Washington, DC · Private nonprofit · Graduate degree · College Scorecard data · Updated September 10, 2026
| Tuition | Difference | |
|---|---|---|
| American University (in-state) | $58,771 | — |
| DC average | $30,187 | +95% |
| National average | $18,082 | +225% |
| Per year | Four years | |
|---|---|---|
| In-state | $58,771 | $235,084 |
| Out-of-state | $58,771 | $235,084 |
Tuition only. Housing, books and living costs are not included — most colleges publish a fuller cost-of-attendance figure.
American University ranks 12 by in-state tuition among the 14 DC colleges that report a rate — lower is cheaper.
| Colleges with a similar price to American University | In-state tuition |
|---|---|
| The Catholic University of America | $58,378 |
| George Washington University | $67,710 |
| Georgetown University | $68,017 |
| Howard University | $35,810 |
In-state tuition at American University is $58,771 per year; out-of-state students pay $58,771.
American University in-state tuition is 95% above the DC average of $30,187.
National average in-state tuition is $18,082; American University is 225% above that.
$58,771 is the official in-state tuition published by College Scorecard for the most recent cohort year.
Four years of tuition at American University comes to about $235,084 for an in-state student and $235,084 for an out-of-state student at current rates. That is tuition only — it excludes housing, books and living costs.
By in-state tuition, American University ranks 12 out of the 14 DC colleges that report a rate — lower numbers are cheaper. The five cheapest and five most expensive colleges in the state are listed above.