B.S Computer Science at American University [AU DC], Washington Fees, Entry Requirement & Application Deadline

Bachelor of Science [B.S] [Computer Science] From American University

Washington, District of ColumbiaLocation
UniversitySchool type
Estd1893established year
13858enrollment
Private (Not for Profit)
Partner [1 Courses]
8.1/10

Bachelor of Science [B.S] (Computer Science)

4 years
Full Time
On Campus
Ranked #401 out of 500 by ARWU Global Ranking 2022

$55,724 /Yr

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Study Abroad Team

Updated on - Oct 24, 2026

American University Bachelor of Science in Computer Science is a 120-credit, on-campus degree normally completed in four years in Washington, DC. Indian applicants need Class XII preparation and English proficiency. Fall 2027 tuition is unpublished; 2026-27 tuition was US$62,680 (INR 59.57 Lakhs), as a prior-cycle reference.

The programme balances computing theory with programming, systems, artificial intelligence and project work, while Washington supports access to internships and faculty research. It fits applicants seeking technical depth with room to connect computing to policy, media or cybersecurity, although the broad structure demands deliberate elective planning.

  • The 120-credit structure leaves room to connect computer science with another field through deliberate elective planning.
  • Students can explore artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, computational media and software systems rather than entering a single fixed specialism.
  • The department supports internships, independent studies and faculty research across machine learning, databases, scientific computing and computer vision.

Current Admission Status

Applications for the Fall 2027 intake are Open. Next international student deadline: 1 November 2026.

This date covers Early Action and Early Decision I. Indian applicants needing to compare costs should use non-binding Early Action because the target-cycle tuition remains unpublished.

Also Check: American University admission requirements

American University BS Computer Science Fees and Costs 2027

Fall 2027 tuition is unpublished after checks of the programme, student accounts, cost guide and admissions pages. Verify the target fee on the official fee page before committing funds.

2026-27 planning reference: The published figures below belong to the previous academic year, except the labelled Fall 2027 application fee. They must not be treated as a 2027-28 quotation.

Cost itemAmountINR equivalentBasis
Full-time undergraduate tuitionUS$62,680INR 59.57 Lakhs2026-27 academic year, 12 to 17.99 credits each semester
Mandatory undergraduate feesUS$1,700INR 1.62 Lakhs2026-27 first-year cost of attendance
Annual student health insuranceUS$2,759INR 2.62 Lakhs1 August 2026 to 31 July 2027
Fall 2027 application feeUS$75INR 7,128Non-refundable; a qualifying waiver may apply

All INR conversions in the article use a conversion rate of US$ 1 = INR 95.035256 as of 24 October 2026. Rates fluctuate daily, verify before applying.

Source: American University 2026-27 tuition, first-year cost of attendance, health insurance schedule and current first-year application checklist.

  • The flat tuition band rewards a balanced 12 to 17.99-credit semester, so map the 120 credits across eight terms before considering overloads.
  • The current AU Declaration of Finances requires US$87,374 (INR 83.04 Lakhs), so an uncertain scholarship cannot replace documented first-year funding.
  • Health insurance is separate from the first-year cost-of-attendance total, so include it unless American University approves an eligible coverage waiver.

Cost of Living in Washington for Computer Science Students

American University publishes a nine-month, on-campus first-year estimate rather than a monthly budget. The monthly figures below divide each official 2026-27 annual component by nine for planning.

2026-27 living-cost reference: These figures exclude tuition, mandatory fees, Metro pass charges, health insurance and loan fees.

ExpenseMonthly amountMonthly INR amount
On-campus housingUS$1,456.89INR 1.38 Lakhs
FoodUS$731.56INR 69,524
Books and suppliesUS$133.33INR 12,671
Miscellaneous transportationUS$76.89INR 7,307
Personal expensesUS$120INR 11,404
Calculated monthly totalUS$2,518.67INR 2.39 Lakhs
Nine-month annual totalUS$22,668INR 21.54 Lakhs

The prior-cycle planning illustration is US$90,133 (INR 85.66 Lakhs). It adds the US$87,374 (INR 83.04 Lakhs) cost of attendance to US$2,759 (INR 2.62 Lakhs) health insurance. Because Fall 2027 tuition is unpublished, this arithmetic is not a target-cycle budget.

Read More: cost of living in the United States

ROI reality: The latest complete international planning figure exceeds INR 85 Lakhs for one year, before travel. Wait for 2027-28 pricing and secure the funding gap before accepting a place.

American University BS Computer Science Admission 2027

Admission is university-wide rather than a separate direct-entry computer science selection. International applicants submit secondary records, one teacher recommendation, an essay, activities and English evidence, while SAT or ACT scores remain optional.

The academic screen combines required school preparation with overall context. Because Computer Science includes mathematical reasoning and sequential programming courses, Indian applicants should show their strongest available mathematics, computing and analytical work.

Fall 2027 admission context: American University publishes minimum preparation and a Fall 2026 admitted profile, not a guaranteed score threshold for Computer Science.

RequirementPublished standardIndian applicant meaning
Secondary recordsGrades 9 to 12 transcripts with certified English translations when neededSubmit complete Class IX to XII records and the school report
College-preparatory subjectsFour English units, three mathematics units, two laboratory sciences, two social sciences and two foreign-language unitsMap CBSE, CISCE or state-board subjects in the school report
Fall 2026 admitted profileUnweighted GPA middle 50% of 3.35 to 3.84 on 4.0Approximately 84% to 96%, or CGPA 8.4 to 9.6 on 10; AU decides equivalency
SAT or ACTTest-optional; applicants graduating outside the United States are not required to submit either testSubmit only when the score strengthens the academic record
Major declaration after enrolment2.00 cumulative GPA on 4.00 and departmental approvalApproximately 50%, or CGPA 5.0 on 10; this is not a first-year admission cutoff

The admitted profile is a benchmark rather than a minimum, and only 37% of that cohort submitted SAT or ACT results. Therefore, an Indian applicant without testing should use course rigour, grades and the essay to demonstrate preparation.

English Language Requirements

American University accepts four widely available testing routes for international first-year applicants. Only official results count, and meeting the minimum does not guarantee admission.

Current Fall 2027 policy: The TOEFL line appears verbatim as “85/4.5”; American University publishes no component minimum on this undergraduate page.

TestMinimum scoreSubmission point
IELTS Academic6.5Official result from the testing body
TOEFL iBT85/4.5Use the exact scale shown on the current admissions page
Pearson Test of English60Official result from Pearson
Duolingo English Test120Official result from Duolingo
  • An Indian national curriculum is not among the listed English-medium waiver routes, so plan a test unless another published curriculum route applies.
  • The TOEFL score should be verified before booking because American University displays both accepted results without publishing a self-conversion rule.
  • Book testing early enough for the testing agency to deliver official results by the chosen application deadline.

Check Out: American University courses and fees

Tip for Indian students: The Fall 2026 profile begins at GPA 3.35 on 4.0, while testing is optional. Build the application around rigorous mathematics, sustained grades and evidence of computing curiosity.

American University BS Computer Science Application 2027

Fall 2027 offers four application plans, with the next deadline on 1 November 2026. Early Action preserves cost flexibility, while both Early Decision routes create a binding commitment after admission.

American University offers spring entry, but the Spring 2027 deadline has closed and the Spring 2028 date is unpublished. Therefore, Fall 2027 is the earliest applicant-accessible intake supported by current official dates.

Fall 2027 schedule: American University publishes calendar dates but no portal cutoff time or timezone, so a reliable hour-by-hour IST conversion is unavailable.

Decision planApplication deadlineDecision notificationCommitment
Early Action1 November 202631 January 2027Non-binding; deposit by 1 May 2027
Early Decision I1 November 202631 December 2026Binding; deposit by 15 January 2027
Early Decision II15 January 202715 February 2027Binding; deposit by 1 March 2027
Regular Decision15 January 20271 April 2027Non-binding; deposit by 1 May 2027

Indian applicants should finish the portal by 31 October 2026 IST for the early plans, or 14 January 2027 IST for later plans. This buffer avoids relying on an unpublished cutoff hour.

Application Checklist

The file is reviewed only after required materials arrive, so submission and completion are different milestones. Certified translations and official English results can become the slowest components for an Indian school record.

ComponentRequirementApplicant action
Common ApplicationActivities, application essay and intended programmeSelect Computer Science BS and explain the academic connection
Academic recordsGrades 9 to 12 transcripts and secondary school reportArrange certified English translations when records are not in English
RecommendationOne teacher recommendation letterChoose a teacher who can evidence analytical learning
International materialsCV or resume and official English evidenceSend testing through the examination provider
Financial documentationDeclaration of Finances, bank letter and passport after admission-stage instructionsUse documents signed within the stated validity period
  • Choose Early Action when the unpublished 2027-28 fee or scholarship result must be compared before committing.
  • Use Early Decision only when the family can honour a binding offer despite uncertain target-cycle tuition and need-aware international review.
  • Complete the financial file alongside academics because AU currently requires evidence of US$87,374 (INR 83.04 Lakhs) for standard international applicants.
  • Reserve Regular Decision for the Emerging Global Leader Scholarship because its completed application and scholarship materials share the 15 January 2027 deadline.
Application tip: Early Action reaches a 31 January 2027 decision without binding the applicant. That plan best preserves the ability to compare the unpublished fee and any merit award.

American University BS Computer Science Scholarships 2027

Fall 2027 international applicants can pursue automatic partial merit awards and the separate AU Emerging Global Leader competition. The funding routes differ sharply in application work, coverage and financial-document requirements.

The target-cycle page confirms the Emerging Global Leader deadline and benefits. Standard merit awards are current published offers without a named intake, so applicants should treat their range as current guidance rather than guaranteed Fall 2027 funding.

AwardValueINR equivalentEligibility and routeCycle or deadline
AU Presidential, Deans’ and Leadership merit awardsUS$6,000 to US$30,000 annually across the international merit poolINR 5.70 Lakhs to INR 28.51 LakhsAcademic achievement, English communication, leadership, volunteering and service; automatic admission reviewCurrent published; apply for fall by the selected admission deadline
AU Emerging Global Leader ScholarshipFull tuition, room and board for two international studentsCoverage is not converted because 2027-28 charges are unpublishedFirst undergraduate degree, non-US status, community impact and qualifying school graduation history; separate application15 January 2027
AU Emerging Global Leader Partial ScholarshipUp to US$40,000 annuallyUp to INR 38.01 Lakhs annuallySelected from applicants who complete the full Emerging Global Leader process15 January 2027

The full Emerging Global Leader award covers billable tuition, room and board, but excludes insurance, books, travel, taxes and miscellaneous expenses. American University estimates those exclusions at approximately US$4,000 (INR 3.80 Lakhs) per year.

  • Standard merit consideration needs no separate form, but the award is decided at admission and cannot be added after enrolment.
  • A standard award remains fixed across four renewable years, so any later tuition increase widens the family-funded gap.
  • Emerging Global Leader applicants need financial documents confirming US$4,000 (INR 3.80 Lakhs), while standard applicants currently document US$87,374 (INR 83.04 Lakhs).
  • Submit both admission and scholarship materials by 15 January 2027 because late Emerging Global Leader applications are not considered.

Applicants should inspect the official Fall 2027 scholarship instructions before preparing essays. The page also limits eligibility for applicants with prior post-secondary enrolment or secondary graduation before 2024.

Also Check: American University scholarships

Scholarship reality: Standard awards can reduce annual tuition but remain fixed, while the full award has only two places. Build an unfunded-cost plan before relying on either result.

American University BS Computer Science Salary 2027

Course-specific evidence shows 87% employed or in graduate school within six months, although American University does not identify the graduating cohort or publish a Computer Science salary. That limitation prevents a defensible payback forecast.

The closest richer evidence is university-wide for the May 2024 bachelor’s class. Those results help frame employment risk, but they cannot establish a typical Computer Science outcome.

Graduate Outcomes

Scope matters because the programme finder, department page and university outcomes page describe different populations. The table separates course evidence from institution-wide evidence before drawing an ROI conclusion.

Evidence scopePublished outcomeHow to use it
Computer Science BS, cohort not named87% employed or in graduate school within six monthsUse as a positive-destination measure, not a placement rate
All May 2024 bachelor’s graduates88% employed, enrolled or accepted to graduate school within six monthsUniversity-wide context only
Working May 2024 bachelor’s graduates90% held work related to their degreeDoes not isolate computing roles
All undergraduate respondents87% participated in an internshipShows access, not a guaranteed paid placement

The department reports past Computer Science graduates at Accenture, Adobe, Amazon Web Services, Boeing, Deloitte and Salesforce, among other organisations. These names confirm alumni access, but American University does not label them as recruiters, sponsors or recurring employers.

Salary Evidence and ROI

No course-cohort salary, median or offer rate is published for the BS. American University’s May 2024 salary bands are therefore university-wide benchmarks, not expected Computer Science starting pay.

Benchmark populationSalary thresholdINR equivalentShare reporting threshold
Employed May 2024 bachelor’s graduatesUS$50,000 or moreINR 47.52 Lakhs or more77%
Employed May 2024 bachelor’s graduatesUS$70,000 or moreINR 66.52 Lakhs or more24%

Source: American University May 2024 undergraduate outcomes; salary evidence is university-wide rather than Computer Science-specific.

These thresholds describe gross pay and not take-home income. Federal, state and local treatment depends on work location and tax status, so use the official tax withholding estimator only when eligible.

The 2026-27 prior-cycle planning illustration starts at US$90,133 (INR 85.66 Lakhs) for one year including health insurance. Target-cycle tuition remains unpublished, so the four-year cost cannot be calculated responsibly.

  • The 87% course outcome includes graduate study, so request job-only counts, cohort size and role geography before modelling debt repayment.
  • A fixed US$6,000 to US$30,000 award (INR 5.70 Lakhs to INR 28.51 Lakhs) can reduce cost, but annual increases may widen the later gap.
  • Eligible STEM graduates may access up to 36 months of OPT, so prioritise employers using E-Verify and roles directly related to Computer Science.
  • For an India return, replace university-wide US salary bands with verified Indian offers because exchange-rate conversions do not predict local purchasing power.

Read More: Bachelor of Computer Science in the United States

ROI reality: The curriculum and 87% positive-destination measure support career relevance, but no course salary is published. Accept only after funding remains workable without assuming a particular US salary.

US Visa for American University Computer Science Students 2027

Admitted Indian students normally use F-1 academic student status after American University issues Form I-20. The degree may support extended work authorisation when its I-20 classification appears on the federal STEM list.

  • The F-1 visa fee is US$185 (INR 17,582) and the I-901 SEVIS fee is US$350 (INR 33,262), excluding any applicable issuance charge.
  • OPT (Optional Practical Training) normally allows 12 months, while an eligible STEM degree and E-Verify employer can support a 24-month extension.
  • H-1B sponsorship requires the higher applicable actual or prevailing wage, not one course-specific salary threshold, and permanent residence has no automatic degree-linked timeline.
  • An F-2 spouse or unmarried child under 21 may accompany the student, but an F-2 dependant cannot work in the United States.

Check Out: United States student visa requirements

Visa reality: The potential 36-month OPT window improves time for relevant experience, but it is conditional rather than guaranteed. Verify STEM coding, employer eligibility and work relevance before using it in ROI planning.

American University’s BS Computer Science fits applicants seeking a technical foundation, specialisation choices and elective breadth in a Washington setting. Its employment measure shows useful career access, while the missing course salary and Fall 2027 tuition create a material ROI tradeoff. The strongest applicant will pair rigorous mathematics with a clear computing interest and a funding plan that does not depend on an award. Submit by the chosen deadline, or by 15 January 2027 when the Emerging Global Leader competition drives the decision.

American University BS Computer Science FAQs

Ques. Is American University BS Computer Science a good fit for a software-focused Indian applicant?

Ans. It fits applicants who want programming and systems depth alongside artificial intelligence, cybersecurity or computational media choices. A narrowly software-only applicant should map electives early because the 120-credit degree also includes university-wide requirements.

Ques. What should an Indian family budget for Fall 2027?

Ans. Fall 2027 tuition is unpublished, so no confirmed target-cycle total exists. The 2026-27 prior-cycle planning illustration is US$90,133 (INR 85.66 Lakhs) including health insurance, before travel and future increases.

Ques. Should a Computer Science applicant choose Early Action or Early Decision?

Ans. Early Action is safer when the applicant must compare the unpublished 2027-28 fee and scholarship result. Early Decision is binding, so choose it only when the family can fund the offer without later comparisons.

Ques. Can an Indian applicant be competitive without SAT or ACT scores?

Ans. Yes, the policy is test-optional and overseas school applicants need not submit either exam. Use rigorous Class XI and XII mathematics, sustained grades, computing work and the essay to demonstrate readiness.

Ques. Does the degree guarantee three years of post-study work?

Ans. No, standard OPT provides 12 months and the additional 24 months requires STEM eligibility, related employment and an E-Verify employer. Confirm the degree code and employer conditions before accepting a role.


Tuition Fees

Year1st Year Fees
Tuition Fees$55724

Other Expenses

HeadAvg Cost Per Year
Housing$6452
Meals$3157
  • Full-Time(18 credit hours): $26,955
  • Above 18 credit hours, Students are charged $1,684 per additional credit hour

Previous Year Tuition Fees

Year1st Year Fees
2023$28303
2022$23211
2021$49680

Required Document List

  • Common Application or the Coalition Application, including essay
  • Submit the Nonrefundable $75 application fee or application fee waiver
  • High School Transcript(s) 
  • Teacher Recommendation Letter
  • CV or Resume
  • Proof of English proficiency
  • Financial Statements

Ranking

2022

Academy Ranking of World Universities,Clasificación Académica de Universidades Mundiales logo
Sciences 401 out of 500 in Global Ranking
( #31 out of 147 in USA 2022)

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Career and Placement after Course

Top employers for AU undergraduates from with a degree in computer science

  • Adobe Systems Incorporated
  • Amazon Web Services
  • Association for Women in Science
  • Boeing
  • Booz Allen Hamilton
  • Lockheed Martin


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Scholarship Grants & Financial Aids

NameScholarship Per StudentLevel of StudyType
Washington DC ScholarshipsScholarship per studentVariable AmountLevel Of StudyBachelorTypeMerit-Based
TEC ScholarshipScholarship per student$ 1,000/Yr$1,000Level Of StudyBachelorTypeMerit-Based
BeArt Presets-Academic ScholarshipScholarship per student$ 2,500/Yr$2,500Level Of StudyBachelorTypeMerit-Based
Chuan Ai Lu Engstrom Memorial ScholarshipScholarship per student$ 1,000/Yr$1,000Level Of StudyBachelorTypeMerit-Based
Jagdish Bhagwati FellowshipScholarship per studentVariable AmountLevel Of StudyBachelorTypeCollege-Specific
Comindware ScholarshipScholarship per student$ 4,000/Yr$4,000Level Of StudyApprenticeshipTypeMerit-Based

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