The American University of Rome is a non-profit university.

The American University of Rome receives funding from sources such as tuition fees and donations and the money that comes in to the institution is invested directly back into the maintenance and development of our services.
We have no investors standing to release profits from our institution.

Non-profit vs. for-profit: What’s the difference?

  • Non-profits offer a learning environment designed first and foremost to serve students’ interests, designed to help them achieve their goals and to provide a 'university experience' and, susequently, career success
     
  • Non-profit universities charge tuition, and use that tuition to make the school run, helping the students learn and using their income to benefit the students. For-profits are in business to make money for owners and shareholders by offering a service; in this case education
     
  • Non-profit universities are usually accredited universities (like AUR), meaning that your degree is more valuable and is backed by national standards. The Middle States Commission on Higher Education  (AUR's accrediting commission) is one of the major accrediting commissions recognized by the Department of Education 
     
  • Nobody owns a non-profit; they are operated by a board of trustees who do not get payment, and there are no stocks and shareholders to create income for. So, they are free to keep the focus and motivation on providing a quality education to their students.

About 40% of students at for-profit colleges don't graduate, according to data from the White House College Scorecard. And the students who do get their degree earn less than $30,000 a year, on average.