About AAU: America’s Leading Research Universities
Empowering American Research Universities
Our Mission
Founded in 1900, the Association of American Universities is composed of America’s leading research universities—69 in the U.S. and 2 in Canada—which transform lives through research, science, innovation, and education.
Our member universities
- Earn the majority of competitively awarded federal funding for research that
- leads to the cures and treatments that save lives and improve the health of millions of Americans;
- seeks out the discoveries that give our military new technological advantages over enemies on the battlefield;
- helps hardworking farmers do better with breakthroughs that increase their crop yields and strengthen crop resilience against blight and drought;
- keeps our nation in the lead over competitors coming up fast, like China, on the newest science and technology;
- creates jobs here at home through new scientific and technological discoveries that lead to startup companies, new products for manufacturers, and new business opportunities for local employers
- And educate and train today’s students to become tomorrow’s visionary leaders and innovators in science, manufacturing, engineering, technology, medicine, the military, and more
AAU member universities collectively help shape policy for higher education, science, and innovation; promote best practices in undergraduate and graduate education, and strengthen the contributions of leading research universities to America.
“New ideas, the innovation, the creativity for the future that ultimately results in job creation and greater prosperity of America are going to come from our research universities.”
AAU History: The Road to American Dominance in Science and Innovation
14 university leaders met in 1900 to elevate the standing of American research universities. They set the stage for American dominance in scientific research and higher education. During WWII, AAU members helped turn the tide of the war.
AAU Today: Strengthening Research Universities
The GPS in your phone. The cancer treatment that saves lives today. The technology that keeps our military ahead of our adversaries. These all begin in research university labs. Research universities prioritize groundbreaking research alongside education.
AAU Member Universities
AAU member universities—69 in the United States and two in Canada—are on the leading edge of innovation, scholarship, and solutions that contribute to scientific progress, economic development, security, and well-being.
Federal Policy Advocacy Areas
We advocate for federal investment in university education, which provides the homegrown, high-skilled workforce of tomorrow. This keeps our nation prosperous and competitive.
We advocate for federal investment in university research that saves lives, helps our military, creates new businesses, and strengthens our economy. .
We advocate for federal investment in financial aid that ensures students from all backgrounds have access to a world-class education.
We advocate for policies that improve the effectiveness, integrity, and security of federally-funded university research, while protecting our system of open science.
We advocate for tax policies that promote charitable giving, support university research, and help make high-quality education more affordable for students and families.
We advocate for policies that attract the brightest minds and best ideas from around the globe to our nation’s research universities for the benefit of the American people.
AAU Members: By the Numbers
71
69 of the nation’s leading research universities—and two in Canada—are AAU members
4,516
Startup companies formed by AAU members over the years that, as of 2024, are still basing their business on the university technology
4,963
U.S. patents issued in 2024 based on groundbreaking university research, opening the door to new products and technologies
Stay Current on University Research and Higher Ed Policy
Get the latest news impacting university research and higher ed policy, as well as updates about the groundbreaking work being done at America’s leading research universities.
