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All admitted students, regardless of nationality, are considered for academic/merit scholarships for which they are eligible. In general, admitted students awarded scholarships have excellent academic credentials and exhibit exceptional leadership skills.

Most merit-based scholarships do not require an application for financial aid. However, we strongly encourage merit award candidates to complete the forms required for need-based aid, if they believe that they may need financial aid in addition to their merit award. Merit award recipients who have applied for need-based financial aid will be considered for any need-based aid for which they qualify beyond the amount of the merit award.

First-Year (Freshman) Merit Awards

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

First-Year StudentÌý(Freshman) Merit Aid Basics

Who is eligible?

Eligible candidates demonstrate academic excellence and rank within the top 10 to 15 percent of AU's admitted students.

How much can I receive?

First-Year (Freshman) Scholarships

Some students may be eligible for the following scholarships. Requirements and application details are outlined below.

• American University District Scholars Award

  American University is committed to helping students in the District of Columbia further their education after high school. To that end, AU has set aside $3 million to support high-achieving, low income students attending District of Columbia Public High School and District of Columbia Public Charter Schools with our AU District Scholars Award.

  The AU District Scholars Award will cover full tuition as well as room and board at AU. Ten scholarships will be awarded annually to deserving students who demonstrate academic achievement and significant financial need. Additional resources, up to the full cost of attendance will be provided on the basis of demonstrated financial need.
  
  To be considered, students must meet the following requirements:

  • Be a DC resident attending a DC Public or Public Charter High School

  • Apply for fall term admission to American University by posted application deadline

  • Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and CSS Profile

  • Demonstrate strong academic talent in high school

• United Methodist Scholarship

  As a courtesy to the Churches associated with the Pan-Methodist Commission, AU offers 50% United Methodist Ministerial Tuition Remission scholarship to dependent children of clergy under appointment and serving full-time in the following churches: United Methodist, African Methodist Episcopal, African Methodist Episcopal Zion, Christian Methodist Episcopal, and Union American Methodist Episcopal.
  
  The scholarship program is competitive and limited to 16 students, approximately 4 for each incoming class. Applications are separate from the admissions process, occur on a rolling basis, and priority will be given to early applicants with high financial need. To learn more and to apply, please visit Scholarships through Kay. For questions, please email KSLC@american.eduÌý

• American University National Merit Scholarships

  To be considered for an AU sponsored National Merit Scholarship, students must be a National Merit Finalist and list AU as their first choice school by the NMSC published deadline. All finalists will receive $2,000, annually. This scholarship is renewable up to eight semesters if students maintain satisfactory academic progress. Questions about these sponsored awards should be directed to the National Merit Scholarship Corporation at (847) 866-5100 or by visiting the .

  For more information about AU National Merit, you can also contact our National Merit Liaison, Allison Key, at akey@american.edu.Ìý

• Athletic Scholarships

  Eligibility: Outstanding freshman and transfer athletes. Contact Athletics at 202-885-3000.

• Tuition Exchange Scholarships

  Tuition Exchange, Inc. is an organization with over 600 member schools that have come together to offer tuition benefits to the families of their employees. In order to qualify to apply for the Tuition Exchange Scholarship, students must have a parent that is employed at one of the member institutions and meets their employer's eligibility requirements.

  At American University, Tuition Exchange (TE) is a competitive, merit-based scholarship. To apply for the scholarship, parents of students applying to the university must contact their university's Tuition Exchange Liaison Officer (TELO). Their TELO will submit the application for TE on the family's behalf. The deadline to submit the TE application is the same as the admissions deadline your student is applying for:

  • Early Action applicants: November 1

  • Early Decision IÌýapplicants: November 1

  • Early Decision IIÌýapplicants: January 15

  • Regular Decision freshman applicants: January 15

• 
  Tuition Exchange is a competitive scholarship based solely on academics. TE applicants are ranked based on high school academics and then the top students in that pool are chosen to receive the scholarship. Last year, 15.5% of students that applied for TE at American University received the award.

• For the 24-25Ìýacademic year, the award is a set amount of $42,000 per year and is not a full tuition scholarship. The award for the 25-26 academic year is a set amount of $43,000 and is not a full tuition scholarship.

• The scholarship can be applied towards AU Abroad programs but will not cover summer semesters.

  Continuing students (students that have already been at AU for at least one year) are also allowed to apply for the scholarship year to year. The process for these students is the same as for freshman applicants except that the due date to apply is always January 15.

  Students that receive TE must meet the following qualifications to be recertified each year:Ìý

• a. Maintain eligibility at their home institution and submit the recertification application by January 15th of each academic year.

• b. Take at least 12 credits every semester.

• c. Meet the annualÌýSatisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)Ìýrequirements for merit scholarship renewal.

• Failure to meet these requirements will result in loss of the scholarship.

  Prospective applicants to AU should refer to the or contact our Tuition Exchange Liaison, Dareliz Wong, at dwong@american.edu

• For AU employees that are hoping to apply to use Tuition Exchange at other schools, please contact Alexandra Graham, Manager of Tuition Benefits and Financials at alexgrah@american.edu

• Restricted/Endowed Awards

  AU is fortunate to have a number of annual and endowed scholarships that are funded by generous donors. Scholarships vary by school and may be based on merit, academic program, need or other factors as designated by the donor.