American InterContinental University (AIU) is a for-profit university with open admissions owned by Career Education Corporation. AIU is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association to award associate, 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.