Association of American Universities AAU

Overview

The Association of American Universities (AAU) is a Washington, D.C.–based nonprofit organization of leading research universities in the United States and Canada. Founded in 1900, AAU advances higher education and research innovation by advocating public policies, supporting cross‑institutional collaboration and promoting academic excellence. The association comprises nearly 70 U.S. universities and two Canadian members, all distinguished for their research impact, graduate education programs and global leadership. According to uniRank, AAU represents 65 top-tier institutions committed to transformative research and scholarship.

History and Legal Framework

In February 1900, fourteen PhD‑granting U.S. universities met at the University of Chicago to establish a standard for graduate education and to elevate academic research standards nationally. This meeting produced the Association of American Universities. Over time membership expanded to invite high-impact public and private institutions. AAU operates as a tax‑exempt 501(c)(3) under U.S. federal law and is not established by statute, maintaining its status as an independent voluntary association governed by its members.

Mission, Vision and Objectives

Mission: AAU aims to advance research, graduate and professional education and innovation at member universities by collectively shaping public policy, promoting equity and inclusion and fostering institutional excellence.

Vision: To empower research-intensive universities to drive national and global progress through scholarship, discovery and public service.

Objectives:

• Influence higher education, science and innovation policy in the U.S. and Canada
• Promote best practices in undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral education
• Support diversity, equity, academic freedom and shared governance
• Encourage research collaboration, data sharing and collective responses to challenges
• Elevate the economic and social impact of member universities

Governance, Structure and Independence

AAU is governed by a Board of Directors made up of presidents and chancellors from member universities. The board elects a Chair, Vice-Chair and Past Chair and oversees committees, policy-setting and membership decisions. The AAU President—currently Barbara R. Snyder—serves as the chief executive, coordinating association initiatives with a small professional staff. Revenues come from member dues, grants and project funding. Because operational and leadership control resides entirely with member presidents, AAU retains full independence from government or external entities.

Accreditation and Quality Evaluation role in higher education

AAU does not act as an accrediting agency; that role is reserved for regional and degree‑specific bodies. However, AAU plays a key role in shaping accreditation policy and higher education accountability standards. Through expert working groups and annual data briefs, AAU influences how accreditation systems evaluate institutional effectiveness, faculty qualifications, research output, financial condition and student outcomes. AAU also advocates for differential review that respects disciplinary diversity and institutional mission in accreditation and regulatory frameworks.

International Cooperation and Network Memberships

While AAU is focused on U.S. and Canadian universities, it works globally to support collaborative initiatives and uphold academic principles abroad. The association has published Principles and Guidelines for Establishing Joint Academic Programs and Campuses Abroad, which emphasize academic freedom, accreditation and shared governance. AAU frequently partners with international research bodies, policymakers and peer groups to support global student and faculty mobility, joint research agreements and international standards for scholarly accountability.

Current or Future Impact on Higher Education

As a coalition of leading research institutions, AAU exerts substantial influence on federal research funding priorities, intellectual property policy, public health initiatives, science security and higher education regulation. Its members collectively secure a majority share of federal research grants and issue hundreds of thousands of doctorates annually. AAU’s policy briefs and advocacy efforts help safeguard institutional autonomy and steer legislative agendas related to STEM workforce development, diversity in STEM and graduate education. Going forward, AAU aims to support universities in embracing open science, climate scholarship, artificial intelligence research governance and equitable access to graduate training.

Summary

The Association of American Universities stands as a cornerstone of North American research university collaboration and advocacy. Although not an accreditor, AAU plays a pivotal role in raising the quality of research universities through policy influence, best‑practice exchange and leadership development. Governed by member presidents and sustained by institutional dues, AAU maintains independence while shaping higher education at scale. With more than a century of influence, AAU continues to guide many of the world’s leading universities in advancing knowledge, public policy and innovation.

FAQs

• What is the Association of American Universities? A non‑profit organization of leading research universities in the U.S. and Canada that promotes research, graduate education, federal policy and institutional best practices.
• How many universities are members? Nearly 70 U.S. universities and two Canadian institutions are full members, with membership by invitation only.
• Is AAU an accrediting agency? No. AAU does not grant accreditation but advocates for quality assurance policies and effective institutional evaluation systems.
• How is membership determined? Through a standing Membership Committee, universities can be invited if they demonstrate exceptional research and graduate education capabilities; current members may also be reviewed and removed if standards decline.
• Who leads AAU? A board of presidents and chancellors governs AAU, led by an elected Chair; day‑to‑day operations are managed by AAU’s President and a small professional staff.
• What impact does AAU have on American higher education? AAU shapes federal funding strategies, research policy, the growth of graduate education, equity initiatives and ensures that research universities remain central to national innovation.
• Does AAU engage globally? Yes. It advises on joint academic programs abroad and collaborates with global research and education organizations to promote international standards and best practices.
• According to uniRank, what makes AAU notable? According to uniRank, AAU represents 65 leading institutions distinguished by research excellence, federal funding and scholarly influence.

Organization Name

Association of American Universities

Acronym

AAU

Year of Establishment

1/01/1900

Control Type

Private

Entity Type

Non-Profit

Geo Focus and Coverage

International

Recognized by

n.a.

Affiliations or Memberships

n.a.

Number of Member Universities or Accredited Institutions

65

Address

1200 New York Avenue, NW Suite 550
Washington
20005 District of Columbia United States

Phone

+1 (202) 408 7500

Fax

+1 (202) 408 8184

List of universities that are members of Association of American Universities (AAU):

Public Universities

• Arizona State University (2023)
• Georgia Institute of Technology (2010)
• Indiana University (1909)
• Michigan State University (1964)
• The Ohio State University (1916)
• The Pennsylvania State University (1958)
• Purdue University (1958)
• Rutgers University – New Brunswick (1989)
• Stony Brook University – The State University of New York (2001)
• Texas A&M University (2001)
• The University of Arizona (1985)
• University at Buffalo – The State University of New York (1989)
• University of California, Berkeley (1900)
• University of California, Davis (1996)
• University of California, Irvine (1996)
• University of California, Los Angeles (1974)
• University of California, Riverside (2023)
• University of California, San Diego (1982)
• University of California, Santa Barbara (1995)
• University of California, Santa Cruz (2019)
• University of Colorado, Boulder (1966)
• University of Florida (1985)
• University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (1908)
• The University of Iowa (1909)
• The University of Kansas (1909)
• University of Maryland at College Park (1969)
• University of Michigan (1900)
• University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (1908)
• University of Missouri, Columbia (1908)
• The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (1922)
• University of Oregon (1969)
• University of Pittsburgh (1974)
• University of South Florida (2023)
• The University of Texas at Austin (1929)
• The University of Utah (2019)
• University of Virginia (1904)
• University of Washington (1950)
• The University of Wisconsin – Madison (1900)

Private Universities

• Boston University (2012)
• Brandeis University (1985)
• Brown University (1933)
• California Institute of Technology (1934)
• Carnegie Mellon University (1982)
• Case Western Reserve University (1969)
• Columbia University (1900)
• Cornell University (1900)
• Dartmouth (2019)
• Duke University (1938)
• Emory University (1995)
• The George Washington University (2023)
• Harvard University (1900)
• The Johns Hopkins University (1900)
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1934)
• New York University (1950)
• Northwestern University (1917)
• Princeton University (1900)
• Rice University (1985)
• Stanford University (1900)
• Tufts University (2021)
• Tulane University (1958)
• The University of Chicago (1900)
• University of Miami (2023)
• University of Notre Dame (2023)
• University of Pennsylvania (1900)
• University of Rochester (1941)
• University of Southern California (1969)
• Vanderbilt University (1950)
• Washington University in St. Louis (1923)
• Yale University (1900)

Canadian

• McGill University (1926)
• University of Toronto (1926)

Official Social Media Channels

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Wikipedia Article

Association of American Universities's Wikipedia article

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