Education Trade Associations

American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE)

U.S. alliance of educator-preparation programs that advocates, researches, and convenes to strengthen teacher and leader preparation; represents 500+ colleges and universities.

https://aacte.org/ Membership: 500

AASA, The School Superintendents Association

National voice for public education and district leadership, serving a community of 10,000+ superintendents and school system leaders.

https://www.aasa.org/ Membership: 10,000

American Association of Community Colleges (AACC)

Primary advocacy group for U.S. community colleges; represents nearly 1,200 two‑year, associate degree–granting institutions and over 12 million students.

https://www.aacc.nche.edu/ Membership: 1,200

American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU)

Association for regional public colleges and universities; membership around 350 institutions/systems serving 3+ million students.

https://aascu.org/ Membership: 350

Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE)

Higher ed sustainability network supporting institutions and partners with resources like STARS; 900+ member organizations.

https://www.aashe.org/ Membership: 900

American Council on Education (ACE)

Umbrella association for U.S. higher education leadership and advocacy, uniting nearly 1,600 colleges, universities, and related organizations.

https://www.acenet.edu/ Membership: 1,600

American Educational Research Association (AERA)

Largest interdisciplinary education research society, advancing research and its use in policy and practice for ~25,000 members.

https://www.aera.net/ Membership: 25,000

Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges (AGB)

Membership organization for higher education governing boards; serves 40,000 members from 2,000+ institutions and foundations.

https://www.agb.org/ Membership: 40,000

Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU)

Public research universities, land‑grant institutions, and systems collaborating on policy, research, and engagement; 254 member organizations.

https://www.aplu.org/ Membership: 254

Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE)

Global advancement (alumni relations, communications, fundraising, marketing) association for education; ~3,000 member institutions and 100,000+ professionals.

https://www.case.org/ Membership: 3,000

Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO)

Nonpartisan association of U.S. K‑12 state education chiefs representing the 50 states, D.C., DoDEA, BIE, and five territories (57 members).

https://ccsso.org/ Membership: 57

Consortium for School Networking (CoSN)

Premier association for K‑12 edtech/system technology leaders; 2,050+ member school districts reaching 11+ million students.

https://www.cosn.org/ Membership: 2,050

EDUCAUSE

Leading higher ed IT association; connects 2,100+ member organizations and 115,000+ professionals with research, advocacy, and learning.

https://www.educause.edu/ Membership: 2,100

National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE)

Connects 17,000+ career services and university relations/recruiting professionals; publishes benchmarks and labor market insights for the college‑educated.

https://www.naceweb.org/ Membership: 17,000

NAFSA: Association of International Educators

World’s largest association dedicated to international education and exchange; serves 10,000+ members across 150–170+ countries.

https://www.nafsa.org/ Membership: 10,000

National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS)

Membership association for independent (private, nonprofit) K‑12 schools; engages 1,700+ member schools on data, research, and professional learning.

https://www.nais.org/ Membership: 1,700

National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO)

Association for college and university business officers; provides policy advocacy and professional development for 1,900 member institutions.

https://www.nacubo.org/ Membership: 1,900

NASPA: Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education

Student affairs association connecting 15,000+ professionals at 2,100 campuses with development, research, and advocacy resources.

https://www.naspa.org/ Membership: 15,000

National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP)

Association for secondary school principals and school leaders; community includes 16,000+ leaders plus advisers and student programs (NHS/NJHS/NEHS/NASC).

https://www.nassp.org/ Membership: 16,000

UPCEA (University Professional and Continuing Education Association)

North American association for professional, continuing, and online higher ed; 400+ member institutions and 14,000–15,000 professionals.

https://upcea.edu/ Membership: 400