American University has a Learfield Score of 50.5. American University has 303 student athletes competing in 12 sports: 132 men and 171 women. The university's overall athletic participation rate is 70.9%. The number of student athletes at American University has increased by 6% since 2003. There were 307 student athletes during that year. The total number of students at American University was 5,081 then. American University began offering athletics programs in 1964. Men's basketball was the first team formed that year. The men's basketball team went on to have two undefeated seasons in the 1965-66 and 1966-67 school years. The football team has had success as well with three Southern Conference titles and an appearance in the 1975 Cotton Bowl. Women's basketball has also been very successful with four Southern Conference titles in six years from 1971 to 1976. American University's other teams include baseball, cross country, golf, soccer, swimming, tennis, and track and field. There are 12 coaches at American University who receive compensation. They make $500,000 or more per year. Three of the coaches work for free because they are paid out of school funds rather than through the athletic department. The others make between $100,000 and $250,000 per year.