American University
#=646
QS Rank
29%
Acceptance rate
11%
Intl. students
$62,680
Tuition/yr
12,800
Enrollment
12:1
Student:Faculty
About American University
The American University is a private federally chartered research university in Washington, D. C. , United States.
American University (AU) is a private research university chartered by Congress in 1893, located in the upper northwest residential neighborhood of Washington, DC. It enrolls approximately 13,300 students across eight schools and colleges, with a student-to-staff ratio of 12:1.
AU's School of International Service (SIS) is ranked among the top 10 schools of international affairs in the world at both undergraduate and master's levels by Foreign Policy magazine. The university also has notable strengths in law (THE subject rank 101–125), public affairs, communications, and political science, fields where the DC location provides direct access to government agencies, embassies, think tanks, and international organizations.
The campus sits in a residential area of Northwest Washington, DC, roughly four miles from the US Capitol. This location gives students practical proximity to the World Bank, IMF, US Congress, and hundreds of nonprofits and policy institutions, which benefits internship and career placement across AU's programs.
World University Rankings
Campus & Location
DC
Suburban
Optional Practical Training (OPT)
All graduates from CRICOS-registered programs qualify for 12-month Optional Practical Training (OPT). STEM-designated programs (CS, Engineering, Data Science, Mathematics, Sciences) qualify for a 24-month STEM OPT extension — 36 months total of US work authorisation.
For Nepali students
- AU's School of International Service is one of the top-10 internationally ranked programs in global affairs, making it directly relevant for Nepali students interested in diplomacy, development, international law, and peacebuilding, fields where Nepal's geopolitical position creates real career pathways.
- The AU Emerging Global Leader Scholarship offers two full scholarships (covering tuition, room, and board) and up to eight partial awards of up to $40,000 per year specifically for international students requiring non-immigrant visas such as F-1; Nepali applicants are eligible and no separate application is required for partial awards.
- International undergraduate students are eligible for merit scholarships ranging from $8,000 to $25,000 annually, renewable for four years, which partially offsets the high tuition cost of approximately $62,680 per year (2026–27).
- US F-1 graduates can apply for 12 months of Optional Practical Training (OPT), extendable to 36 months for STEM degree holders, providing meaningful post-study work experience in the United States before returning or seeking other visa pathways.
Admission requirements — Nepali equivalents
A rough translation of the published minimums for Nepali applicants:
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