Established by BAU, LLC in 2014, Bay Atlantic University (BAU) is a private, non-profit institution located in the heart of Washington, D.C. The state approval to operate as an institution of higher education to award certificates, diplomas, and degrees by the District of Columbia Education Licensure Commission (“HELC”) was awarded on May 2, 2014.
The first cohort of MBA students was enrolled for fall 2014. BAU held its first commencement ceremony in May 2016 for its first cohort of MBA students and has celebrated commencements every spring since.
BAU, LLC was incorporated as a non-profit in 2016 as BAU (legal entity) and the 501(c)3 tax-exempt status was granted in February 2024.
Becoming regionally accredited was a dream since the Board of Trustees started planning the opening of BAU in 2014. However, due to the requirements of the District of Columbia to apply for accreditation within three years of initial licensure and become accredited within five years of the initial licensure, we applied to a national accreditor. BAU received national accreditation from the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS) in 2017. During the five years that ACICS accredited us, BAU was preparing for regional accreditation by ensuring all policies and quality standards were at the same level of regional accreditation.
In 2017, the first cohorts of BA in Political Science and International Relations and BA in Economics and Finance were enrolled. The same year, the state licensure commission (HELC) approved new program offerings: BA in Accounting, BA in Business Administration and Management, BS in Data Science, BS in Information Technology, MS in Cybersecurity, and MS in Big Data Analytics. The same year that we expanded to occupy three additional floors bringing the net total square footage to 17,900.
The name change from BAU International University to Bay Atlantic University was approved by the HELC in January 2019. The same year, we were granted approval to offer programs via distance education with approval from ACICS in 2020.
BAU received the first state-funded grant in 2020 through the Department of Employment Services (DOES) in the amount of $93,750 for the Youth Earn and Learn program and since has increased the total grants awarded for various programs to $1,500,000.
Bay Atlantic University achieved a significant milestone by being granted initial accreditation by NECHE (New England Commission of Higher Education) on March 9, 2023. This recognition highlights the university’s commitment to academic excellence and its dedication to providing a transformative educational experience to students. NECHE is widely respected for its rigorous standards and thorough evaluation process, making this accreditation a testament to Bay Atlantic University’s quality and effectiveness.
At BAU, we believe in supporting our students every step of the way. Over 70% of our students receive scholarships or tuition assistance. We’ve awarded 281 full-tuition scholarships, and, since 2018, a total of over 11 million USD in scholarship and tuition assistance to deserving students, ensuring that financial barriers never hinder their pursuit of education.
Over the years, our campus has undergone a significant transformation, expanding from 53,000sqft to over 83,000 sqft of state-of-the-art facilities, including a housing complex with capacity for 145 students.
In 2024, for the fifth time, BAU has been ranked among the Top 5 Largest Full-time MBA Programs in Greater Washington by the Washington Business Journal. BAU’s MBA program was also recognized by Intelligent.com, ranking #22 among the Top 30 Master’s in Internet Security Degree Programs (2023). Additionally, BAU was named one of the Top 10 Colleges for Business Analytics & Data Science Programs by Higher Education Review (2023).
Our academic offerings have continuously evolved to meet the demands of a changing world, from our early programs in economics and finance to our cutting-edge degrees in cybersecurity and big data analytics. We’ve established the new School of Information Science and Engineering (SISE), and introduced specialized programs such as Artificial Intelligence Engineering, Cloud Computing Engineering, and most recently in 2024, Master of Science in Data Science and Public Policy, preparing our students for the challenges of tomorrow.
We’ve forged strategic partnerships with universities and institutions worldwide, fostering collaboration in research, student exchange, and academic ventures. From our BAU Global Institutions to our Associate Partnership in the DIVERSE Alliance Consortium, which is comprised of 12 prestigious European universities spanning 11 countries, we’re proud to be a part of a global community of learners and leaders.
We’ve strengthened our ties with the local community through outreach programs, service initiatives, and partnerships with local businesses and organizations. Through our OSSE dual enrollment programs and collaborations with Can I Live, as well as our receipt of DOES local grants and involvement in both local and international forums, BAU is actively shaping change both within our campus walls and out in the world.
