The American InterContinental University (AIU) was founded by an American couple Helen and Jack Barnette in the year 1970 in Lucerne, Switzerland. It was called the American Fashion College of Switzerland and offered American degrees. The first campus on American soil was opened in 1976 and offered associate and bachelor’s degrees. The Lucerne campus moved to London and was renamed the American College for the Applied Arts.
From around 300 students in 1978, AIU today has about 24,000 students. The university offers a wide range of degrees and different programs. A significant part of AIU students, almost 80%, opt for AIU Online. AIU Online started in 2001 though it was recognized as a separate campus only in 2002. The online campus is located in Hoffman Estates, Illinois.
Accreditation
The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association
Popular Programs and Degrees Online
AIU offers Associate’s degrees in Business, Criminal Justice and Design. Bachelor’s degrees online are offered in Business, Criminal Justice, Design, and Information Technology. AIU offers Master’s in Business, Education and Information Technology.
Fees
The AIU website has a downloadable fee schedule and a net price calculator, but generally fees are dependent on the type of program chosen. For undergraduate programs, the fees could range from $27,230 to $ 54,410, and for graduate programs, they could range from $21,266 to $34,970 depending upon the program chosen. The figures will work out cheaper for Military tuition and application fees are waived for this segment.
AIU also offers financial aid through Federal Aid and grants such as The AIU Freedom Grant, The AIU Online Veterans Grant, The AIU Online Military Spouse Grant, The AIU Online Yellow Ribbon Grant, VA Education Benefits, and Federal Student Aid. In addition, private loans and loans for international students are also available.
Awards and Recognition
- Virtual Campus of AIU Online, recognized as “Best of the Best” in the Education and Academia category of the 2009 Computerworld Honors Program
- “Diverse Issues in Higher Education “ Recognizes American InterContinental University Online As a Top Provider of Undergraduate and Graduate Education for Minorities (2010, 2009)
- American InterContinental University Online Ranks Among Top 100 Schools for Hispanic Students (The Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education Magazine, 2009)
- AIU Virtual Campus Wins Prestigious Technology Award (Computerworld Honors Program,2009)
Famous Alumni
- Zee Avi – Malaysian musician
- Ronald Brise – Haitian-born U.S. politician, Florida House of Representatives
- James Heath – British film director (non-graduate)
- Aronicimo Richotti – American boxer
- Tatiana Santo Domingo – U.S.-born Colombian-Brazilian socialite
- Zohra Sarwari – Muslim author
- Christian Siriano – American fashion designer
- Tony Spinosa – Broadway director, choreographer, and actor
- Kelvin Washington – U.S. Marshal for the District of South Carolina
- Mickie James – WWE, TNA, professional wrestler
Source: Wikipedia, aiuniv.edu
