Quick Facts & History

  • Students
  • Number of AUBG students in Fall 2021 970
  • Undergraduate students 946
  • Graduate students 24
  • Number of nationalities represented on campus 46
  • Academics
  • Number of faculty 88
  • Number of Majors Offered 13
  • Number of Minors Offered 20
  • Average Class Size 23
  • ...And more
  • Total staff 236
  • Financial Aid Each Year $ 4.8M
  • Percentage of students receiving financial aid 76%
  • Retention rate after the first year 95%
  • Graduation rate 79 %

  1. 1991

    1. June 24

      1991 June 24: First Opening Ceremony: AUBG opens doors with 16 full-time faculty members welcoming 208 brave students.

      First Opening Ceremony: AUBG opens doors with 16 full-time faculty members welcoming 208 brave students.

    2. September 18

      The Grand National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria granted the status of an institution of higher education to AUBG.

    3. September 30

      First day of classes.

    4. November

      1991 November: First meeting of the AUBG Board of Directors.

      First meeting of the AUBG Board of Directors.

    5. November 1

      1991 November 1: AUBG inaugurated at an official outdoor ceremony in Blagoevgrad.

      AUBG inaugurated at an official outdoor ceremony in Blagoevgrad.

    6. Fall

      1991 Fall: Students use the existing communal radio intercom system ("radiotochka") in the Hilltop dormitory to begin the first dormitory-wide "broadcasts", which would later turn into Radio AURA.

      Students use the existing communal radio intercom system ("radiotochka") in the Hilltop dormitory to begin the first dormitory-wide "broadcasts", which would later turn into Radio AURA.

  2. 1992

    1. April

      First ever Arts Festival held at AUBG.

    2. September

      1992 September: Volga dormitory opens for student use.

      Volga dormitory opens for student use.

    3. October 17

      Signal issue of what would become the student publication Aspecter comes out.

    4. November 16

      1992 November 16: The first AUBG newspaper, Aspecter, was published.

      The first AUBG newspaper, Aspecter, was published.

    5. December

      1992 December: First theater production staged at AUBG – Thorton Wilder’s "Our Town", directed by Al Cyrus.

      First theater production staged at AUBG – Thorton Wilder’s "Our Town", directed by Al Cyrus.

  3. 1993

    1. January 27

      1993 January 27: AUBG finds its voice: first choir established.

      AUBG finds its voice: first choir established.

    2. September

      1993 September: Bistritza Residence Hall first houses students. Curious fact: it was previously a presidential apartment of Bulgaria’s communist head of state, Todor Zhivkov.

      Bistritza Residence Hall first houses students. Curious fact: it was previously a presidential apartment of Bulgaria’s communist head of state, Todor Zhivkov.

  4. 1995

    1. April

      1995 April: Galina Chuleva '95 becomes the first presidential medalist at AUBG.

      Galina Chuleva '95 becomes the first presidential medalist at AUBG.

    2. May 7

      1995 May 7: First AUBG class graduates.

      First AUBG class graduates.

  5. 1997

    1. September

      1997 September: 50 rooms are rented in the Riltzi Motel to accomodate the increasing number of students.

      50 rooms are rented in the Riltzi Motel to accomodate the increasing number of students.

  6. 1998

    1. April 23

      First More-Honors Academy show was organized.

    2. September 11

      Skaptopara I Residence Hall officially opens.

    3. November 27

      First ground broken on the Skaptopara campus.

  7. 1999

    1. September

      1999 September: FlashNews – the first online student publication – is launched.

      FlashNews – the first online student publication – is launched.

    2. November

      1999 November: First visit by U.S. President: Bill Clinton receives an honorary doctorate from AUBG.

      First visit by U.S. President: Bill Clinton receives an honorary doctorate from AUBG.

  8. 2001

    1. March 28

      AUBG receives accreditation by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC).

    2. June 14

      AUBG is accredited by the Bulgarian National Evaluation and Accreditation Agency.

  9. 2002

    1. October 5

      Skaptopara II Residence Hall opens its doors to students.

    2. October

      2002 October: Students bid farewell to Volga and Hilltop – the last dormitories outside the new campus.

      Students bid farewell to Volga and Hilltop – the last dormitories outside the new campus.

  10. 2003

    1. March 19

      2003 March 19: Elieff Center for Education and Culture in Sofia officially opens.

      Elieff Center for Education and Culture in Sofia officially opens.

  11. 2004

    1. May 11

      2004 May 11: First Executive MBA class graduates.

      First Executive MBA class graduates.

  12. 2005

    1. May 27

      2005 May 27: First Alumni Mega Reunion brings together all 11 classes of AUBG students.

      First Alumni Mega Reunion brings together all 11 classes of AUBG students.

  13. 2006

    1. April 1

      2006 April 1: First student-organized AUBG Olympics bring together more than 500 community members.

      First student-organized AUBG Olympics bring together more than 500 community members.

    2. July 20

      The Bulgarian National Evaluation and Accreditation Agency bestows the highest accreditation evaluation to AUBG.

    3. October

      The American University in Bulgaria celebrates its 15th anniversary.

  14. 2007

    1. May 12

      2007 May 12: New academic and administrative building opens officially.

      New academic and administrative building opens officially.

  15. 2008

    1. April 10

      2008 April 10: First musical production by the Broadway Performance Club, Chicago, premieres.

      First musical production by the Broadway Performance Club, Chicago, premieres.

    2. September 3

      2008 September 3: New library building opens doors.

      New library building opens doors.

    3. September 27

      2008 September 27: Elvin Guri ’96 receives the first Distinguished Alum Award.

      Elvin Guri ’96 receives the first Distinguished Alum Award.

    4. October 4

      Ground turned on the Skaptopara III Residence Hall.

  16. 2009

    1. April

      AUBG grants the first Tchaprachikoff scholarships for graduate study at top 20 U.S. universities.

    2. April

      2009 April: AUBG goes green – first Eco Week organized by students.

      AUBG goes green – first Eco Week organized by students.

    3. April 4

      2009 April 4: The Griffins American football club host the first national tournament in American flag football.

      The Griffins American football club host the first national tournament in American flag football.

    4. May 16

      2009 May 16: AUBG library named after Dimi and Yvonne Panitza at official ceremony.

      AUBG library named after Dimi and Yvonne Panitza at official ceremony.

  17. 2010

    1. January 20

      2010 January 20: AUBG and Blagoevgrad officials cut the ribbon on the Skaptopara III Residence Hall.

      AUBG and Blagoevgrad officials cut the ribbon on the Skaptopara III Residence Hall.

    2. April

      2010 April: "Hairspray" becomes the first AUBG musical that goes on a national tour.

      "Hairspray" becomes the first AUBG musical that goes on a national tour.

    3. May 15

      2010 May 15: The New Academic Building becomes Balkanski Academic Center in honor of Professor Minko Balkanski.

      The New Academic Building becomes Balkanski Academic Center in honor of Professor Minko Balkanski.

  18. 2011

    1. March

      AUBG graduate Georgi Iliev wins the 2010 Book of the Year award in Bulgaria for his novel Holy Fool: Dogtown.

    2. May 14

      2011 May 14: Groundbreaking for America for Bulgaria Student Center.

      Groundbreaking for America for Bulgaria Student Center.

    3. October 3

      2011 October 3: AUBG marks its twentieth anniversary with a birthday gala in Sofia’s Ivan Vazov Theater.

      AUBG marks its twentieth anniversary with a birthday gala in Sofia’s Ivan Vazov Theater.

  19. 2012

    1. October 19

      2012 October 19: New Student Center opens doors, named after America for Bulgaria Foundation.

      New Student Center opens doors, named after America for Bulgaria Foundation.

  20. 2013

    1. March 15

      2013 March 15: Radio AURA, the oldest student club on campus, celebrates its 20th birthday.

      Radio AURA, the oldest student club on campus, celebrates its 20th birthday.

    2. May 10

      2013 May 10: The EMBA Program celebrates 10 years of excellence and achievements.

      The EMBA Program celebrates 10 years of excellence and achievements.

    3. December

      2013 December : America for Bulgaria Student Center named Building of the Year.

      America for Bulgaria Student Center named Building of the Year.

  21. 2014

    1. April

      2014 April: AUBG launches a virtual tour to bring the beauty and spirit of its campus to everyone.

      AUBG launches a virtual tour to bring the beauty and spirit of its campus to everyone.

    2. November 6

      2014 November 6: AUBG's website named “Institutional Website of the Year” in the 15th annual competition BG Website 2014.

      AUBG's website named “Institutional Website of the Year” in the 15th annual competition BG Website 2014.

  22. 2015

    1. April 23

      2015 April 23: The second alumni mega reunion gathered more than 300 alumni and at least as many students to celebrate 20 years since the commencement of the first AUBG class.

      The second alumni mega reunion gathered more than 300 alumni and at least as many students to celebrate 20 years since the commencement of the first AUBG class.

    2. October 17

      2015 October 17: The ABF theater becomes the Dr. Carl Djerassi Theater Hall.

      The ABF theater becomes the Dr. Carl Djerassi Theater Hall.

  23. 2016

    1. September 30, 2016

      2016 September 30, 2016: AUBG celebrates 25 years of academic excellence and educating bright minds from all over the world.

      AUBG celebrates 25 years of academic excellence and educating bright minds from all over the world.

  24. 2017

    1. April 3, 2017

      2017 April 3, 2017: AUBG and SDA Bocconi launch joint venture Executive Master in Finance, Banking and Real Estate

      AUBG and SDA Bocconi launch joint venture Executive Master in Finance, Banking and Real Estate

  25. 2018

    1. May 10

      2018 May 10: Elieff Center and EMBA Program Celebrate 15 Years in Sofia

      Elieff Center and EMBA Program Celebrate 15 Years in Sofia

  26. 2019

    1. May 19

      2019 May 19: Elvin Guri ’96 receives first-ever Distinguished AUBG Alumni Award for Social Innovation and Change established by Board member Princess Maria Louisa

      Elvin Guri ’96 receives first-ever Distinguished AUBG Alumni Award for Social Innovation and Change established by Board member Princess Maria Louisa

    2. November 4

      2019 November 4: Elevate, the first in the region accelerator program, launches to help student entrepreneurs and alumni start their businesses

      Elevate, the first in the region accelerator program, launches to help student entrepreneurs and alumni start their businesses

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