Eligibility & Dues

How to Join as an Institution or Organization

Qualifying organizations and institutions may apply to join AAC&U by contacting AAC&U’s member services team at [email protected].

Email Us

Join as an Individual Member

Those interested in joining as an Individual Member can do so online. See the table at the bottom of this page for more information on individual membership dues.

Eligibility and Dues

Annual college and university membership dues are set by the AAC&U Board of Directors and are based on institutional full-time equivalent (FTE) enrollment to help ensure equity among institutional members.

    1. Any US degree granting, higher education institution that is accredited by one of the six regional accrediting associations
      1. Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
      2. New England Association of Schools and Colleges
      3. North Central Association of College and Schools
      4. Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
      5. Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
      6. Western Association of Schools and Colleges
    2. Any non-US degree-granting higher education institution that is
      authorized to grant degrees by its respective national ministry of
      education or other official national agency or bureau
    3. Any US college or university system office
    4. Any US higher education agency
    5. Any US non-degree granting, 501(c)(3) organization that shares a compatible mission with AAC&U

  • AAC&U’s strength lies in an inclusive membership comprised of institutions from all sectors of higher education, system offices, international higher education institutions, and other nonprofit organizations.

    To respect this diversity, AAC&U dues are not set at a standard rate, but rather dependent upon the category of institution.

    1. Eligible US degree granting institutions
      Dues are based upon full-time equivalent enrollment (FTE) as reflected by current data on the IPEDS website.
    2. Eligible non-US degree granting institutions
      Dues are based upon full-time equivalent enrollment (FTE).
      If your Institution does not routinely calculate full-time equivalent enrollment (FTE) we will use the following formula:
      • Total number of part-time undergraduate students x 0.39 = Part-time undergraduate FTE
      • Part-time undergraduate FTE + total number of full-time undergraduate students = total undergraduate student FTE
      • Total number of part-time graduate students X 0.38 = Part-time graduate FTE
      • Part-time graduate FTE + total number of full-time graduate students = total graduate student FTE
      • Add undergraduate student FTE and graduate student FTE to determine your total FTE
    3. Eligible US college or university system offices
      Eligible US higher education agencies
      Dues are set at a flat rate.
    4. Eligible non-degree granting, 501(c)(3) institutions
      Dues are based upon annual revenue.

    AAC&U dues are calculated on a fiscal-year basis, beginning July 1st and ending June 30th. Your institution, however, can join at any time with dues prorated accordingly.

Colleges and Universities

  • Apply to join by contacting [email protected].

    FTE RangeMembership Dues (USD)Presidents' Trust Dues (USD)
    0-499$3,000$250
    500-749$3,250$250
    750-999$5,000$250
    1,000-1,499$6,000$500
    1,500-2,499$6,500$750
    2,500-4,899$6,800$1,000
    4,900-6,499$7,300$1,000
    6,500-9,999$8,100$1,000
    10,000-19,999$9,000$1,250
    20,000+$10,000$1,250

  • Apply to join by contacting [email protected].

    FTE RangeMembership Dues (USD)Presidents' Trust Dues (USD)
    0-479$2,000$250
    480-999$3,850$250
    1,000-3,999$4,000$500
    4,000-5,999$4,250$500
    6,000+$5,000$500

  • Apply to join by contacting [email protected].

    RangeMembership Dues (USD)Presidents' Trust Dues (USD)
    0-999$1,500$250
    1,000-3,999$2,200$250
    4,000-9,999$3,000$250
    10,000-24,999$4,000$250
    25,000+$6,000$250

  • Apply to join by contacting [email protected].

    MemberMembership Dues (USD)Presidents' Trust Dues (USD)
    Tribal Colleges$1,000$250
    System Offices$2,500$250
    State Agencies$1,200$250

Related Organizations

  • Apply to join by contacting [email protected].

    Revenue Range (USD)Membership Dues (USD)Presidents' Trust Dues (USD)
    $0-2,999,999$1,000$250
    $3,000,000+$3,000$250

AAC&U Individual Memberships

Join AAC&U as an individual member.

  • Individual Member TypesMembership Dues (USD)
    Students: Undergrad/Graduate$75
    Retired Faculty and Staff$100
    Current Faculty and Staff$150
    Individuals who support AAC&U's mission and are not affiliated with a higher education institution$125