Tuition will be calculated based on the student's credit hours for each semester. Bills are generated upon class registration. Bills are due by the first day of the semester. Finance (interest) charges will apply to bills that are overdue. New tuition rates, catalog policies, and other "academic year" changes take effect with the start of each Fall semester. Please contact the Office of Student Accounts at sa@american.edu with any questions regarding your bill.

Tuition payments are made online via the myAU Portal. American University accepts Electronic Check and Credit Card (Visa, American Express, Master Card, or Discover Card only) payments. If you make your payment with a credit card, a non-refundable service fee will be added to the bill. The service fee is currently 2.80% of the total charge and is subject to change.

Tuition Rates 

Cost per credit hour (AY 2025-2026) 

Tuition is $2318 per credit hour for the Fall 2025, Spring 2026, and Summer 2026 semesters.

Cost per credit hour (AY 2024-2025) 

Tuition is $2238 per credit hour for the Fall 2024, Spring 2025, and Summer 2025 semesters.

 

Fees:

NEW: Eagle Access Program - Books and Materials Fee (Automatic Charge – Opt Out Available)

All students (on-campus and online) are now automatically enrolled in this program when registering for courses.

Cost:

• Full-time Students (9 Credit Hours and Above) $324 (semester flat rate)
• Part-time Students (1-8 Credit Hours) $27 / per credit
• Summer ($80 semester flat rate)

How to Opt-Out:

• Sign on to the Customer Portal
• Select Opt-Out and confirm that you do not want to have your materials automatically provided to you through Eagle Access Course Materials Program.

NEW: Tuition Refund Insurance (Opt-In)

What it covers: Financial protection if serious illness or accident forces you to withdraw before semester's end.

How to enroll: Contact GradGuard™ by Allianz Global Assistance

• Website: www.gradguard.com/tuition/american
• Phone: (877) 794-6603

 

Refunds for drops and withdrawals are calculated on a prorated basis. Academic weeks begin Monday and end Sunday. The date of drop or withdrawal is determined by when the request, in writing, is received by the Program Office.

100% credit

Once registration closes until the end of the second week of classes

50% credit

Third week of classes

25% credit

Fourth week of classes

0% credit

Fifth week of classes

Students who receive a scholarship at the time of their admission will be notified via their acceptance letter. These are typically allotted on a per-credit basis, and therefore will not be applied to student accounts until registration is finalized (typically two weeks prior to the start of any semester). Please note, if you make any changes to your schedule during the add/drop period, it may change your scholarship amount. Allotments will be reconciled at the end of the full drop period (after week four of each term). If you have questions about your scholarship, please contact Claudia Blount, Assistant Director of Admissions and Marketing, at cblount@american.edu.

If register for 5 credits or more in the Fall and Spring semesters and 2 credits in the summer in our online Master's program, you might be eligible for federal student loans. These are processed through American University's Office of Financial Aid.

To get started:

1. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA code for American University is 001434. You can fill this out as soon as you apply to the university's SIS system; you don't have to wait for an admission decision.
2. After your FAFSA is submitted, you'll need to sign a Master Promissory Note and complete loan counseling.

Once these steps are done, the loan funds will be sent directly to American University to pay for your tuition. You're responsible for completing all financial aid applications and disbursement requirements on time to avoid late fees.

All tuition billing is managed by the Office of Student Accounts.

We encourage students to have an appointment with their financial aid counselor to ensure they can get all their questions answered and understand the process. If you have trouble identifying or connecting with your financial aid counselor, please contact your academic advisor.

 

AU Veterans Affairs office serves all military-connected students at AU. Veterans and military students may be eligible for some tuition funding based on their service. 

Schedule an appointment with AU VA staff

AU Veterans Applications | American University, Washington, DC

Email: veterans@american.edu