Alpha Epsilon Delta

What Alpha Epsilon Delta does

Alpha Epsilon Delta (AED) is a nonprofit national health preprofessional honor society founded in 1926 at the University of Alabama and currently headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. The organization serves undergraduate students pursuing careers in medicine (allopathic and osteopathic), dentistry, optometry, podiatry, veterinary medicine, and other health professions requiring postbaccalaureate study, as well as the faculty advisors who guide them. AED operates a network of 190+ active chapters across five U.S. regions (Northeast, Central, Southeast, Southwest, West) and has inducted over 125,000 lifetime members. The Society is recognized by the Association of College Honor Societies (ACHS) since 1945 and is incorporated in the District of Columbia as a nonprofit educational organization.

AED's core products and services include national membership processing with permanent record-keeping, four named scholarship programs (ranging from $2,000 to $10,000 per recipient), The Scalpel magazine published continuously since the 1930s, and a biennial National Convention that draws approximately 500 student leaders, advisors, alumni, and exhibitors. The technology stack is modest: digital membership submissions via Google Forms, the Whova platform for convention registration and engagement, email-based member communication, and digital dashboards under development for chapters, members, and advisors. Branded merchandise is distributed through ACGreek rather than via first-party e-commerce.

The business model combines recurring national membership dues (collected as a single cohort check per chapter) with biennial convention revenue from attendee registration, tiered sponsorship packages ($3,000-$25,000), and exhibitor fees ($2,500-$6,000), plus a smaller merchandise pass-through. GTM is community-led and event-driven: faculty advisors nominate eligible students (3.30 GPA minimum, 3 semesters/5 quarters of preprofessional study) at four-year accredited institutions, and the biennial convention serves as the primary touchpoint for retention and leadership development. The national office is lean, currently staffed by an Operations Manager, an Office Administrator, and a freelance Marketing & Communications Strategist, with two additional positions opening in May 2026.

Name

Alpha Epsilon Delta

Legal name

Alpha Epsilon Delta National

Website

https://aednational.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1926

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Alpha Epsilon Delta is a nonprofit national health preprofessional honor society serving undergraduate pre-health students at four-year U.S. universities through 190+ campus chapters, scholarships, The Scalpel magazine, and a biennial national convention.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Academic Honor Society

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Student Organizations & Club Administration (EDALAHAB)

Keywords

• Pre-health honor society
• Health preprofessional society
• Student honor society
• Scholarship programs
• Membership services

Headquarters

HQ city

Fort Worth

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. National Membership Dues: Undergraduate students pay national membership dues to join AED upon initiation by their chapter. The dues are submitted as a single check by the chapter advisor to the national office along with the membership roster. Affiliate members (who do not enjoy full membership privileges) and honorary members (granted at chapter discretion) may have different fee structures. Dues fund national office operations, scholarship programs, The Scalpel magazine, and convention planning.
2. Convention Revenue: The biennial National Convention generates revenue through attendee registration fees, exhibitor booth fees ($2,500–$6,000), and tiered sponsorship packages ($3,000–$25,000). The convention attracts approximately 500 participants including students, advisors, alumni, and exhibitors from across the country.
3. Merchandise Sales: AED sells branded merchandise including advisor merchandise (via acgreek.com/aedchapters) and member merchandise (via acgreek.com/aedmembers). Items include branded apparel, accessories, and insignia as referenced in the brand standards page.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Alpha Epsilon Delta is the National Health Preprofessional Honor Society, providing lifetime membership credentials, permanent record-keeping, national scholarship awards, a national publication (The Scalpel), and a biennial National Convention to undergraduate students pursuing health professions careers. Membership is offered through a nationwide network of 190+ campus chapters at four-year accredited U.S. colleges and universities, with members inducted after meeting a minimum 3.30 GPA academic eligibility threshold.

Product overview

Alpha Epsilon Delta (AED) is the National Health Preprofessional Honor Society offering a unified membership and professional development platform. The organization provides national membership services with permanent record keeping, an annual scholarship program (with four named awards ranging from $2,000 to $10,000), The Scalpel Magazine as its national publication, and biennial National Conventions. Additional offerings include the Frank Dyer Professional Achievement Award for alumni and chapter establishment support services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• National Membership Services
• National Scholarship Program
• The Scalpel Magazine
• Biennial National Convention
• Frank Dyer Professional Achievement Award

Quantifiable outcome

• Scholarship awards ranging from $2,000 to $10,000 per recipient, with the Virgil L. Tweedie Scholarship awarding $10,000 to one student annually since its establishment in 2004.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Association of College Honor Societies (ACHS)coreOthers · 23 April 1945AED is a member of the Association of College Honor Societies (ACHS), elected on April 23, 1945. Dr. Maurice L. Moore served as the AED representative to the ACHS Council from 1945 to 1980 and was president of ACHS in 1952-53. ACHS membership provides institutional legitimacy and sets standards for honor societies in higher education. The membership in ACHS is a requirement for AED's societal structure and chapter activities.
• SabaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSaba is a sponsor of AED's 47th Biennial National Convention (2026). The organization participated as a convention sponsor at the Centennial Convention in Birmingham, Alabama.
• Auburn UniversityminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAuburn University is a sponsor of AED's 47th Biennial National Convention (2026). Auburn University also hosts the Region III Southeast Regional Director (Anna Traylor Hodges) who serves as Assistant Director for Pre-Health Programs at Auburn.
• GH (Grant Holloway?)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerGH is listed as a sponsor of AED's 47th Biennial National Convention (2026) at the Centennial Convention in Birmingham, Alabama.
• Award ConceptsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAward Concepts is a sponsor of AED's 47th Biennial National Convention (2026). Award Concepts likely provides award and recognition products for the convention.
• ABI (American Benchmark Institute?)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerABI is listed as a sponsor of AED's 47th Biennial National Convention (2026) at the Centennial Convention in Birmingham, Alabama.
• ARCOM (Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerARCOM (Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine) is a sponsor of AED's 47th Biennial National Convention (2026) at the Centennial Convention in Birmingham, Alabama. ARCOM's sponsorship positions them in front of approximately 500 pre-health students for recruitment and brand awareness purposes.
• Southeastern Alabama (SE Alabama)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSoutheastern Alabama is listed as a sponsor of AED's 47th Biennial National Convention (2026) at the Centennial Convention in Birmingham, Alabama.
• Kendra ScottminorGTM or Marketing PartnerKendra Scott is a sponsor of AED's 47th Biennial National Convention (2026) at the Centennial Convention in Birmingham, Alabama. The jewelry brand's sponsorship provides brand visibility among the pre-health student demographic.
• BirminghamminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe city of Birmingham, Alabama is listed as a sponsor of AED's 47th Biennial National Convention (2026), which was held in Birmingham to commemorate the organization's birthplace.
• VCOM (Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerVCOM (Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine) is a sponsor of AED's 47th Biennial National Convention (2026) at the Centennial Convention in Birmingham, Alabama. VCOM's sponsorship provides visibility with pre-health students for potential medical school recruitment.
• Des Moines UniversityminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDes Moines University is a sponsor of AED's 47th Biennial National Convention (2026) at the Centennial Convention in Birmingham, Alabama.
• U.S. ArmyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe U.S. Army is a sponsor of AED's 47th Biennial National Convention (2026) at the Centennial Convention in Birmingham, Alabama. The Army's sponsorship may target pre-health students for healthcare-related military career pathways.
• Walton School of MedicineminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWalton School of Medicine is a sponsor of AED's 47th Biennial National Convention (2026) at the Centennial Convention in Birmingham, Alabama. The sponsorship provides visibility among pre-health students for medical school recruitment.
• Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC)minorOthersFor many years, AED maintained close contact with the AAMC. At the annual AAMC meeting, the National President hosted a luncheon for GSA members, AED members, medical admissions committees, and chapter faculty advisors. This practice was continued annually until 1990 when the AAMC meeting agenda became too crowded. AED National Officers attended the AAMC meeting to maintain these relationships and support premedical education.
• ACGreek (American Greeley)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorACGreek operates the official AED merchandise storefronts for both members (acgreek.com/aedmembers) and advisors (acgreek.com/aedchapters). This third-party platform handles the sale and distribution of branded AED merchandise including apparel and accessories.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• American Medical Student Association (AMSA): The largest independent association for medical students, with significant premedical membership and pre-health programming. Directly competes with AED for the same undergraduate pre-health audience and offers similar chapter networks, advocacy, and professional development programming.
• Alpha Omega Alpha (AΩA): The national medical honor society recognizing excellence in medical school education, scholarship, and professionalism. Comparable to AED as the leading U.S. medical honor society, though AΩA operates at the medical school level rather than undergraduate pre-health, making it a downstream peer in the same honor-society ecosystem.
• Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Honor Society: An international honor society for scientific research, with a long-standing chapter network at research universities. Comparable to AED in serving science-oriented undergraduates, though Sigma Xi emphasizes research achievement while AED focuses on pre-health professional preparation.
• National Association of Advisors for the Health Professions (NAAHP): The professional association for health professions advisors at colleges and universities. Directly relevant as AED's chapter advisors are often NAAHP members, and NAAHP provides parallel pre-health programming, conferences, and resources that overlap with AED's value proposition.
• Omicron Delta Kappa: A national leadership honor society recognizing collegiate leaders across multiple disciplines. Comparable to AED as an ACHS-affiliated honor society operating through campus chapters with similar membership-eligibility and recognition programming for high-achieving undergraduates.
• Kappa Delta Pi: An international honor society in education with ACHS affiliation and a chapter-based model. Comparable to AED as a discipline-specific honor society serving undergraduates at accredited four-year institutions, using similar membership criteria, chapter governance, and national conventions.
• Mortar Board: A national honor society recognizing college seniors for scholarship, leadership, and service. Comparable to AED as an ACHS member organization with a chapter-based model serving high-achieving undergraduates, though focused on seniors across disciplines rather than pre-health students specifically.

Emerging players

• HOSA – Future Health Professionals: An international student organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, preparing students for careers in health professions through chapters at secondary and postsecondary institutions. Overlaps with AED in the pre-health pipeline but serves a broader (and younger) student audience including high schoolers.

Broad incumbents

• Phi Beta Kappa: The oldest and most prestigious academic honor society in the U.S., also an ACHS member. While broader in scope (liberal arts and sciences) rather than pre-health-specific, Phi Beta Kappa shares AED's chapter-based membership model, ACHS affiliation, and competition for academically distinguished undergraduate members.
• Gold Humanism Honor Society (GHHS): A national honor society recognizing medical students, residents, and faculty for humanistic patient care. Operates downstream of AED in the medical education pipeline, recognizing students who often passed through pre-health honor societies like AED, making it a comparable peer in the medical honor society ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/AlphaEpsilonDeltaNational
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/alpha-epsilon-delta
• Instagraminstagram.com/aed_national?igsh=MXR0OWo4NGRyN2s2Nw%3D%3D

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Alpha Epsilon Delta