American University in Cairo (AUC): Tuition Fees, Financial Aid, and Costs
The American University in Cairo (AUC), founded in 1919, stands as a prominent private, non-profit institution that significantly contributes to the intellectual, cultural, and social landscape of Egypt. Recognized internationally, AUC holds a position among the top 410 universities worldwide according to QS International University Ranking. It emphasizes research and innovation grounded in the liberal arts. AUC is committed to excellence, diversity, lifelong learning, social responsibility, and integrity in its programs and services. AUC has nearly 35,000 active alumni. Currently, some 6,500 students are enrolled in 36 undergraduate, 44 master's, and two doctoral programs. More than 16,000 students enroll each year in non-credit courses offered through AUC's School of Continuing Education. AUC maintains two campuses: its environmentally-conscious main campus in the suburbs of Cairo and its historical campus in downtown Cairo.
This article provides a detailed overview of the tuition fees, financial aid options, and associated costs for prospective students at AUC.
Tuition Fees at AUC
The academic year at AUC is divided into two semesters. Tuition fees are collected each semester. However, for convenience, tuition fees are calculated per year. It is important to note that no student with an outstanding bill (including charges for breakage, library fines, dorm fees, bus service fees, or parking fees) will be admitted to any examination, given any certificate or report of academic standing, or be permitted to register for a subsequent semester.
Undergraduate Tuition
For bachelor's degrees, one year of studying at AUC will cost local citizens a minimum of $6,946 USD. For foreigners, the tuition fee is different - from $8,818 USD per year.
Graduate Tuition
The graduate tuition rate is built on a flat rate based on the category of graduate programs. The following are the graduate tuition rates per semester for the academic year 2024 - 2025 for new and current students:
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- Egyptian students enrolled in all majors: \$597 per credit hour.
- Egyptian students enrolled in MBA and LLM: \$698 per credit hour.
- All students enrolled in EMBA: \$938 per credit hour.
- International students, except for students enrolled in EMBA: \$735 per credit hour.
ELI Program Tuition
For the English Language Institute (ELI), Egyptian students enrolled in all majors, MBA, LLM, and EMBA will pay \$3,582, whereas ELI international students will pay \$4,410.
ENGL Course Tuition
Tuition and fees for ENGL 0310, ENGL 0311, or ENGL 0312 for Egyptian students are \$597 for each module, whereas for international students is \$735 for each module.
Payment Information
Egyptian students can pay in USD or EGP at the daily rate of exchange in the bank at the time of payment, after the issuance of the semester billing statement. International students must pay tuition and fees in US dollars. Admitted students can check guidelines and methods of payment on this page.
Financial Aid and Scholarships
AUC offers several scholarships and student financial support programs that help students cover part of their tuition costs.
Scholarships for International Students
If you attend a university or college in the United States, you may be eligible for a visiting international student scholarship. A limited number of scholarships are available for qualified applicants.
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Financial Aid Details
Financial aid can include grants, loans, scholarships, and work-study jobs. Financial aid packages vary depending on your financial need. Most colleges determine financial need based on your FAFSA.
Tuition Billing Types for Study Abroad Programs
AUC has a variety of billing agreements with universities worldwide. It is important to check with your home study abroad or international office to clarify which expenses will be billed through your home university and which you will need to pay directly to AUC. Your home university can also confirm whether any financial aid you currently receive is transferable to your studies at AUC.
The different tuition billing types include:
- Tuition-Exchange: Students are billed normally by their home university and do not pay any tuition to AUC.
- Direct Fee-Paying: Students pay AUC tuition directly to AUC and no tuition to their home university.
- Home Tuition Model: AUC bills the home university for its tuition, and students are responsible for paying their home university.
Fellowships
Fellowships are highly competitive awards.
Pay-Your-Own-Way (PYOW) Option
Students not awarded scholarships or those with external funding may choose to self-finance their participation through the Pay-Your-Own-Way (PYOW) option. If you are applying for or have secured outside funding, please select the PYOW option on the application form. Registration for courses is not permitted without proof of insurance. For CAASIC Short-Term programs, all applicants are responsible for paying their own tuition, whether they have external funding or are self-financing their participation through the Pay-Your-Own-Way (PYOW) option. If you are applying for or have secured outside funding, select the PYOW option on the application form. All CAASIC applicants, regardless of their funding status, must follow the same application procedures and will be evaluated in the same way.
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Cost of Attendance (COA)
The Department of Education directs the University to determine costs associated with attending The American University in Cairo (AUC) in order to determine the amount of financial aid for which a student may be eligible.
A student’s cost of attendance (COA) is established for use in determining a student’s eligibility for all Federal Student Aid (FSA) program funds, including Federal Direct Subsidized Loan, Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan, and the Federal Direct PLUS Loan.
The cost of attendance for a student estimates a student’s educational expenses for a period of academic enrollment. It is an estimate of the student’s educational expenses for the academic year.
The Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA), defines the COA components for all FSA programs. The Department of Education allows certain educational expenses to be used when determining a school’s COA. A school has the discretion to determine which costs will be used to determine the COA. At AUC, the following educational expenses are considered when determining the COA:
- Tuition and fees: These costs are determined for both undergraduate and graduate/professional students. Undergraduate students are budgeted for 12 credit hours each fall and spring semester. Graduate students are budgeted for 9 credit hours each fall and spring semester. There are International and Egyptian budgets for each group.
- Books: This component is determined using an average cost for books for an academic year based on data from a random sample of students at each level.
- Room and Board: These costs are determined for both undergraduate and graduate/professional students. This cost is based on a weighted average of a standard double room at AUC on-campus housing estimate.
- Transportation: This category covers the costs of round-trip airfare to and from Cairo, Egypt, the cost for local transportation to and from AUC campus and a personal budget for travel and tourism within Cairo. Costs are based on survey data and annual information.
- Other costs: These costs are averaged from survey data. Personal expenses surveyed include clothing, laundry, personal grooming, household purchases, medical co-pays, and prescriptions and others.
A student’s cost of attendance can be adjusted in certain circumstances.
Additional Expenses
When choosing an educational institution, it is important to be aware of additional costs: accommodation, transportation, study materials, meals, and personal expenses.
Admission Requirements
Bachelor's Degree
Enrollment in bachelor's programs is based on the results of entrance examinations. However, your GPA score must also be at least 2.7. Before submitting documents to the university, applicants take an English language exam. The university accepts the results of IELTS or TOEFL. The minimum TOEFL score is 48. The IELTS score is not lower than 5.
Master's Degree
The admission committee of the university takes into account the previous academic performance of the student. In order to enroll at aucegypt for a master's program, you will have to confirm knowledge of the English language. You can do this by passing the exam - IELTS or TOEFL. The minimum TOEFL score for admission is 45. IELTS - 6.5 or higher.
Doctorate Degree
If you are applying for a doctoral program, you must pass the language exam - IELTS or TOEFL. For enrollment, you need to pass TOEFL with 91 points. The minimum score for IELTS is 7.
Campus Life
AUC has an urban campus, which provides students with many options for study and recreation. The abundance of museums, theaters, and cinemas creates opportunities for the cultural development of young people. In the city, there are also large companies that offer internships. The university students have access to the library. It is an integral part of learning. Students come here for educational literature or to do their homework. AUC accepts students for international exchange programs. This is a great opportunity to gain experience in intercultural communication for both international and local students.
Programs Offered
AUC offers a wide range of programs across various disciplines, including:
- Computer Science & IT
- Mathematics
- Economics & Business Management
- Engineering & Technology
- Journalism & Media
- Arts & Humanities
- Humanities
- Social Sciences & Management
- Natural Sciences & Mathematics
Opportunities After Graduation
There are many options to stay in the country after completing your studies at the university. One of them is to get an offer from an employer and apply for a work visa. Graduates of aucegypt are in demand in the labor market, as the reputation of the educational institution among employers is quite high according to the results of the QS world ranking.
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