Home / Worth-It Scores / Virginia / American National
Is American National University worth it?
A first pass affordability and outcome read for American National, using national average inputs. Run your own numbers for a personalized score.
Worth-It Score
Stretch
American National sits in the stretch band for a typical family. The long-run earnings picture at $26,370 helps, but median debt of $12,814 plus yearly net price of $18,036 creates a tighter path. For context, American National's net price is about 22% below the typical 4-year, private for-profit school. It can work, but the financing plan has to be deliberate.
Is the price fair?
Compared to 186 similar 4-year, private for-profit schools
This school
$19,988
/yrAverage school like this
$25,582
/yrThis helps your Worth-It Score
You'd pay about $5,594 less per year than the typical student at a similar school. Over 4 years that's roughly $22,000 in savings.
Score breakdown
The public version of the score weighs affordability, after graduation outcomes, and repayment burden.
Affordability
40% weight
The yearly net price sits in a range that leaves more room for family cash flow and lower borrowing.
Outcome
40% weight
The outcome data does not create enough margin to fully offset the cost.
Repayment
20% weight
Median debt stays in a more comfortable repayment range for a typical graduate.
The numbers behind the score
Median net price per year
$18,036
Median earnings 10 years out
$26,370
Median debt at graduation
$12,814
Graduation rate
31%
At American National, a typical graduate carries about $12,814 in student debt and earns roughly $26,370 ten years after enrolling. On a standard 10-year repayment plan, that works out to about $146 per month, or 7% of pre-tax income. That sits inside a borrower comfort range for many graduates.
What this means for your family
American National is a two year school in Salem, VA. For many families, the real question is not just sticker price but what this path unlocks next, whether that is direct employment, transfer, or a lower cost route into a four year degree.
Similar schools worth comparing
These schools share a similar sector, geography, or price range.
2-year
Rudy & Kelly Academy A Paul Mitchell Partner School
Virginia Beach, VA
Worth-It Score: 63/100
Median net price: $18,024
2-year
Advanced Technology Institute
Virginia Beach, VA
Worth-It Score: 64/100
Median net price: $16,358
2-year
Paul Mitchell the School-Roanoke
Roanoke, VA
Worth-It Score: 43/100
Median net price: $20,318
2-year
Avi Career Training
vienna, VA
Worth-It Score: 82/100
Median net price: $15,361
2-year
ECPI
Virginia Beach, VA
Worth-It Score: 60/100
Median net price: $22,965
Common questions about American National
The median net price at American National is $18,036 per year. That is the average yearly price after typical grant aid for students in the public federal data, not the published sticker price.
Get your personalized Worth-It score
National averages are a starting point. Plug in your actual aid offer, intended major, and family situation to get a score that reflects your specific picture.
Looking at for-profit colleges options in Virginia? See the most affordable for-profit colleges in Virginia →
The Worth-It Score weighs affordability (40%), after graduation outcomes (40%), and repayment burden (20%). Underlying data points come from publicly available federal higher education reporting. See full methodology →