American University of Beirut
الجامعة الأميركية في بيروت
A US-style liberal arts and research university founded in 1866 on a seafront campus in Beirut.
- Students
- 9,759
- International
- 17%
- of students
- Tuition
- $25,650
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1866
About AUB
The American University of Beirut was founded in 1866 and describes itself as a teaching-centred research university based on the American liberal arts model. It is accredited in the US by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, teaches in English (except Arabic-language courses) and offers more than 140 bachelor's, master's, MD and PhD programmes.
AUB's units are the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, the Maroun Semaan Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, the Suliman S. Olayan School of Business, the Faculty of Medicine, the Faculty of Health Sciences, the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, the Rafic Hariri School of Nursing and a newer School of Computing and Data Sciences. As of October 2025 it had 9,759 students from 90 countries (17% international) and 1,123 instructional faculty, and it runs the 365-bed AUB Medical Center.
Undergraduates apply as freshmen or sophomores, and regular admission weighs SAT scores and grade 10 and 11 averages equally. The 61-acre campus overlooks the Mediterranean in Beirut. AUB suits students who want an American-style degree in the Arab world, and who have weighed Lebanon's economic and security situation.
Ut vitam abundantius habeant
“That they may have life and have it more abundantly” — university motto
Why students choose AUB
An American liberal arts model, US accreditation and English-language teaching across more than 140 programmes.
A transparent admission formula: 50% SAT (superscored) and 50% grade 10 and 11 averages.
Large scholarship budget: $101.2 million in scholarships and awards in 2024-25, plus a merit scholarship route with early decisions.
A 61-acre Mediterranean campus with seven dormitories, four libraries, three museums and the Charles Hostler Student Center.
Admissions
Fall 2027 entry
Selectivity
AUB does not publish an acceptance rate. Regular admission is competitive and based 50% on the SAT (Evidence-Based Reading and Writing plus Math) and 50% on grade 10 and 11 averages, compared with the applicant's class and school; there are no fixed cut-offs.
Typical entry requirements
| Any recognised secondary curriculum (IB, IGCSE/A-level, US high school, Lebanese and other national systems) | SAT plus official grade 10 and 11 transcripts and AUB's secondary school record form; final diploma recognised by the home country's ministry of education required before registration |
|---|---|
| Early merit admission (fall only) | Top 25% class rank in the last two years and a minimum SAT (EBRW + Math) of 1130 for freshman entry, applied for by the early deadline |
| English language | After admission, students meet the English requirement with an SAT English score (530 or above places you in English 102), AUB's AUB-EN exam, TOEFL iBT or IELTS Academic; scores decide placement from intensive English (100A/100B) up to English 102 or 203. Test scores are valid for two years (AUB-EN one year). |
Deadlines
- Early Merit Freshman/Sophomore Admission, Fall 2027-28 Non-binding Next deadline · In 25 daysOctober 31, 2026
Opened July 1, 2026; latest SAT considered October 2026; decisions by end of December 2026.
- Regular Freshman/Sophomore Admission, Fall 2027-28 Non-binding In ~2 monthsDecember 20, 2026
Opens November 1, 2026; latest SAT considered December 2026; decisions by end of March 2027.
- Regular Freshman/Sophomore Admission, Spring 2027-28 Non-binding In ~13 monthsOctober 31, 2027
Opens September 1, 2027; decisions by end of November 2027.
Dates from AUB's admissions deadlines page. Transfer applicants to fall 2027-28 apply between January 26 and April 30, 2027.
How to apply
Apply online, pay the $50 application fee, and submit SAT scores (ETS code 0902), official grade 10 and 11 transcripts signed and stamped by your school, AUB's Applicant Secondary School Record form and a passport or ID copy. Hard copies go to the Office of Admissions in Beirut or AUB's New York office. Admission is conditional on completing grade 12 and the English requirement.
What admissions looks for
- SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing and Math scores (superscored).
- Grade 10 and 11 averages relative to your class and school.
- For early merit admission, a top-25% class rank and an SAT of at least 1130.
- Completion of grade 12 and AUB's English requirement before registration.
Tips for applying to AUB
- 1 Retake the SAT if you can improve: AUB superscores, taking the best section scores across sittings.
- 2 Your grade 10 and 11 results carry half the weight, so they matter more than grade 12.
- 3 Aim for the early merit round (deadline October 31, 2026) if you are in the top quarter of your class.
- 4 Apply for dorms as soon as you pay the confirmation fee: AUB warns that housing deadlines are early.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in USD
AUB awarded $101.2 million in scholarships and awards in 2024-25. The Office of Financial Aid offers need-based aid and scholarships, and a merit scholarship route runs through early merit admission.
- $101.2 million
- Scholarships and awards, 2024-25
- $50 (non-refundable)
- Application fee
- 1,281 in 7 dormitories
- Dormitory beds
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters (fall and spring, plus summer)
Bachelor of Engineering (Maroun Semaan Faculty of Engineering and Architecture)
Majors including Computer Science and Engineering, Electrical and Computer, Mechanical and Civil Engineering, with a mandatory summer term.
Bachelor of Business Administration (Olayan School of Business)
The Suliman S. Olayan School of Business's undergraduate degree; tuition is $990 per credit in 2026-27.
Bachelor of Architecture
Taught in the Faculty of Engineering and Architecture.
BA Political Studies
The degree taken at AUB by former Afghan president Ashraf Ghani.
BS Computer Science (Faculty of Arts and Sciences)
Offered alongside the newer School of Computing and Data Sciences and engineering majors in computer science and engineering.
Research
- AUB Medical Center, a 365-bed teaching hospital on campus.
- The Advancing Research Enabling Communities Center (AREC), a 244.8-acre research farm in the Beqaa.
- Centres and institutes such as the Issam Fares Institute, the Munib and Angela Masri Institute of Energy and Natural Resources and an AI Hub.
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Arts and Sciences
- Maroun Semaan Faculty of Engineering and Architecture
- Suliman S. Olayan School of Business
- Faculty of Medicine
- Faculty of Health Sciences
- Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences
- Rafic Hariri School of Nursing
- School of Computing and Data Sciences
AUB's admissions site cites 18th worldwide for employment outcomes in the QS World University Rankings 2027.
Student life
AUB's campus runs down towards the Mediterranean, with a green sports field near the sea and historic buildings such as College Hall. There are seven dormitories with 1,281 beds, more than 80 clubs and societies, four libraries, three museums and two art galleries. Students also volunteer widely: in 2024-25, 381 students completed more than 13,000 hours with 191 community partners. New students attend an orientation about a week before classes.
- More than 80 active clubs and societies.
- Charles Hostler Student Center for athletics.
- Three museums and two art galleries on campus.
- Community volunteering through the Office of Student Affairs.
Housing. Seven university dormitories with 1,281 beds; in 2026-27 rooms cost $1,665 to $4,100 per person per semester, and applications open once you pay the confirmation fee.
Location
The campus is in Beirut on the Mediterranean shore, in the west of the city. Beirut is a dense, lively capital with a strong café and arts culture; Lebanon has faced a prolonged economic crisis and periods of conflict, so check current travel advice before applying.
Nearest airport: Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport (BEY)
Notable alumni
- AG Ashraf GhaniFormer President of Afghanistan; BA in political studies (1973)
- CM Charles MalikDiplomat who took part in drafting the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights; degree in mathematics and physics
- NM Najib MikatiFormer Prime Minister of Lebanon; MBA (1980)
- HA Hanan AshrawiPalestinian politician and scholar; BA and MA in English literature
- GH George HabashPalestinian physician and founder of the PFLP; studied medicine at AUB
Frequently asked questions
What SAT score do you need for AUB?
AUB sets no fixed cut-off for regular admission: half the decision is your superscored SAT and half your grade 10 and 11 averages. For early merit admission, freshman applicants need at least 1130 (EBRW + Math) and a top-25% class rank.
When is the AUB application deadline for fall 2027?
October 31, 2026 for early merit admission and December 20, 2026 for regular freshman and sophomore admission. Decisions follow by the end of December 2026 and the end of March 2027 respectively.
How much is AUB tuition?
AUB charges per credit, capped at 15 credits a semester. For 2026-27 that means about $25,650 to $31,320 a year for most undergraduate programmes (for example $29,700 in Business), with Engineering and Architecture ($1,022 per credit) and Nursing adding a mandatory summer term. University housing costs $1,665 to $4,100 per semester.
Does AUB offer financial aid to international students?
AUB awarded $101.2 million in scholarships and awards in 2024-25 and has need-based aid and merit scholarships; contact the Office of Financial Aid for eligibility.
Is AUB taught in English?
Yes. All courses are taught in English except Arabic courses, and admitted students must meet AUB's English requirement through the SAT, AUB-EN, TOEFL iBT or IELTS Academic.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
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