Founded in 1973, American Business & Fashion Institute (AB&F) was originally located in the Charlotte Merchandise Mart and offered programs in Secretarial Science and Fashion Merchandising. During the first decade, additional programs were added, and the institution earned accreditation as a business school through the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools, recognition by the US Department of Education, and approval from the Veterans Administration.  In 1999, American Business & Fashion Institute joined The Art Institutes system of schools, changing its name to The Art Institute of Charlotte. The school moved to its new location in September of 2001. The Art Institutes system of schools has provided career-oriented education in the creative and applied arts and has graduated more than 170,000 students over the past 40 years.