American University of Central Asia

American University of Central Asia (AUCA) is a private, international, non-profit liberal arts university located in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan.

The American University of Central Asia (AUCA) was founded in 1993 as the Kyrgyz-American School, a specialist school within the Kyrgyz State National University in Bishkek. It was established by the United States government and the Kyrgyz government as part of a US initiative to support democracy and economic development in the newly independent Central Asian states.

In 1997, the Kyrgyz-American School was established as an independent institution and given a new name, the American University in Kyrgyzstan (AUK). In 2001, the university was renamed the American University of Central Asia (AUCA) to reflect its regional mission.

AUCA was one of the first universities in Central Asia to offer a US-style liberal arts education. The university's curriculum is based on the principles of critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills.

AUCA was one of the first universities in Central Asia to offer a US-style liberal arts education. The university's curriculum is based on the principles of critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills.

American University of Central Asia is ranked as the #4 top university in Kyrgyzstan during 2025. The rank decreased by 2 points from last year.