American University
Washington, District of Columbia
A 0–100 composite of ROI, graduate earnings, net price, debt and graduation rate. How it’s scored.
Estimated for a typical student paying the average net price over 4 years.
Graduate earnings clearly outpace the cost and debt — this degree pays back quickly.
The numbers behind the verdict
Lifetime ROI: the long view
Cumulative net gain over a high-school-only earner at different career lengths, with tuition and debt interest already subtracted. Built on IRS-verified federal earnings — not self-reported surveys.
Conservative: holds year-5 earnings flat (no raises). Adjust the assumptions, or see the highest 20-year ROI colleges.
Equity & access
Who the college serves and whether the payoff reaches everyone — earnings ten years after starting (IRS-linked), with access measures from federal enrollment data.
8% gap between the two groups
3% gap between the two groups
4% gap between the two groups
Undergraduate enrollment by race/ethnicity. Federal data does not report earnings by race.
Net price by family income
What students actually pay after grants and scholarships, by household income as of 2024.
| Family income | Average net price / yr |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30k | $23,233 |
| $30k–$48k | $20,444 |
| $48k–$75k | $26,035 |
| $75k–$110k | $30,063 |
| $110k+ | $53,673 |
How American University compares
This college against the District of Columbia and national averages — higher earnings and lower cost/debt are better.
Graduate earnings over time
Median earnings of American University students 10 years after entering, by cohort year as of 2024.
Best-paying majors at American University
Fields of study ranked by their own ROI — earnings five years after graduating against the cost and debt. Click a major for the deep dive.
| Major | Credential | Earnings (5 yr) | Median debt | 10-yr ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accounting and Related Services | Associate's | $104,304 | — | +607% | Strong return |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | Associate's | $103,137 | $22,625 | +531% | Strong return |
| Non-Professional Legal Studies | Associate's | $101,273 | $24,375 | +507% | Strong return |
| Political Science and Government | Certificate | $73,852 | $23,250 | +472% | Strong return |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | Associate's | $94,957 | $26,442 | +434% | Strong return |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | Associate's | $88,921 | $24,500 | +373% | Strong return |
| Taxation | Certificate | $122,587 | — | +363% | Strong return |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | Certificate | $131,517 | $89,433 | +332% | Strong return |
| Economics | Certificate | $116,157 | $46,108 | +286% | Strong return |
| Political Science and Government | Associate's | $78,954 | $23,250 | +268% | Strong return |
| Public Administration | Certificate | $113,922 | $55,000 | +267% | Strong return |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | Associate's | $78,483 | $26,125 | +259% | Strong return |
| Economics | Associate's | $77,219 | $22,191 | +250% | Strong return |
| Accounting and Related Services | Certificate | $101,772 | — | +238% | Strong return |
| Public Policy Analysis | Certificate | $107,080 | $54,986 | +231% | Strong return |
| Communication and Media Studies | Associate's | $75,154 | $22,611 | +227% | Strong return |
| Communication and Media Studies | Certificate | $104,844 | $51,250 | +221% | Strong return |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | Certificate | $101,443 | $61,500 | +197% | Strong return |
| Law | Doctoral | $112,063 | $161,696 | +196% | Strong return |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | Associate's | $71,028 | $23,250 | +182% | Strong return |
| Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies | Certificate | $98,927 | $65,926 | +181% | Strong return |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | Certificate | $89,792 | — | +167% | Strong return |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | Associate's | $69,028 | $22,000 | +161% | Strong return |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | Associate's | $69,087 | $23,000 | +161% | Strong return |
| Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution | Certificate | $92,285 | $62,122 | +148% | Strong return |
Calculate your own ROI
Adjust the assumptions for your situation — the verdict, break-even and chart update live.
ROI at American University
Estimates from federal data; your result will vary. How this works.
Admissions & profile
Location
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard. ROI is computed by Degree Return — see how. Read the methodology. Data as of 2024.
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