Lebanese American University


The Lebanese American University is a secular private American university with campuses in Beirut, Byblos, and New York. It is chartered by the board of regents of the University of the State of New York and is recognized by the Lebanese Ministry of Education and Higher Education. It is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education. It offers 34 bachelor's degree programs and 26 master's degree programs in addition to Pharm.D. and M.D. degrees.
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Campuses

LAU has two main campuses, one located in Beirut and another located in the city of Byblos, north of Beirut. LAU also has a small branch campus in New York, NY.
The Byblos campus, inaugurated in 1987, hosts the nursing, medicine, engineering, and pharmacy programs, while most of the other programs are offered in both campuses. LAU's Beirut and Byblos campuses are respectively and.
LAU also operates two teaching hospitals in Lebanon. The LAU Medical Center-Rizk Hospital, acquired in 2009 and located in Ashrafieh, Beirut, houses the only comprehensive stroke center in Lebanon. LAU Medical Center-Saint John’s Hospital, located in Jounieh, was inaugurated in 2021 and serves the Jounieh–Byblos area.
In March 2024, the university’s New York academic center was converted into a degree-granting campus.

Accreditations, affiliations, and charters

The Lebanese American University is chartered by the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York. It is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.
Some of its programs are also accredited:

Schools

LAU has seven schools divided into several departments.

Rankings

The university was ranked #251–300 in the Times Higher Education 2025 Rankings, tying it as the 5th highest ranked university in the Arab World. It was also ranked #12 in the THE Arab University Rankings 2024. LAU received a score of 91.4 in the research quality indicator. Its business and economics programs were also ranked within the #251–300 range.
In the 2024 Academic Ranking of World Universities, LAU was placed in the #501–600 bracket globally and 8th in the Arab World. The university’s Finance program was ranked #151–200, while both Business Administration and Economics were placed in the #301–400 bracket. Additionally, the university was ranked #101–150 in Telecommunications Engineering; #201–300 in both Electrical/Electronic Engineering and Energy Science/Engineering; and #101–150 in Transportation Science and Technology.
In the THE World University Rankings by Subject, LAU ranked #101–125 in Business and Economics and #126–150 in Computer Science, while securing positions #201–250 in Engineering and Physical Sciences. Additionally, it was ranked #251–300 in Medical and Health Sciences and Social Sciences.
In the QS World University Rankings by Subject, it was ranked #401–450 for Electrical Engineering and #351-400 for Business. According to U.S. News & World Report, the university’s engineering program was ranked 585th globally.

Student life

Play Productions

The university has three theaters: the Gulbenkian Theater and the Irwin Hall in Beirut, and Selina Korban in Byblos. Student productions are required of certain majors and are presented throughout the academic year. The university also offers two major productions, one in the fall and one in the spring, and an annual international theater festival that attracts groups from other Middle Eastern universities.

Varsity Sports

Basketball, football, handball, volleyball, tennis, table tennis, swimming, and rugby teams participate in various local, regional and international collegiate tournaments.

Student Governance

Students can participate in the decision-making process by voting and running in elections for the Campus Student Councils and the University Student Council, as well as the Graduate Student Committees.

Libraries

LAU has one library in Beirut and two in Byblos. The New York campus also has its own library.
The Riyad Nassar Library in Beirut has 419,010 print books and 725,850 e-books. It also hosts special collections related to women’s studies, education, Islamic art, and architecture, as well as children’s books.
The Joseph G. Jabbra Library in Byblos, inaugurated in November 2018, is home to thousands of books and records and houses study rooms and library equipment.

The Arab Institute for Women (AiW)

In 1973, LAU established the Arab Institute for Women, previously known as the Institute for Women’s Studies in the Arab World, with a mission to promote women’s empowerment and gender equality in, and for, the Arab world. The institute works on five key areas: education, research, development projects, outreach, and LAU engagement.

People

Presidents

  • Frances Irwin 1924 – 1935
  • Winifred Shannon 1935 – 1937
  • William A. Stoltzfus 1937 – 1958
  • James H. Nicol 1941 – 1943
  • Rhoda Orme 1954 – 1955
  • Grace Loucks Elliot 1958 – 1959
  • Frances M. Gray 1959 – 1965
  • Salwa Nassar 1965 – 1967
  • Cornellius B. Houk 1967
  • Marie Sabri 1967 – 1969
  • William H. Schechter 1969 – 1973
  • Albert Y. Badre 1973 – 1982
  • Riyad F. Nassar 1982 – 2004
  • Joseph G. Jabbra 2004 – 2020
  • Michel Mawad
  • Chaouki Abdallah

Alumni

Alumni chapters

LAU has over 54,000 alumni and 44 chapters around the world.

Notable alumni