AMERICAN UNIVERSITY

Financials

From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.

Officers, directors and key employees

As listed on the 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025, highest compensation first.

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)

4400 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20016-8002

In care of

% CONTROLLERS OFFICE 357

Principal officer (990 for 2024)

JONATHAN ALGER, 4400 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW, WASHINGTON, DC 200168020

Signed the 990

BRONTE BURLEIGH-JONES, CFO, VP & TREAS

Phone

(202) 885-2822

Website

WWW.AMERICAN.EDU

Return prepared by

GRANT THORNTON ADVISORS LLC

Mission

TO ADVANCE KNOWLEDGE, FOSTER INTELLECTUAL CURIOSITY, BUILD COMMUNITY, AND EMPOWER LIVES OF PURPOSE, SERVICE, AND LEADERSHIP.

Program accomplishments

• INSTRUCTION: THE UNIVERSITY'S MISSION IS CARRIED OUT BY ALMOST 911 FULL-TIME TEACHING AND RESEARCH FACULTY IN SIX ACADEMIC DIVISIONS OFFERING 82 BACHELOR'S PROGRAMS, 92 MASTER'S PROGRAMS, 24 DOCTORAL PROGRAMS, J.D., S.J.D, M.L.S. AND L.L.M. PROGRAMS. STUDENT-FACULTY RATIO = 10:1. AVERAGE CLASS SIZE = 21 STUDENTS.
  Expenses $231,422,399 · revenue $634,761,085
• SCHOLARSHIPS AND FELLOWSHIPS: AMERICAN UNIVERSITY AWARDS FINANCIAL AID TO STUDENTS BASED ON A COMBINATION OF DEMONSTRATED FINANCIAL NEED, ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, AND THE AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS. ONCE A STUDENT IS ADMITTED, THE FINANCIAL AID OFFICE WILL DETERMINE NEED AND DEVELOP A FINANCIAL AID AWARD THAT INCLUDES FUNDS FROM THE PROGRAMS FOR WHICH THE STUDENT QUALIFIES. TO RECEIVE CONSIDERATION FOR FINANCIAL AID, A STUDENT MUST BE A UNITED STATES CITIZEN OR ELIGIBLE NON-CITIZEN IN A DEGREE PROGRAM.
  Expenses $196,215,050 · grants $196,215,050
• AUXILIARY ENTERPRISES: UNIVERSITY DORMITORIES, CONSISTING OF ELEVEN RESIDENCE HALLS, PROVIDE LIVING QUARTERS FOR ALMOST 4,048 STUDENTS. ALSO PROVIDED ARE RECREATIONAL FACILITIES, DINING SERVICES, PARKING, AND OTHER SELF-SUPPORTING FACULTY, STAFF, AND STUDENT SERVICES.
  Expenses $103,587,563 · revenue $93,340,154
• ACADEMIC SUPPORT - THE UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES, ACADEMIC COMPUTER SERVICES, ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES AND SUPPORT FOR THE SIX ACADEMIC DIVISIONS.STUDENT SERVICES - HEALTH AND COUNSELING, CAREER CENTER, UNIVERSITY REGISTRAR, FINANCIAL AID AND ENROLLMENT SERVICES, SPORTS AND RECREATION.INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT - INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, TELECOMMUNICATIONS, SPACE MANAGEMENT, SECURITY, MAIL AND TRANSPORTATION SERVICES.RESEARCH- RESEARCH AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROJECTS FUNDED BY FEDERAL AND PRIVATE AGENCIES.PUBLIC SERVICE - THE OPERATION OF WAMU 88.5 FM, A 24-HOUR, 50,000 WATT PUBLIC RADIO STATION LICENSED TO THE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1961.AMERICAN UNIVERSITY STRATEGIC PLAN THE UNIVERSITY'S SEVEN-YEAR PLAN BUILDS ON OUR LEGACY OF LEADERSHIP, SCHOLARSHIP, AND SERVICE AND FOCUSES ON THE CHALLENGES FACING OUR COMMUNITY AND HIGHER EDUCATION, AS IT BOLDLY EMBRACES OPPORTUNITIES FOR GREATER IMPACT. OUR PLAN IS ORGANIZED INTO THREE STRATEGIC THEMES -SCHOLARSHIP, LEARNING, AND COMMUNITY - WITH KEY IMPERATIVES TO GUIDE OUR FOCUSED EFFORTS. CHANGE CAN'T WAIT CAMPAIGNAMERICAN UNIVERSITY UNDERTOOK THE CHANGE CAN'T WAIT CAMPAIGN THROUGH A PUBLIC LAUNCH IN 2021. THE CAMPAIGN HAD A BOLD CALL TO REDEFINE WHAT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE EAGLE COMMUNITY. TOGETHER, AU CHANGEMAKERS TURNED AMBITION INTO ACTION. AMERICAN UNIVERSITY FORMALLY CONCLUDED THE CHANGE CAN'T WAIT CAMPAIGN IN FY2025. THE CAMPAIGN CLOSED IN SEPTEMBER 2024 AFTER RAISING MORE THAN $507 MILLION, EXCEEDING ITS ORIGINAL GOAL. THE CAMPAIGN SUPPORTED THREE CORE INSTITUTIONAL PRIORITIES: STUDENT THRIVING, FACULTY AND RESEARCH IMPACT, AND BUILDING BETTER COMMUNITIES. ACCORDING TO BOARD OF TRUSTEES COMMUNICATIONS, CAMPAIGN OUTCOMES INCLUDED EXPANDED SCHOLARSHIP SUPPORT, FUNDING FOR EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES, INVESTMENTS IN ENDOWED FACULTY POSITIONS, AND MAJOR CAPITAL PROJECTS. CAPITAL INVESTMENTS SUPPORTED BY THE CAMPAIGN INCLUDED KEY COMPONENTS OF THE STUDENT THRIVING COMPLEX, SUCH AS RENOVATIONS TO THE MARY GRAYDON STUDENT CENTER AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE MELTZER CENTER FOR ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE.WITH THE CLOSE OF THE CAMPAIGN, THE UNIVERSITY MARKED THE END OF THE CHANGEMAKERS FOR A CHANGING WORLD ERA AND TRANSITIONED FROM CAMPAIGN EXECUTION TO INSTITUTIONAL PLANNING FOCUSED ON SUSTAINING AND BUILDING UPON THESE INVESTMENTS.LAUNCH OF THE NEXT STRATEGIC PLANON FEBRUARY 7, 2025, AMERICAN UNIVERSITY FORMALLY ANNOUNCED THE LAUNCH OF A UNIVERSITYWIDE PROCESS TO DEVELOP ITS NEXT STRATEGIC PLAN. THE NEW PLAN IS INTENDED TO SUCCEED THE CHANGEMAKERS STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK AND IS SCHEDULED TO TAKE EFFECT ON JANUARY 1, 2026. PRESIDENT JONATHAN ALGER DESCRIBED THE PLANNING EFFORT AS AN INCLUSIVE, COMMUNITYBASED PROCESS DESIGNED TO IDENTIFY THE UNIVERSITY'S MOST IMPORTANT STRATEGIC PRIORITIES FOR THE COMING YEARS. THE PROCESS IS STRUCTURED AROUND MULTIPLE PHASES EXTENDING THROUGH CALENDAR YEAR 2025 AND INCLUDES BROAD PARTICIPATION FROM FACULTY, STAFF, STUDENTS, AND UNIVERSITY LEADERSHIP. THE PLANNING FRAMEWORK ESTABLISHES FOUR PRIMARY PHASES: (1) INITIAL EXPLORATION AND WORKINGGROUP FORMATION DURING SPRING 2025; (2) DEEPER DEVELOPMENT AND ALIGNMENT WITH BUDGETING AND OPERATIONAL PLANNING DURING SUMMER AND EARLY FALL 2025; (3) DRAFTING AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES REVIEW IN LATE FALL 2025; AND (4) FINALIZATION AND PREPARATION FOR LAUNCH AT THE START OF 2026. AS PART OF THIS EFFORT, THE UNIVERSITY CONVENED EIGHT WORKING GROUPS IN SPRING 2025, EACH CHARGED WITH DEVELOPING SEVERAL HIGHIMPACT STRATEGIC IDEAS ("BIG BETS") ALIGNED WITH AMERICAN UNIVERSITY'S MISSION, ACADEMIC STRENGTHS, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT FOCUS, AND LONGTERM SUSTAINABILITY.READINESS: PREPARED FOR LIVES OF ACHIEVEMENT AND MEANING, AU STUDENTSGRADUATE WITH A PORTFOLIO OF REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCE AND IN-DEMAND SKILLSTHAT TRANSLATE ACROSS EVERY INDUSTRY AND CAREER.COMMUNITY: AU IS AN INSTITUTION DEEPLY ROOTED IN COMMUNITY - LOCALLY, NATIONALLY, AND GLOBALLY - AND WHEN OUR COMMUNITY GROWS STRONGER, SO DO AU. OVER THE NEXT SEVEN YEARS, OUR STRATEGIC EFFORTS WILL EXPAND AND STRENGTHEN OUR TIES TO COMMUNITIES, BOTH INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL.CURIOSITY: AU RESEARCH GOES TO WORK. "R1 THE AU WAY" UNITES FACULTY ANDSTUDENTS IN A COMMON MISSION: TO SOLVE URGENT CHALLENGES AND TRANSFORMBOLD IDEAS INTO MEANINGFUL ACTION FROM THE NATION'S CAPITAL TO THEGLOBAL STAGE.AMERICAN UNIVERSITY: PARTNER IN OUR COMMUNITY COMMUNITY SERVICEMANY OF AU'S PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, BUSINESSES, AND INDIVIDUALS EXEMPLIFY THE UNIVERSITY'S COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE. AU VIEWS ITSELF AS A PRIVATE UNIVERSITY WITH A PUBLIC RESPONSIBILITY. THE UNIVERSITY WORKS WITH NUMEROUS LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS AND PARTICIPATES IN A MYRIAD OF COMMUNITY SERVICE ACTIVITIES INCLUDING: COMMUNITY-BASED LEARNING AND RESEARCH, DC READS, ONE-DAY SERVICE EVENTS, AND EAGLE ENDOWMENT.WORKING WITH DC SCHOOLS AND STUDENTSAU'S SCHOOL OF EDUCATION PREPARES EDUCATION STUDENTS TO BECOME EARLY CHILDHOOD, ELEMENTARY, BILINGUAL, SPECIAL EDUCATION, AND SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHERS THROUGH INSTRUCTIONAL WORK IN AREA SCHOOLS. EACH YEAR, A GROUP OF EDUCATION MAJORS EACH YEAR ARE PLACED AS STUDENT TEACHERS TO TEACH ALL ASPECTS OF THE SCHOOL CURRICULUM FROM THE ARTS TO THE SCIENCES AND IN THE AREAS OF EARLY CHILDHOOD AND SPECIAL EDUCATION.WASHINGTON COLLEGE OF LAWWASHINGTON COLLEGE OF LAW (WCL), LOCATED ONE BLOCK FROM THE AU-TENLEYTOWN METRO, CONSISTENTLY PROVIDES FREE LEGAL SERVICES TO LOW-INCOME AND OTHERWISE UNDERREPRESENTED AREA RESIDENTS THROUGH ITS HIGHLY-RANKED CLINICAL PROGRAMS. IN ADDITION, A SELECTED GROUP OF WCL STUDENTS EACH YEAR REPRESENTS LOW-INCOME CLIENTS FACING EVICTION IN DC LANDLORD AND TENANT COURT, AS PARTICIPANTS IN THE DC LAW STUDENTS IN COURT PROGRAM, AN INDEPENDENT LEGAL SERVICE PROVIDER IN THE DISTRICT.AN OPEN DOOR POLICYAU MAINTAINS A GOOD NEIGHBOR POLICY BY WORKING WITH NEIGHBORS, LOCAL COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, AND THE ADVISORY NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSIONS IN THE CAMPUS AREA. LED BY THE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY RELATIONS, THE UNIVERSITY'S OUTREACH EFFORTS ALSO INCLUDE MAINTAINING ONGOING CONTACT WITH SEVERAL DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA OFFICES AND AGENCIES. ON A MORE INFORMAL LEVEL, REPRESENTATIVES OF AMERICAN UNIVERSITY ALSO MEET AND INTERACT WITH MEMBERS OF THE NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES ON A REGULAR BASIS.CONTINUED EDUCATIONDC RESIDENTS ARE WELCOME AT AU'S BENDER LIBRARY TO STUDY AND ACCESS PRINT MATERIALS, LIBRARY CATALOG, AND DATABASES. THE OSHER LIFELONG LEARNING INSTITUTE (OLLI) OFFERS CLASSES IN THE FALL AND SPRING FOR INTELLECTUALLY CURIOUS "SEASONED LEARNERS" WITH A GENUINE INTEREST IN CONTINUING THEIR LEARNING WITH LIKE-MINDED PEOPLE.THE ARTSTHE KATZEN ARTS CENTER AND AMERICAN UNIVERSITY MUSEUM SERVES AS AN IMPORTANT VENUE FOR THE DC ARTS COMMUNITY. IT HOSTS A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS RANGING FROM STUDENT PERFORMANCES TO LECTURES ON ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND BUSINESS PRACTICES AND FILM SCREENINGS. DC RESIDENTS ARE INVITED TO ATTEND OPEN REHEARSALS OR TAKE TOURS OF THE GALLERIES. MANY OF THE EXHIBITS SHOWN AT THE MUSEUM HAVE EARNED REGIONAL, NATIONAL, AND INTERNATIONAL ACCOLADES. DISTRICT CHILDREN ARE THE FOCUS OF KIDS AT THE KATZEN, WHICH PRESENTS CREATIVE ACTIVITIES AND SUMMER SPORTS CAMPS.
  Expenses $319,649,935 · grants $8,001,831 · revenue $60,252,218

What it must file and when

IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in June, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.

IRS record

EIN

53-0196549

Tax-exempt status

501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization

Foundation status

School

Donations deductible (Pub 78)

Public charity, 50% deduction limit

Exempt since

1935

Accounting year ends

June

Files

Form 990 or 990-EZ

Category (NTEE)

Education (B43)

Assets (IRS master file)

$2,593,159,529

Income (IRS master file)

$1,534,158,423

Filing history

990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 53-0196549).

Questions about AMERICAN UNIVERSITY

What is the EIN of AMERICAN UNIVERSITY?

The employer identification number (EIN) of AMERICAN UNIVERSITY is 53-0196549.

Is AMERICAN UNIVERSITY tax-exempt?

Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1935.

Are donations to AMERICAN UNIVERSITY tax-deductible?

Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).

Which annual return does AMERICAN UNIVERSITY file?

Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.

When is the next return of AMERICAN UNIVERSITY due?

The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending June 30, 2026) is due November 16, 2026. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.

When did AMERICAN UNIVERSITY last file with the IRS?

The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended June 2025.

Who is the principal officer of AMERICAN UNIVERSITY?

The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 names JONATHAN ALGER.

Who are the officers and directors of AMERICAN UNIVERSITY?

The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 lists 51 people; 22 received compensation from the organization, the highest $1,538,403 (SYLVIA M BURWELL, DIST. FELLOW & FORMER PRESIDENT).

How much revenue does AMERICAN UNIVERSITY have?

On its 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 it reported revenue of $929,602,491, expenses of $942,997,702 and total assets of $2,593,159,529 at year end.

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