American University Acceptance Rate
Washington, District of Columbia · Private not-for-profit · 4-year or above
- Applicants
- 17,786
- Admitted
- 8,427
- Yield
- 22%
- Test policy
- Test-optional
Latest official IPEDS 2023–24 · Updated July 2026
Acceptance rate & applications over time
Hover or tap the chart to read any year.
Over the 10 years of federal data, American University's acceptance rate has risen from 45.8% in 2014–15 to 47.4% in 2023–24. Applications grew from 15,119 to 17,786 (+18%) over that period.
Its 47.4% rate makes American University more selective than about 86% of the 1,419 schools tracked here. Among 6 tracked District of Columbia schools, it is more selective than about 33%.
In 2023–24, men were admitted at a higher rate (45.2% for women vs 51.7% for men, a 6.5-point gap). American University has been test-optional since 2016–17. Of admitted students, 22% enrolled (the yield rate) in 2023–24.
Full year-by-year table
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | 15,119 | 6,931 | 45.8% | 1,787 |
| 2015–16 | 16,735 | 5,860 | 35% | 1,787 |
| 2016–17 | 19,325 | 5,008 | 25.9% | 1,679 |
| 2017–18 | 18,699 | 5,498 | 29.4% | 1,785 |
| 2018–19 | 18,984 | 5,988 | 31.5% | 1,757 |
| 2019–20 | 18,545 | 6,691 | 36.1% | 1,754 |
| 2020–21 | 20,036 | 7,744 | 38.7% | 1,607 |
| 2021–22 | 19,650 | 12,594 | 64.1% | 2,372 |
| 2022–23 | 19,510 | 7,926 | 40.6% | 1,761 |
| 2023–24 | 17,786 | 8,427 | 47.4% | 1,856 |
Acceptance rate by gender
| Group | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 11,796 | 5,331 | 45.2% |
| Men | 5,990 | 3,096 | 51.7% |
SAT / ACT ranges & policy
Test-optional (considered if submitted).
| Test | 25th–75th percentile | % submitting |
|---|---|---|
| SAT EBRW | 670–740 | 26% |
| SAT Math | 630–710 | |
| ACT Composite | 29–33 | 16% |
How American University compares
Where this school sits among peers of similar selectivity — each dot is a school's current acceptance rate on the same scale.
Frequently asked
What is American University's acceptance rate?
American University's acceptance rate is 47.4% for 2023–24, the most recent year of federal IPEDS data (8,427 admitted of 17,786 applicants).
Is American University test optional?
American University is test-optional: SAT/ACT scores are considered if submitted but not required.
How many people apply to American University?
American University received 17,786 applications in 2023–24 and admitted 8,427.
What SAT score do you need for American University?
Admitted students at American University typically scored 670–740 on SAT Reading/Writing and 630–710 on SAT Math (middle-50% ranges).
Is American University getting harder to get into?
American University has become easier to get into: its acceptance rate went from 45.8% in 2014–15 to 47.4% in 2023–24.
How this is calculated
Acceptance rate = admitted ÷ applicants, first-time degree-seeking undergraduates, from the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS Admissions (ADM) survey; institution details from the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics (HD) survey. Data span: 2014–15 to 2023–24. Official site: www.american.edu/.