The Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities (PACU) is the oldest private higher education association in the country. It was established in 1932 to set higher standards for private educational institutions and to promote the interests of private education in the country. It was named the Association of Filipino Private Universities and Colleges (AFPUC). In 1947, AFPUC changed its name to PACU.

PACU counts some of the leading private colleges and universities nationwide, with 197 member institutions. PACU boasts a large number of enrollees in its member schools, and collectively, it is one of the biggest sources of employment in the country today.

PACU has always been at the forefront of advancing and advocating the interest of private education in the country. Through the years, PACU has been instrumental in the passage of several landmark laws and advocated for complementarity, reasonable regulation, and academic freedom as a cornerstone in delivering quality private education in the Philippines.