Abilene Christian University — College Profile

About

Abilene Christian University is a private, faith-based institution best known for combining a strong Christian identity with high-impact undergraduate research and innovative educational technology. Academically, ACU excels in professional fields through its highly regarded programs in business, nursing, teacher education, and digital entertainment, alongside world-class physics initiatives. Student life is close-knit and deeply spiritual, characterized by daily chapel gatherings, service projects, vibrant campus traditions, and NCAA Division I athletics. A standout characteristic of ACU is its Nuclear Energy eXperimental Testing (NEXT) Lab, which provides undergraduates with rare, hands-on experience designing advanced molten-salt nuclear reactors.

Wikipedia:Abilene Christian University (ACU) is a private Christian research university in Abilene, Texas, United States. It is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as an R2 institution. It was founded in 1906 as Childers Classical Institute. It is affiliated with Churches of Christ.

Location

Abilene, TX, 79699 · City campus

✈

Nearest airport from college

DFW · Dallas/Fort Worth

158 mi away

Open in Google Maps

Cost & aid

Cost of attendance

YoursEveryone

Tuition & fees$44,200

Housing & food (on campus)$14,540

Books & supplies$1,250

Cost of attendance$61,950

Average net price$26,182

Same price for all students

Tuition & fees$44,200

Housing & food (on campus)$14,540

Books & supplies$1,250

Cost of attendance$61,950

Average net price$26,182

Source: U.S. College Scorecard · published total: acu.edu

How it’s made up · 2026-27

Abilene Christian University’s own figures for 2026-2027, newer than the 2024-25 federal figures above, so the amounts differ.

Tuition$47,350

Books & supplies$700

Personal expenses$1,830

Transportation$1,500

Total published by the school$61,950

Source: acu.edu · checked Sep 28, 2026

Net price by family income · 2023-24

$0–30k

$20,285

$30–48k

$21,150

$48–75k

$23,012

$75–110k

$27,576

$110k+

$31,763

Your family's actual price → Abilene Christian University net price calculator

Source: U.S. College Scorecard

Outcomes

Completion

Within 6 yrs

60%

Entered 2017–18

Within 4 yrs

49%

Back for yr 2

81%

Transferred

8 yrs after starting · first-time, full-time students

61% graduated · 38% left or unknown · none transferred or still enrolled

Earnings · measured 2020 & 2021

6 yrs after entry$46,727

10 yrs after entry$55,736

Debt

Median at graduation$24,250

Monthly payment$257

Middle 50% owe$5.5k–$27k

90th percentile$34,500

Green marks a figure above the typical Doctoral/Professional University: 58% graduate within 6 yrs, $55,545 earned 10 yrs after entry.

Admissions

Getting in · applied for fall 2024

Admit rate

66%

Test policy

Test optional

Per College Scorecard

SAT average

1194

R 540–650 · M 530–620

ACT midpoint

Comp 22–28 · E 21–29 · M 20–27

SAT middle 50%: 1070–1270

40080012001600

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Essay prompts

If Abilene Christian University asks for supplemental essays, the prompts are in the Common App.

The personal essay is separate: see the Common App essay prompts.

Student Body

Gender

Men 40%Women 60%

Who enrolls

Faculty ratio

13 : 1

Pell grant

22%

First-gen

24%

Family income

$67,009

Independent

Age at entry

19.0

Part-time

Race & ethnicity

White

61%

Hispanic

19%

Black

Asian

Two or more

Non-resident

AI/AN

Unknown

Varsity sports

NCAA Division I-FCS · EADA 2024-25

Baseball
Men's
Basketball
Men's · Women's
Football
Men's
Golf
Men's · Women's
Soccer
Women's
Softball
Women's
Tennis
Men's · Women's
Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)
Men's · Women's
Volleyball
Women's

Programs & Earnings

Bachelor's degrees by annual completions · 4yr national median earnings

Median earnings, all programs · measured 2020 & 2021

After 6 yrs

$46,727

After 10 yrs

$55,736

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing55

Biology, General52

Psychology, General41

Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness40

Communication and Media Studies38

Finance and Financial Management Services37

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities34

Communication Disorders Sciences and Services33

Business Administration, Management and Operations33

Marketing25

Criminal Justice and Corrections24

Engineering, General23

Social Work23

Accounting and Related Services23

Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services21

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods20

Type your major above to highlight and detail relevant programs.

Institutional

Resources

Endowment

$726M

Full-time faculty

65%

Faculty salary

$8,928/mo

Teaching spend

$10,340

per student

Federal loans

40%

Classification

Carnegie type

Doctoral/Professional University

Research activity

R2 — high research

$8M research spending · 70 research doctorates a year

Undergraduate profile