Admissions statistics and academic profiles for incoming freshman classes at American University indicate that successful applicants typically present strong academic credentials. The average unweighted cumulative high school grade point average for admitted students generally hovers around 3.6 to 3.8 on a 4.0 scale. The university utilizes a holistic admissions review process, evaluating rigorous college-preparatory coursework, honors classes, or International Baccalaureate programs alongside extracurricular leadership and personal essays.