Abstract: American Universities abroad are independent non-profit higher education institutions established in countries or regions outside the United States,which reflect the characteristics of American higher education in terms of school naming,educational philosophy,curriculum design,governance mode,quality assurance,etc.,and confer undergraduate and above degree levels.They have mainly gone through four stages of development:the embryonic stage,alliance stage,transformation stage,and expansion stage.The operation of American Universities abroad reflects the multiple institutional logic of consistently implementing the national strategic intentions of the United States,actively promoting the American higher education model and educational philosophy,and deeply integrating into the society of the host country and region.The global expansion of American Universities abroad has made them face certain difficulties in their subsequent development,such as cultural conflict caused by running schools in foreign countries,difficult quality assurance caused by the increase in numbers,and acclimatization caused by blind pursuit of mode replication.

Key words: the United States, American Universities abroad, transnational higher education