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EIN53-0196549

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American University

Updated October 30, 2026. Based on Internal Revenue Service records. Published by Humblebee.

Exempt under
501(c)(3)[1]
IRS ruling date
April 1935[2]
Publication 78 data
Listed (PC)[3]
Total revenue, period ending Jun 2025
$929,602,491[4]

American University is listed in IRS records in Washington, District of Columbia, as exempt under section 501(c)(3)[5][1]. The IRS master file lists total revenue of $929,602,491 for the tax period ending June 2025[4].

IRS status

The IRS lists American University as exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, with the classification Educational Organization[1]. The IRS foundation code is 11, described as School 170(b)(1)(A)(ii)[6]. It appears in Publication 78 with status code PC, a public charity[3]. The IRS master file gives a ruling date of April 1935[2].

Item IRS record
EIN[5] 53-0196549
Location in IRS records[5] Washington, District of Columbia
Exempt under[1] Section 501(c)(3)
IRS classification[1] Educational Organization
Ruling date[2] April 1935
Foundation code[6] 11: School 170(b)(1)(A)(ii)
Deductibility code[7] 1: Contributions are deductible
Publication 78 data[3] Listed, status PC
NTEE code[8] B43: Education, University or Technological Institute
Filing requirement[9] 990 (all other) or 990EZ return
Fiscal year ends[10] June
Latest e-filed return[11] Form 990, tax period ending June 2025

Finances as reported to the IRS

On its Form 990 for the tax period ending June 2023, American University reported total revenue of $933,862,010, total expenses of $912,489,179 and net assets of $1,534,805,866[12]. Program service revenue was $793,262,985 on that return[13]. Total revenue on the Form 990 for the tax period ending June 2021 was $777,986,841[14]. It was $997,808,443 on the Form 990 for the tax period ending June 2022[15]. The total for June 2022 was higher than the total for June 2023[15][12].

IRS master file, newer period. For the most recent return in the IRS master file, for the tax period ending June 2025, the IRS lists total revenue of $929,602,491 and total assets of $2,593,159,529.[4]

June 2021: total revenue $778.0M$778.0MJune 2021: total expenses $729.1M$729.1MJun 2021June 2022: total revenue $997.8M$997.8MJune 2022: total expenses $864.2M$864.2MJun 2022June 2023: total revenue $933.9M$933.9MJune 2023: total expenses $912.5M$912.5MJun 2023
  • Total revenue
  • Total expenses
Amounts as reported on each return, rounded in the chart. Exact figures are in the table below[12].
Tax period ending Form Total revenue Total expenses Net assets at year end
June 2021[14]Form 990$777,986,841$729,092,455$1,543,233,883
June 2022[15]Form 990$997,808,443$864,229,056$1,480,042,040
June 2023[12]Form 990$933,862,010$912,489,179$1,534,805,866

Totals as reported on each return. The IRS publishes these extracts one to two years after filing.

Balance sheet, tax period ending June 2023

Line Amount
Total assets[16] $2,414,730,149
Total liabilities[16] $879,924,283
Net assets or fund balances[16] $1,534,805,866

Employees. American University reported 9,051 employees on Form W-3 for calendar year ending with or within the tax period ending June 2023 (Form 990, Part V, line 2a).[17]

Compensation over $100,000. On the Form 990 for the tax period ending June 2023, American University reported 828 individuals who received more than $100,000 of reportable compensation from the organization (Part VII, line 2).[18]

Form 990 checklist. In the Form 990 checklist (Part IV) for the tax period ending June 2023, American University answered yes to: it operated a school; it engaged in lobbying activities; it had an office outside the United States; it reported professional fundraising services.[19]

Questions people ask

What is the EIN of American University?
The IRS master file lists American University with EIN 53-0196549[5].
Is American University a 501(c)(3)?
Yes, the IRS lists it as exempt under section 501(c)(3), classification Educational Organization[1].
Are contributions to American University tax-deductible?
The IRS deductibility code is 1, which reads: Contributions are deductible[7]. It appears in Publication 78 with status code PC[3].
Where is American University located?
The IRS master file lists it in Washington, District of Columbia[5].
What revenue did American University report?
On its Form 990 for the tax period ending June 2023, it reported total revenue of $933,862,010[12]. The IRS master file lists $929,602,491 for the tax period ending June 2025[4].

Facts and sources

  1. The IRS lists American University as exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, classification: Educational Organization. IRS EO Business Master File
  2. The ruling date in the IRS master file (the month and year of the IRS letter recognizing the exemption) is April 1935. IRS EO Business Master File
  3. American University (EIN 53-0196549) appears in the IRS Publication 78 data, the list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible charitable contributions, with status code PC (A public charity, deductibility limitation 50% (60% for cash contributions)). IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search data
  4. For the most recent return in the IRS master file, for the tax period ending June 2025, the IRS lists total revenue of $929,602,491 and total assets of $2,593,159,529. IRS EO Business Master File
  5. The IRS Exempt Organizations Business Master File lists American University with employer identification number (EIN) 53-0196549, located in Washington, District of Columbia. IRS EO Business Master File
  6. IRS foundation code 11 for American University: School 170(b)(1)(A)(ii). IRS EO Business Master File
  7. IRS deductibility code 1 for American University: Contributions are deductible. IRS EO Business Master File
  8. The IRS master file assigns American University the National Taxonomy of Exempt Entities (NTEE) code B43: Education, University or Technological Institute. IRS EO Business Master File
  9. IRS filing requirement code 01 for American University: 990 (all other) or 990EZ return. IRS EO Business Master File
  10. American University's accounting period (fiscal year) ends in June, according to the IRS master file. IRS EO Business Master File
  11. The IRS Form 990 series e-file data released in 2026 includes a Form 990 from American University for the tax period ending June 2025. IRS Form 990 e-file data
  12. On its Form 990 for the tax period ending June 2023, American University reported total revenue $933,862,010, total expenses $912,489,179, net assets or fund balances at year end $1,534,805,866. IRS SOI Form 990 extracts
  13. Revenue lines on the Form 990 for the tax period ending June 2023: contributions, gifts and grants $57,284,971 (Part VIII, line 1h); program service revenue $793,262,985 (Part VIII, line 2g); investment income $50,093,408 (Part VIII, line 3); total revenue $933,862,010 (Part VIII, line 12). IRS SOI Form 990 extracts
  14. On its Form 990 for the tax period ending June 2021, American University reported total revenue $777,986,841, total expenses $729,092,455, net assets or fund balances at year end $1,543,233,883. IRS SOI Form 990 extracts
  15. On its Form 990 for the tax period ending June 2022, American University reported total revenue $997,808,443, total expenses $864,229,056, net assets or fund balances at year end $1,480,042,040. IRS SOI Form 990 extracts
  16. Balance sheet at the end of the tax period ending June 2023 (Form 990, Part X): total assets $2,414,730,149, total liabilities $879,924,283, net assets or fund balances $1,534,805,866. IRS SOI Form 990 extracts
  17. American University reported 9,051 employees on Form W-3 for calendar year ending with or within the tax period ending June 2023 (Form 990, Part V, line 2a). IRS SOI Form 990 extracts
  18. On the Form 990 for the tax period ending June 2023, American University reported 828 individuals who received more than $100,000 of reportable compensation from the organization (Part VII, line 2). IRS SOI Form 990 extracts
  19. In the Form 990 checklist (Part IV) for the tax period ending June 2023, American University answered yes to: it operated a school; it engaged in lobbying activities; it had an office outside the United States; it reported professional fundraising services. IRS SOI Form 990 extracts

All figures are as the organization reported them to the IRS for the stated tax period. Say the tax period with every figure. Finance figures come from the IRS SOI annual extracts, which lag filing by one to two years. The IRS master file can list a newer period: keep the two apart and name each period. To see an organization's own filings, use the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search.