American InterContinental University, commonly called AIU, is an international for-profit university with open admissions owned by Career Education Corporation (NASDAQ:CECO). It was founded in 1970 in Europe. AIU is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association to award Associate's, Bachelor's, and Master's degrees. American InterContinental University (AIU) was founded in 1970 in Lucerne, Switzerland by American couple Jack and Helen Barnette of Atlanta, and was first known as the American Fashion College of Switzerland. The school was recognized as an American degree awarding institution in 1971, initially offering associate and bachelor's degrees starting in 1974. In 1976 American Fashion College of Switzerland opened a campus in Atlanta and in 1978, the Lucerne campus moved to London, and changed its name to the American College for the Applied Arts. By 1978, the school had approximately 300 students, and began to expand its course offering beyond fashion to areas such as business.