Is American University safe? Safety score, rankings & crime data 2026
American University: safety score 90/100 (grade A), ranked #12 of 111 in the US — data through 2026-08.
90/100
Grade: A · #12 of 111 in the US
Recorded crimes near campus — last 12 months
Monthly counts of officially recorded crimes within 3 km of American University, split by normalised severity. UK data is published monthly by data.police.uk; US, Canadian and Australian cities publish on their own cycles, so recent months may not be final.
| Month | Violent | Property | Minor | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-09 | 7 | 110 | 0 | 117 |
| 2025-10 | 2 | 121 | 0 | 123 |
| 2025-11 | 3 | 93 | 0 | 96 |
| 2025-12 | 5 | 84 | 0 | 89 |
| 2026-01 | 3 | 85 | 0 | 88 |
| 2026-02 | 13 | 66 | 0 | 79 |
| 2026-03 | 6 | 96 | 0 | 102 |
| 2026-04 | 2 | 79 | 0 | 81 |
| 2026-05 | 8 | 110 | 0 | 118 |
| 2026-06 | 4 | 79 | 0 | 83 |
| 2026-07 | 50 | 839 | 0 | 889 |
| 2026-08 | 3 | 118 | 0 | 121 |
Latest release: 2026-08 — 121 records in total — violent 3, property 118, minor 0 (-768 vs 2026-07).
Most common types: Other crime (64) · Other theft (32) · Motor vehicle theft (15) · Burglary (7) · Assault (1)
See American University on the interactive map
Street-level incident pins, live safety-news briefs, AI Q&A about the neighbourhood, and one-tap check-in for your parents — free in StudySafeLink.
Other universities in Washington
- Georgetown University 77 /100
- The Catholic University of America 65 /100
- George Washington University 53 /100
- Howard University 37 /100
FAQs about safety at American University
What is American University's safety score?
American University: 90/100 (grade A), #12 of 111 in the US, computed from 12 months of official records within 3 km of campus and recomputed weekly (data through 2026-08).
How many crimes are recorded near American University?
In the 12 months to 2026-08, 1986 crimes were officially recorded within 3 km of American University; the latest release month (2026-08) alone had 121 records (3 violent, 118 property, 0 minor).
Is it safe to walk around American University at night?
We can only speak from recorded data, not predict any specific street or hour. Check the monthly table above and the street-level map in the free StudySafeLink app along your actual route, and follow common precautions (well-lit main roads, share your trip with family).
How can my family keep track of my safety?
With the free StudySafeLink app you can check in with one tap after class or at night; your bound parent gets an instant notification plus a daily reassurance summary, and Trip Guardian can share your journey status (with your consent) when you head home late.
Data: Metropolitan PD (DC). Monthly counts cover the 12 months to 2026-08; official releases may be revised by publishers. This page is for general reference only and is not safety advice. In an emergency always call 911 in the US.