The 2026-2027 FAFSA Form officially went live on October 1, but don’t forget about its necessary companion, the CSS Profile. Read our guide to financial aid for first-year students at American University.

According to Niche’s 2025 Fall Senior Enrollment Survey, 57% of students said that applying for financial aid was their biggest challenge during the college application process. Affordability remains top of mind for students when making decisions about college selection.

American University (AU) continues to stay laser-focused on making our valuable education affordable. We work closely with students and their families to supplement their financial resources, offering comprehensive financial aid based on recognition of both academic excellence and demonstrated financial need.

AU’s financial aid application deadlines vary depending on whether you are applying as an Early Decision, Early Action, or Regular Decision first-year student or as a transfer student. Before we go into the different types of aid and resources, take a look at the chart below outlining our financial aid deadlines and set a reminder on your calendar or phone for the date attached to your particular application plan!

Early Action and Early Decision I (ED I) applicants should submit both the FAFSA and the CSS profile by November 15 in order to receive an aid package with their early admissions decision.

Need-Based Aid 

Offers go to students with demonstrated financial need, and financial need is determined on the basis of the information provided in your financial aid applications, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the CSS Profile. All applicants should submit both by or before the appropriate deadline for their decision plan (see above).

How AU Calculates Demonstrated Financial Need 

Cost of Attendance (COA) - tuition, fees, room, board, books, transportation, and personal expenses 

minus 

Student Aid Index (SAI) - primarily determined by income, number of family members in college, family size, and assets 

= FINANCIAL NEED 

Learn more about the different forms of need-based aid, including AU grants, federal grants, and additional federal programs.

Merit Awards & Freshman Scholarships

Most merit-based scholarships do not require an application for financial aid. However, we strongly encourage all applicants to complete the forms required for need-based aid, if they believe that they may need financial aid in addition to scholarship consideration. 

All admitted students, regardless of nationality, are considered for academic/merit scholarships for which they are eligible. The Admissions Committee makes all merit-based scholarship decisions and notifies students at the time they are admitted or shortly thereafter. Your admissions application is your application for a merit-based scholarship. No separate application is required for the following merit awards:

• AU Presidential Scholarship 

• AU Deans' Scholarship 

• AU Leadership Scholarship

In general, admitted students awarded scholarships have excellent academic credentials and exhibit exceptional leadership skills. Scholarships range from $6,000 to $30,000 and are renewable for up to eight semesters of undergraduate study provided that scholarship recipients remain enrolled full-time, and meet the annual Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements for merit scholarship renewal.

Learn more about American University’s first-year (freshman) scholarships and the basics of merit aid.

Types of Aid That You Have to Pay Back 

There are other financing options, such as loans that you have to pay back after you graduate.

There are two Federal Direct loans associated with the FAFSA:

• Subsidized loans – where the federal government pays the interest that accrues while you’re in school; subsidized loans are offered to undergraduate students who are eligible on the basis of calculated need 

• Unsubsidized loans – where interest that accrues while in school and payment of this interest is your responsibility (interest does not need to be paid while in school); unsubsidized loans are available to both undergraduate and graduate students even for those who do not qualify for need-based financial aid

Net Price Calculator 

The Net Price Calculator is a tool that is intended to provide you with an estimated amount that you might pay after grant aid and scholarships to attend AU.

As this is only an estimate, the most accurate information will be provided once you complete the FAFSA and the CSS Profile.

Financial Aid, with a Human Touch 

When you apply to American University, you’re automatically assigned an individual counselor from our team of dedicated financial aid staff members, here to help you navigate the financial aid process every step of the way. Our counselors are available to assist you Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET. You can find your counselor by selecting the first letter(s) of your last name or applicable category in the menu on this page.

We know that financial aid and affordability are among your top concerns when searching for and applying to colleges. Here are more resources we’ve compiled to help you navigate the financial side of your Future Eagle journey at AU: 

• Learn more about student work opportunities at AU

• Discover our impactful student success outcomes

• Explore our financial literary resources and tools