Rather hard for someone to help you find safeties without knowing what you and your parents can afford, and what your college application credentials are.
Your other post at http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/2135159-where-should-i-apply-undergrad.html says 3.9 HS GPA, top 4% rank, and 1370 SAT, but does not mention financials. Those stats do appear to be around the high end of American University’s frosh profile, and you intend to apply ED (American University considers “level of applicant’s interest” to be “very important”, and applying ED is the strongest way to show interest), so it looks like your admission chances are good there (of course, the subjectively graded stuff like essays needs to be good).
But talk to your parents about college costs and check affordability (net price calculators on college web sites) before you make your application list.