This list includes 77 Colleges that start with A, from “Aalto University” to “Butler University”. Entries include accredited, well-known and internationally recognized institutions useful for research, college planning, and directory lookup.
Colleges that start with A are institutions whose official English names begin with the letter A. They range from small liberal‑arts colleges to major research universities, such as “Aalto University”.
Below you’ll find the table with Name, Location, Founded, and Notable alumni.
Name: Shows the institution’s official English name so you can identify and alphabetize schools quickly by letter and common usage.
Location: Lists city and state or country so you can judge geography, regional options, and travel or residency considerations.
Founded: Gives the verified year of establishment to help you understand each college’s history and institutional maturity.
Notable alumni: Names one to three high-profile graduates who illustrate each college’s influence and possible career pathways for you.
Colleges that start with A
| Name | Location | Founding year | Notable alumni |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abilene Christian University | Abilene, Texas, USA | 1906 | Ronnie Dunn (musician); Holly Holm (UFC champion); Ted Poe (U.S. Congressman) |
| Acadia University | Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada | 1838 | Peter MacKay (former Canadian Minister of Justice); Joanne Kelly (actress); Ron James (comedian) |
| Adelphi University | Garden City, New York, USA | 1896 | Jonathan Larson (creator of ‘Rent’); Alice Hoffman (novelist); Edolphus Towns (U.S. Congressman) |
| Agnes Scott College | Decatur, Georgia, USA | 1889 | Jennifer Nettles (singer); Marsha Norman (playwright); Jean H. Toal (former Chief Justice) |
| Aix-Marseille University | Marseille, France | 1409 | Adolphe Thiers (former President of France); Jean-Marie Gustave Le Clézio (Nobel laureate); Paul Cézanne (painter) |
| Aalto University | Espoo, Finland | 2010 | Risto Siilasmaa (former Nokia chairman); Jorma Ollila (former Nokia CEO) |
| Aarhus University | Aarhus, Denmark | 1928 | Queen Margrethe II of Denmark; Jens Christian Skou (Nobel laureate); Bjarne Stroustrup (creator of C++) |
| Aberystwyth University | Aberystwyth, Wales, UK | 1872 | King Charles III; Alex Jones (television presenter); Carwyn Jones (former First Minister of Wales) |
| Air Force Institute of Technology | Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, USA | 1919 | Guion Bluford (first African American in space); James P. McCarthy (Air Force general); Harry S. Truman (attended) |
| Alabama A&M University | Normal, Alabama, USA | 1875 | Ruben Studdard (singer); John Stallworth (NFL Hall of Famer); Sun Ra (jazz musician) |
| Albion College | Albion, Michigan, USA | 1835 | Michael S. Steele (former RNC chairman); Anna Howard Shaw (suffragist leader) |
| Albright College | Reading, Pennsylvania, USA | 1856 | Anthony Portantino (California State Senator); Russell Weigley (military historian) |
| Alcorn State University | Lorman, Mississippi, USA | 1871 | Medgar Evers (civil rights activist); Steve McNair (NFL quarterback); Alex Haley (author of ‘Roots’) |
| Alfred University | Alfred, New York, USA | 1836 | Marvin Bell (poet); Marlin Miller (CEO of Arrow International) |
| Allegheny College | Meadville, Pennsylvania, USA | 1815 | Ida Tarbell (investigative journalist); William McKinley (U.S. President, attended); Ben Burtt (sound designer for Star Wars) |
| Alma College | Alma, Michigan, USA | 1886 | Tom Izzo (basketball coach); Jake Boss (baseball coach); Jim Daniels (writer) |
| American University | Washington, D.C., USA | 1893 | Goldie Hawn (actress); Paul Ryan (former Speaker of the House); Judy Sheindlin (Judge Judy) |
| American University in Cairo | Cairo, Egypt | 1919 | Queen Rania of Jordan; Yuriko Koike (Governor of Tokyo); Amr Waked (actor) |
| American University of Beirut | Beirut, Lebanon | 1866 | Zaha Hadid (architect); Ghassan Tueni (journalist); Najib Mikati (Prime Minister of Lebanon) |
| Amherst College | Amherst, Massachusetts, USA | 1821 | Calvin Coolidge (U.S. President); David Foster Wallace (author); Joseph Stiglitz (Nobel laureate) |
| Andrews University | Berrien Springs, Michigan, USA | 1874 | Ben Carson (neurosurgeon); H.M.S. Richards (radio evangelist) |
| Anglia Ruskin University | Cambridge, England, UK | 1858 | Syd Barrett (Pink Floyd co-founder); Patricia Scotland (Secretary-General of the Commonwealth) |
| Appalachian State University | Boone, North Carolina, USA | 1899 | Eric Church (country singer); Stephen J. Dubner (co-author of ‘Freakonomics’) |
| Arcadia University | Glenside, Pennsylvania, USA | 1853 | Anna Deavere Smith (actress); William R. May (politician) |
| Arizona State University | Tempe, Arizona, USA | 1885 | Jimmy Kimmel (comedian); Kate Spade (fashion designer); James Harden (NBA player) |
| Arkansas State University | Jonesboro, Arkansas, USA | 1909 | Al Joyner (Olympic gold medalist); Rodger Bumpass (voice actor for ‘SpongeBob SquarePants’) |
| Asbury University | Wilmore, Kentucky, USA | 1890 | Lottie Moon (missionary, attended); Andy Beshear (Governor of Kentucky) |
| Ashland University | Ashland, Ohio, USA | 1878 | Tim Ginter (politician); Dwier Brown (actor, ‘Field of Dreams’) |
| Aston University | Birmingham, England, UK | 1895 | Laura Jones (co-founder of Gu); Salma Yaqoob (politician) |
| Ateneo de Manila University | Quezon City, Philippines | 1859 | Jose Rizal (Philippine national hero); Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (former President) |
| Athabasca University | Athabasca, Alberta, Canada | 1970 | Ayman al-Zawahiri (militant leader, attended); Debby Carlson (politician) |
| Auburn University | Auburn, Alabama, USA | 1856 | Tim Cook (CEO of Apple); Octavia Spencer (actress); Bo Jackson (athlete) |
| Augsburg University | Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA | 1869 | Peter Agre (Nobel laureate); Devean George (NBA player) |
| Augusta University | Augusta, Georgia, USA | 1828 | Hervey M. Cleckley (psychiatrist); Matthew L. Witman (U.S. Navy admiral) |
| Augustana College | Rock Island, Illinois, USA | 1860 | Daniel Tsui (Nobel laureate); Ken Anderson (NFL quarterback) |
| Augustana University | Sioux Falls, South Dakota, USA | 1860 | Mary Hart (television personality); David Lillehaug (judge) |
| Australian Catholic University | Sydney, NSW, Australia | 1991 | Martin Foley (Australian politician); Melina Marchetta (author) |
| Australian National University | Canberra, ACT, Australia | 1946 | Kevin Rudd (former Prime Minister); Brian Schmidt (Nobel laureate); Lisa Singh (politician) |
| Azusa Pacific University | Azusa, California, USA | 1899 | Jackie Joyner-Kersee (Olympic athlete, coached); Kirk Nieuwenhuis (MLB player) |
| Babson College | Wellesley, Massachusetts, USA | 1919 | Arthur M. Blank (co-founder of The Home Depot); Roger Enrico (former CEO of PepsiCo) |
| Baldwin Wallace University | Berea, Ohio, USA | 1845 | Kate Voegele (singer-songwriter); Jim Tressel (football coach); Cori Jacobs (NASA engineer) |
| Ball State University | Muncie,Indiana, USA | 1918 | David Letterman (talk show host); Angela Ahrendts (former CEO of Burberry) |
| Bard College | Annandale-on-Hudson, New York, USA | 1860 | Chevy Chase (comedian); Blythe Danner (actress); Donald Fagen (musician) |
| Barnard College | New York, New York, USA | 1889 | Martha Stewart (businesswoman); Zora Neale Hurston (author); Greta Gerwig (director) |
| Barry University | Miami Shores, Florida, USA | 1940 | Shaquille O’Neal (NBA legend, earned doctorate); David Zobel (MLB player) |
| Baruch College | New York, New York, USA | 1919 | Ralph Lauren (fashion designer, attended); Jennifer Lopez (actress, attended); Adam Neumann (co-founder of WeWork) |
| Bates College | Lewiston, Maine, USA | 1855 | Edmund Muskie (former U.S. Secretary of State); Bryant Gumbel (journalist) |
| Baylor University | Waco, Texas, USA | 1845 | Robert Griffin III (NFL quarterback); Chip and Joanna Gaines (TV personalities); Michael Johnson (Olympic sprinter) |
| Belmont University | Nashville, Tennessee, USA | 1890 | Brad Paisley (country singer); Trisha Yearwood (country singer); Minnie Pearl (comedian) |
| Beloit College | Beloit, Wisconsin, USA | 1846 | Roy Chapman Andrews (naturalist, inspiration for Indiana Jones); Zainab al-Suwaij (activist) |
| Bemidji State University | Bemidji, Minnesota, USA | 1919 | Matt Read (NHL player); Michele M. Leonhart (former DEA administrator) |
| Bennington College | Bennington, Vermont, USA | 1932 | Donna Tartt (author); Peter Dinklage (actor); Bret Easton Ellis (author) |
| Bentley University | Waltham, Massachusetts, USA | 1917 | Jay Leno (comedian, attended); Marcelo Claure (CEO of SoftBank Group International) |
| Berea College | Berea, Kentucky, USA | 1855 | John Fenn (Nobel laureate); bell hooks (author and activist, attended); Carter G. Woodson (historian) |
| Berklee College of Music | Boston, Massachusetts, USA | 1945 | John Mayer (musician); Quincy Jones (producer); Charlie Puth (singer) |
| Bethany College | Bethany, West Virginia, USA | 1840 | James A. Garfield (U.S. President, taught); Champ Clark (former Speaker of the House) |
| Bethel University | St. Paul, Minnesota, USA | 1871 | Chris Kattan (comedian); Joel Hodgson (creator of ‘MST3K’) |
| Binghamton University, SUNY | Vestal, New York, USA | 1946 | Tony Kornheiser (sports commentator); Billy Baldwin (actor); Ingrid Michaelson (singer) |
| Biola University | La Mirada, California, USA | 1908 | Scott Derrickson (film director); John Thune (U.S. Senator); Zach King (internet personality) |
| Birkbeck, University of London | London, England, UK | 1823 | T.S. Eliot (poet); Rosalind Franklin (scientist, worked at); Bear Grylls (adventurer) |
| Birmingham-Southern College | Birmingham, Alabama, USA | 1856 | Kate Jackson (actress); Howell Heflin (U.S. Senator); Rebecca Gilman (playwright) |
| Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania | Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, USA | 1839 | Jimmi Simpson (actor); Jessica |
| Boise State University | Boise, Idaho, USA | 1932 | Kellen Moore (NFL coach); Kristin Armstrong (Olympic cyclist) |
| Boston College | Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA | 1863 | John F. Kerry (former U.S. Secretary of State); Amy Poehler (comedian); Doug Flutie (NFL quarterback) |
| Boston University | Boston, Massachusetts, USA | 1839 | Martin Luther King Jr. (civil rights leader); Julianne Moore (actress); Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (U.S. Congresswoman) |
| Bowdoin College | Brunswick, Maine, USA | 1794 | Franklin Pierce (U.S. President); Nathaniel Hawthorne (author); Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (poet) |
| Bowie State University | Bowie, Maryland, USA | 1865 | Christa McAuliffe (teacher and astronaut); Toni Braxton (singer, attended) |
| Bowling Green State University | Bowling Green, Ohio, USA | 1910 | Tim Conway (comedian); Scott Hamilton (Olympic figure skater); Eva Marie Saint (actress) |
| Bradley University | Peoria, Illinois, USA | 1897 | David Horowitz (consumer reporter); Neil Flynn (actor, ‘Scrubs’) |
| Brandeis University | Waltham, Massachusetts, USA | 1948 | Debra Messing (actress); Thomas Friedman (journalist); Angela Davis (activist) |
| Brigham Young University | Provo, Utah, USA | 1875 | Mitt Romney (U.S. Senator); Stephenie Meyer (author of ‘Twilight’); Ken Jennings (Jeopardy! champion) |
| Brown University | Providence, Rhode Island, USA | 1764 | John F. Kennedy Jr. (publisher); Emma Watson (actress); Ted Turner (media mogul) |
| Bryant University | Smithfield, Rhode Island, USA | 1863 | M. Therese Forrest (businesswoman); David Kreps (economist) |
| Bryn Mawr College | Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, USA | 1885 | Katharine Hepburn (actress); Drew Gilpin Faust (former president of Harvard); Emily Greene Balch (Nobel laureate) |
| Bucknell University | Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, USA | 1846 | Philip Roth (author); Ken Langone (co-founder of The Home Depot); Les Moonves (former CBS executive) |
| Buena Vista University | Storm Lake, Iowa, USA | 1891 | Nate Bjorkgren (NBA coach); Jesse Schmidt (arena football player) |
| Butler University | Indianapolis, Indiana, USA | 1855 | Kurt Vonnegut (author, attended); Gordon Hayward (NBA player) |
Descriptions
Abilene Christian University
A private Christian university known for its strong community and focus on undergraduate research. It enrolls over 5,000 students in various liberal arts and professional programs.
Acadia University
A predominantly undergraduate university in Nova Scotia, celebrated for its liberal arts education, small class sizes, and beautiful campus in the Annapolis Valley.
Adelphi University
A private university located on Long Island, offering a range of undergraduate and graduate programs. It is known for its strong arts, humanities, and health sciences programs.
Agnes Scott College
A private, liberal arts women’s college near Atlanta. It is known for its SUMMIT program, which focuses on global learning and leadership development for all students.
Aix-Marseille University
One of the oldest universities in France, formed from the merger of three institutions. It is a major public research university with a large student body and comprehensive curriculum.
Aalto University
A public research university formed by merging three leading Finnish universities. It is highly regarded for its integration of technology, business, and art and design.
Aarhus University
A leading public research university in Denmark, consistently ranked among the top 100 universities worldwide. It has a strong focus on research-based education.
Aberystwyth University
A public research university and a founding member of the University of Wales. It established the world’s first Department of International Politics.
Air Force Institute of Technology
The graduate school and provider of professional education for the United States Air Force. It focuses on engineering, science, and management disciplines critical to the military.
Alabama A&M University
A public, historically black land-grant university. It is known for its strong programs in agriculture, environmental science, and engineering.
Albion College
A private liberal arts college affiliated with the United Methodist Church. It emphasizes undergraduate research, experiential learning, and interdisciplinary studies.
Albright College
A private liberal arts college known for its interdisciplinary approach, allowing students to combine different fields of study to create a unique major.
Alcorn State University
A public, historically black land-grant university. It was the first black land-grant college established in the United States and has strong programs in nursing and agriculture.
Alfred University
A small, private university known for its programs in ceramic engineering, art and design, and business. It fosters a close-knit community with a focus on hands-on learning.
Allegheny College
A private liberal arts college that requires students to choose both a major and a minor from different divisions, promoting broad, interdisciplinary knowledge.
Alma College
A private liberal arts college affiliated with the Presbyterian Church. It is known for the Alma Commitment, which provides students opportunities for hands-on experience.
American University
A private research university known for its School of International Service and programs in public policy and political science, leveraging its strategic location in the nation’s capital.
American University in Cairo
A private, English-language research university offering an American-style liberal arts education. It is a leading academic institution in the Middle East.
American University of Beirut
A private, non-sectarian research university that is one of the most prestigious in the Middle East. It has a strong focus on medicine, arts, and sciences.
Amherst College
A private liberal arts college, part of the “Little Three.” It is highly selective and known for its rigorous academics and open curriculum with no core requirements.
Andrews University
A private Seventh-day Adventist university. It is the flagship university of the Adventist school system and has one of the most diverse student bodies in the U.S.
Anglia Ruskin University
A public university with campuses in Cambridge, Chelmsford, and Peterborough. It is known for its entrepreneurial focus and large student population.
Appalachian State University
A public university in the Blue Ridge Mountains, part of the University of North Carolina System. It is known for its programs in education, music, and sustainable development.
Arcadia University
A private university known for its top-ranked study abroad programs. It offers a globally-focused education with personalized attention for its students.
Arizona State University
A public research university known for its massive scale and innovative approach to higher education. It enrolls over 100,000 students and is a leader in online learning.
Arkansas State University
A public research university and the flagship campus of the Arkansas State University System. It offers a wide range of degrees and has a strong focus on agriculture and business.
Asbury University
A private Christian university known for its strong emphasis on spiritual life and liberal arts education. It has gained international attention for its religious revivals.
Ashland University
A private university affiliated with the Brethren Church. It offers a blend of liberal arts and professional programs, with strong education and business schools.
Aston University
A public research university known for its strong links with industry and commerce. It has a leading business school and excellent programs in technology and health sciences.
Ateneo de Manila University
A private Jesuit research university, one of the oldest and most prestigious in the Philippines. It is renowned for its programs in law, humanities, and social sciences.
Athabasca University
A public research university specializing in online and distance education. It is one of the world’s first and largest online universities, serving students globally.
Auburn University
A large public land-, sea-, and space-grant research university. It is known for its strong programs in engineering, agriculture, and architecture, as well as its passionate athletic culture.
Augsburg University
A private university of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Located in a vibrant urban setting, it emphasizes experiential education and civic engagement.
Augusta University
A public research university and medical center, part of the University System of Georgia. It is the state’s only public health sciences university.
Augustana College
A private liberal arts college affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church. Located on the Mississippi River, it is known for its science programs and student research.
Augustana University
A private Lutheran university. It offers a liberal arts education combined with professional programs and is known for its strong sense of community and service.
Australian Catholic University
A public university with seven campuses across Australia. While grounded in Catholic intellectual tradition, it is open to all and has a strong focus on education and health sciences.
Australian National University
Australia’s national university, located in the capital city. It is a leading public institution, particularly renowned for research in humanities and sciences.
Azusa Pacific University
A private, evangelical Christian university near Los Angeles. It is one of the largest Christian universities in the nation, offering a wide array of programs.
Babson College
A private business school known for its focus on entrepreneurship education. It has been ranked number one for entrepreneurship for decades.
Baldwin Wallace University
A private university with a liberal arts-based curriculum. It has a renowned music theatre program and a strong conservatory of music.
Ball State University
A public research university known for its programs in education, architecture, and telecommunications. It emphasizes immersive learning and community engagement.
Bard College
A private liberal arts college known for its independent-minded curriculum and strong arts programs. It requires students to complete a rigorous senior project.
Barnard College
A private women’s liberal arts college affiliated with Columbia University. Students can cross-register for classes at Columbia, offering a small college feel with large university resources.
Barry University
A private Catholic university in Miami. It offers more than 100 degree programs and is recognized for its diverse student body and commitment to social justice.
Baruch College
A public college in the CUNY system. It is well-regarded for its Zicklin School of Business, which offers strong programs in finance and marketing at an affordable price.
Bates College
A private liberal arts college known for being one of the first coeducational colleges in New England. It has a strong focus on undergraduate research and a single-semester thesis.
Baylor University
The world’s largest Baptist university, this private Christian institution is known for its research activity, strong school spirit, and successful Division I athletics.
Belmont University
A private Christian university known for its top-ranked music business program. Its location in “Music City” provides students with unique industry opportunities.
Beloit College
A private liberal arts college known for its innovative curriculum and emphasis on experiential learning. The “Beloit Mindset List” was a famous annual publication.
Bemidji State University
A public university located on the shore of Lake Bemidji. It offers a variety of programs with a special focus on environmental studies and Native American studies.
Bennington College
A private liberal arts college known for its progressive, student-directed education. Instead of majors, students develop an individualized “Plan” of study.
Bentley University
A private university focused on business education. It integrates business with arts and sciences and is known for its strong career services and technology focus.
Berea College
A private liberal arts college that provides a tuition-free education to all admitted students, primarily from the Appalachian region, in exchange for work in a campus labor program.
Berklee College of Music
A private music college renowned for the study of jazz and modern American music. It is one of the largest and most prestigious contemporary music schools in the world.
Bethany College
A small private liberal arts college, the oldest institution of higher education in West Virginia. It is known for its focus on liberal arts and leadership.
Bethel University
A private Christian university with a strong reputation in the Midwest. It combines a liberal arts education with a faith-based perspective.
Binghamton University, SUNY
A public research university and one of the four university centers in the SUNY system. It is often called a “Public Ivy” for its high academic quality and value.
Biola University
A private, evangelical Christian university. It is a prominent member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities and has strong programs in theology and media arts.
Birkbeck, University of London
A constituent college of the University of London, specializing in evening higher education. It allows students to study at a research-intensive university while working during the day.
Birmingham-Southern College
A private liberal arts college affiliated with the United Methodist Church. It is known for its strong pre-health and business programs and its hands-on learning requirement.
Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania
A public university and part of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. It offers a comprehensive range of undergraduate and graduate programs.
Boise State University
A public research university known for its distinctive blue turf football field. It has grown rapidly into a major metropolitan research university.
Boston College
A private Jesuit research university. Despite its name, it is a university with a strong reputation in liberal arts, business, and law, known for its beautiful campus.
Boston University
A large, private research university with a diverse student body from over 130 countries. It is known for its medical, law, and business schools, and its urban campus.
Bowdoin College
A highly selective private liberal arts college. It was one of the first colleges to go test-optional and is known for its commitment to the common good.
Bowie State University
A public, historically black university and part of the University System of Maryland. It is Maryland’s oldest HBCU and has strong programs in education and technology.
Bowling Green State University
A public research university in Ohio. It has nationally recognized programs in psychology, education, and popular culture studies.
Bradley University
A private university that offers a range of programs in engineering, business, and communication. It is known for its focus on experiential learning and student success.
Brandeis University
A private research university founded by the American Jewish community. It is known for its commitment to social justice and its strong liberal arts and research programs.
Brigham Young University
A private research university owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is the largest religious university in the U.S.
Brown University
A private Ivy League research university known for its unique Open Curriculum, which allows students to design their own course of study without general education requirements.
Bryant University
A private university focused on business and liberal arts. It is known for integrating business education across all its programs and for its strong career outcomes.
Bryn Mawr College
A private women’s liberal arts college, part of the Seven Sisters. It is known for its academic rigor, beautiful collegiate gothic architecture, and close-knit community.
Bucknell University
A private liberal arts college with strong programs in engineering, arts, and sciences. It offers the resources of a larger university with a small-college feel.
Buena Vista University
A private university affiliated with the Presbyterian Church. It is located on the shores of Storm Lake and is known for its focus on leadership and service learning.
Butler University
A private university known for its strong programs in business, pharmacy, and performing arts. It gained national prominence for its men’s basketball team’s NCAA tournament runs.