Extracted from the AICCU Website

Serving California California’s first independent colleges and universities were established in 1851. By 1864, when the University of California opened its first campus, the independents had already been making vital contributions to the state for over a dozen years.  Today there are more than seventy-five (75) WASC accredited, degree granting, non-profit independent colleges and universities serving California.  As a group, independent colleges and universities provide diversity in size,   location, types of students served, and many other ways. They also emphasize teaching and learning, and focusing on the individual student.  The independent sector is not a system like the University of California or the California State University, it is characterized by institutional autonomy, diversity, healthy competition and cooperation. 

The Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities (AICCU) was founded in 1955 so that the independent sector speaks with one voice in matters of public policy. AICCU was a principal architect of California’s student financial aid program. AICCU also assists members by offering admission information, cost saving programs, research, and management support. Membership is voluntary.

With demand for higher education expected to grow significantly, the contributions of the independent sector are more vital than ever.  A Real Value AICCU receives no direct state support; its only source of state funding is Cal Grants given to students — less than 3% of the state’s higher education budget. AICCU members provide nontaxpayer funded higher educational opportunities to California.  For every Cal Grant dollar received by students attending AICCU schools, $3.7 dollars in financial aid is given to students by AICCU members.  For every Cal Grant recipient who attends an AICCU member school, three more California students are educated by an AICCU college or university at no cost to the state. By any measure, AICCU members serve California.

AICCU members include:
• Internationally recognized research universities
• Nationally ranked colleges and universities
• Specialty colleges focusing on a particular area, like nursing or the arts
• Free-standing graduate schools in areas as diverse as biotechnology and psychology
• A variety of faith-based schools.

A Resource
• AICCU members enroll over 230,000 students — more than the University of California
• Thirty-nine percent (39%) of AICCU students are African American, Asian, Hispanic, or Native American
• Students in AICCU schools graduate at higher percentages than students in comparable public systems
• AICCU members award nearly one-fourth of the bachelor, almost half of the master and doctorate,
      and two thirds of the professional degrees in California
• AICCU members are meeting the critical demands of California by educating 36% of the teachers, 31% of
      the nurses, 80% of the pharmacists, and other needed professionals
• AICCU member’s growth in enrollment over the last ten years is equal to the total combined student
      bodies at UC Santa Barbara and CSU San Francisco — growth that was funded without any direct cost to
      the state.

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Updated: 06/10/2008