American University
DC · Private · Mid-Atlantic · National university · Top 100 tier · 7,266 undergraduates (medium)
Admission rates
Latest admit rates
How much of the class comes from ED
~35% of enrolled freshmen were admitted through Early Decision.
This is a share of the freshman class, not an admit rate.
† Regular round (est.) = (all admitted students − Early Decision admits) ÷ (all applicants − Early Decision applicants). It also includes Early Action, because the Common Data Set does not report Early Action counts.
Trends, Fall 2019–Fall 2024
Admission rates
ED share of the enrolled freshman class (% of first-years admitted ED, not an admit rate)
Early plans
Fall 2027 applicants
Testing
Testing policy
Superscoring
What this means:
- SAT
- Not stated
- ACT
- Superscores
Source ↗ · checked Nov 3, 2026
Test-optional for fall 2027 entry. ACT is superscored; SAT superscoring isn't stated.
How to send scores
Self-report accepted; official scores only after admission/enrollment
School’s words: “Applicants who self-report their scores will be required to submit official scores if admitted to AU and enroll.”
Source ↗ · checked Nov 3, 2026
Students submitting scores
‡ Est. % submitting scores adds the share of enrolled first-years who submitted the SAT to the share who submitted the ACT.
Score ranges (middle 50%)
Enrolled first-years who submitted scores, Fall 2024. A quarter scored below the range and a quarter above.
Trends, Fall 2019–Fall 2024
Share of enrolled students submitting scores
SAT composite, middle 50%
ACT composite, middle 50%
Year-by-year data, Fall 2019–Fall 2024
| CDS year | Admitted | Admit rate | ED rate | ED share of class | Est. % submitting | % SAT | % ACT | SAT mid-50 | ACT mid-50 | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-20 | 6,691 | 36.1% | 84.7% | Not reported | 84% | 53% | 31% | 1220-1380 | 27-31 | ||
| 2020-21 | 7,744 | 38.7% | 83.5% | 51% | 81% | 50% | 31% | 1220-1390 | 27-32 | ||
| 2021-22 | Common Data Set not found online | ||||||||||
| 2022-23 | 7,926 | 40.6% | 85.9% | Not reported | 44% | 27% | 17% | 1290-1420 | 29-32 | ||
| 2023-24 | Not reported | Not reported | 84.7% | Not reported | 36% | 25% | 11% | 1300-1440 | 29-32 | ||
| 2024-25 | 10,613 | 61.9% | 79.8% | 35% | 30% | 22% | 8% | 1300-1430 | 29-32 | ||
| 2025-26 | Common Data Set not found online | ||||||||||
Waitlist admit rate
Share of students who stayed on the waitlist and were later admitted, by entering class.
- 2024: 35%
- 2023: 36%
- 2022: 4%
- 2020: 8%
Test policy in each Common Data Set
History only. The current policy is under Testing above.
- Fall 2027 CDS not available2025-26 CDS
- Fall 2026 Test-optional2024-25 CDS
- Fall 2025 Not reported2023-24 CDS
- Fall 2024 Test-optional2022-23 CDS
- Fall 2023 CDS not available2021-22 CDS
- Fall 2022 Test-optional2020-21 CDS
- Fall 2021 Test-optional2019-20 CDSThis form’s own wording says Fall 2019; every CDS here is read as covering the fall two years after its first year.