from several states, in addition to the District of Columbia, including Vermont, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Delaware, and Connecticut. Students should be advised that states typically require their funds be used in-state, although some exceptions do exist.
Students may qualify for grants from the federal government. Both the Federal Pell Grant and the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant are available to students who demonstrate considerable financial need.
The university also offers its own grant program. The American University Grant is awarded to students based on financial need and can only be used to pay for tuition. Students also receiving scholarships and other grants may have the amount of their grant adjusted accordingly.
Scholarships
Incoming freshmen and transfer students are automatically considered for scholarships, including the AU Freshmen Merit Scholarship, the Presidential Scholarship, and the Leadership Scholarship. Recipients generally exhibit strong leadership skills and possess a strong academic record.
The Athletic Department also offers athletic scholarships to standout transfer and freshmen student athletes.
In addition, eligible students are automatically considered for a limited number of privately endowed scholarships. The one-time only awards generally range from $100 up to $10,000.
Other Funding Options
Students can supplement their grant and scholarship funding by participating in the Federal Work Study Program or by taking out a loan. Students and their parents have several loan options, among them The Stafford Loan and The Parent Plus Loan.
Students and their parents have the option of paying tuition in installment plans. The academic year installment plan generally requires between 10 and 12 payments while the semester installment plan is paid in three payments. Each requires students to reapply for the payment plan after the current one ends.
Students needing assistance with financial aid issues can visit the Financial Aid Office on campus.
Student Financial Aid Details
Students
Resident Life
The campus is located in the heart of Washington DC with easy access to the suburbs of Northern Virginia and Maryland. The metro and bus system provide quick access to just about anywhere in and around the city and the campus.
Students who opt to live on campus may live in one of eight residential halls on the South, North, and Tenley Campuses. Anderson Hall is the largest residential building, is laid out in traditional dormitory style, and caters to freshmen and sophomores. Students share hall bathrooms and can seek assistance or advice from the two Resident Assistants (RA) living on each floor. Nebraska Hall, on the other hand, offers apartment-style living with one to four bedroom apartments, living rooms, private bathroom, and a shared kitchen.
In addition to residencies, the university also features several Living-Learning Communities. Living-Learning Communities allow students with common interests to live together and to engage in educational opportunities together. One of the current Living-Learning Communities is The Sophomore Seminar. Residents of the community, who must be sophomores, all live together on one floor and will take a general studies class together.
Amenities in residential halls include cable television, wireless internet, and furniture. Residents in each building also have access to common lounges and fully equipped kitchens on each floor.
In a move designed to become more environmentally conscious, the residences provide showering students with water from solar thermal units. The university also uses wind power for 100% of its purchased electricity.
Activities
Students can peruse dozens of clubs and student organizations, ranging from academic (Anthropology Club and International Communication Student Forum) to social justice (Dignity for Women Worldwide to STAND: An Anti-Genocide Student Coalition). There is a strong Greek system with more than 20 fraternities and sororities.
Student Media
Students can keep up with the latest campus news through student media, which is all run entirely by students. The Eagle Online, the campus newspaper, provides students with the latest news both on and off campus while ATV, the official campus television station, airs student-produced programming 24 hours a day. Politically minded students might want to join or just read the once-a-semester student magazine American Way of Life.. The American Literacy Magazine, American Word Magazine, and The Talon Yearbook round out the officially recognized publications on campus.
The Student Activities organization sponsors and plans many of the activities on campus, including concerts, movies, workshops, and lectures.
Experience DC
Students who want to experience the District with other students can join Experience DC, sponsored by Student Activities. Experience DC provides students and faculty with the opportunity to see and experience all the city has to offer, from nighttime bus tours to taking in a dinner theater alongside visitors to the nation
Student Enrollment Demographics
Student Graduation Demographics
Athletics
AU Eagles
As on most university campuses, sports play an important role in university life. The Eagles, who wear orange and blue, have a long and celebrated history, with the men and women
Local Community
Students have all that Washington DC has to offer at their doorstep: The Smithsonian Museums, Arlington National Cemetery, the National Mall, and the Lincoln Memorial provide only a small taste of the city
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