American University acceptance rate, scores and deadlines
Source: Common Data Set 2025–26 · deadlines from American's admissions site.
Acceptance rate
American acceptance rate by year
13,741 of 20,960 applicants admitted for Fall 2025, against 62.0% for Fall 2024.
Show the numbers
| Entering class | Applied | Admitted | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2025 | 20,960 | 13,741 | 65.6% | Common Data Set |
| Fall 2024 | 17,173 | 10,640 | 62.0% | IPEDS |
| Fall 2023 | 17,786 | 8,427 | 47.4% | IPEDS |
| Fall 2022 | 19,510 | 7,926 | 40.6% | IPEDS |
| Fall 2021 | 19,650 | 12,594 | 64.1% | IPEDS |
| Fall 2020 | 20,036 | 7,744 | 38.6% | IPEDS |
| Fall 2019 | 18,545 | 6,691 | 36.1% | IPEDS |
| Fall 2018 | 18,984 | 5,988 | 31.5% | IPEDS |
| Fall 2017 | 18,699 | 5,498 | 29.4% | IPEDS |
| Fall 2016 | 19,325 | 5,008 | 25.9% | IPEDS |
| Fall 2015 | 16,735 | 5,860 | 35.0% | IPEDS |
2026–27 applications
American deadlines for 2026–27
Apply with Common App or Coalition App. Checked October 24, 2026 on American's admissions site. Dates can change; confirm them there before you submit.
- Early decision Apply by Decisions Mid-December
- Early action Apply by Decisions By January 31
- Early decision II Apply by Decisions Mid-February
- Regular decision Apply by Decisions By April 1
Early rounds
Early decision and early action at American
Early pools include recruited athletes and other special cases, so the gap overstates the boost for a typical applicant. Early decision is binding: apply only if you would enroll.
Scores and GPA
Test scores and GPA at American
Scores are for enrolled students who sent them, not for everyone admitted.
What counts
What American weighs
From section C7 of American's Common Data Set 2025–26.
Very important
- Course rigor
- GPA
- Demonstrated interest
Important
- Essays
- Recommendations
- Activities
- Talent or ability
- Character
- Volunteer work
Considered
- Test scores
- First-generation status
- Where you live
- Work experience
Not considered
- Class rank
- Interview
- Alumni relation
- State residency
- Religious affiliation
Waitlist
American waitlist
4,928 students were offered a place on the waitlist for Fall 2025, 1,785 accepted it, and 1,182 were admitted from it (66.2% of those who stayed on).
Cost
What American costs
From the College Scorecard. For your own estimate, use American's net price calculator.
Compare
Colleges with a similar acceptance rate
Close to American's 65.6%, from the same official data.
FAQ
Questions about American admissions
What is American's acceptance rate?
American admitted 13,741 of 20,960 first-year applicants for Fall 2025, an acceptance rate of 65.6%. That is up from 62.0% for Fall 2024. Source: Common Data Set 2025–26.
Is American test-optional for 2026–27?
Yes. American is test-optional for 2026–27: you can apply with or without SAT or ACT scores.
When are American's application deadlines for 2026–27?
Early decision: November 1, 2026; Early action: November 1, 2026; Early decision II: January 15, 2027; Regular decision: January 15, 2027. Check American's admissions site before you apply, as dates can change.
What SAT score do you need for American?
There is no cutoff. The middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 1320–1440 on the SAT (Fall 2025), and 15.92% of them sent a score. A score at or above 1440 is in the top quarter of enrolled students.
Does applying early decision help at American?
For Fall 2025, American admitted 80.6% of 392 early decision applicants, compared with 65.6% overall. Early pools include recruited athletes and other special cases, so the gap overstates the boost for a typical applicant.
Where the numbers come from
Sources
- American University Common Data Set 2025–26
- College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), IPEDS admissions 2015–2024
- American first-year admissions, checked October 24, 2026
Odds are estimates from public data, shown as a range. An estimate, not a guarantee.
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