Abilene Christian University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Abilene, Texas. It enrolls 3,195 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
60/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes59
Value25
Affordability25
Selectivity63
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 66%, Abilene Christian University is moderately selective.
Acceptance Rate
66%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1070 – 1270
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
22 – 28
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Abilene Christian University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↑
2.4 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Abilene Christian University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $26,182 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$26,182
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
22%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
40%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$44,200
Room & Board (on-campus)
$14,540
Room & Board (off-campus)
$14,540
Books & Supplies
$1,250
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,272
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,272
Total Cost of Attendance
$59,256
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$20,285
$30,001 – $48,000
$21,150
$48,001 – $75,000
$23,012
$75,001 – $110,000
$27,576
Over $110,000
$31,763
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$3,75010%percentile
$5,50025%percentile
$24,250Medianpercentile
$27,00075%percentile
$34,50090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $15,977
↓ $8,273
No Pell $13,000
↓ $11,250
Dependent students $17,511
↓ $6,739
Independent students $7,077
↓ $17,173
Female students $14,750
↓ $9,500
Male students $14,750
↓ $9,500
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $6,334, less than completers ($24,250), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
52% of full-time students who enrolled at Abilene Christian University graduate within six years, and 80% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
52%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
80%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Abilene Christian University earn a median of $55,736 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$55,736
Earning > $25K
80%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$41,900
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$56,000
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$44,900
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$48,200
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$50,800
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $14,100, about 25% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
9.0 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 88% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Abilene Christian University is home to 3,195 students, a mid-sized community.
Total Enrolled
3,195
Part-Time
3%
First-Generation
24%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 61.0%1,949
Hispanic 18.9%603
Black 7.1%228
Other 4.6%147
International 4.4%139
Asian 2.0%64
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Abilene Christian University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Midsize CityAbilene, Texas
Housing
Strongly residential2,508 beds for 3,195 students
Adult Learners
2%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Abilene Christian University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
73 distinct programs across
26 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Abilene Christian University is 13:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
13:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$970M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$78,129
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
276 instructional faculty across 5 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
69
25%
$100,183
Associate Professors
70
25%
$80,504
Assistant Professors
52
19%
$72,595
Instructors
25
9%
$60,676
No Rank
60
22%
$62,063
Pros & Cons of Abilene Christian University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Abilene Christian University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Reasonable class sizes
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Above-average net price
Below-average completion rate
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Frequently Asked Questions about Abilene Christian University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Abilene Christian University.
Is Abilene Christian University hard to get into?
Admissions at Abilene Christian University are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 66%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at Abilene Christian University?
Abilene Christian University has an acceptance rate of 66%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Abilene Christian University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Abilene Christian University scored between 1070 and 1270 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Abilene Christian University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Abilene Christian University scored between 22 and 28 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Abilene Christian University cost?
The average net price after aid at Abilene Christian University is $26,182 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Abilene Christian University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $55,736 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $26,182 per year. That's roughly 2.1x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Abilene Christian University known for?
Abilene Christian University is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Mental Health Services, Communication Disorders Sciences and. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Abilene Christian University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Abilene Christian University are $55,736, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Abilene Christian University accredited?
Yes. Abilene Christian University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Abilene Christian University?
Abilene Christian University enrolls 3,195 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Abilene Christian University?
Abilene Christian University graduates 52% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Abilene Christian University a public or private college?
Abilene Christian University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Abilene Christian University located?
Abilene Christian University is located in Abilene, Texas.
What programs does Abilene Christian University offer?
Abilene Christian University offers 73 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Mental Health Services, Communication Disorders Sciences and.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Abilene Christian University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Abilene Christian University is 13:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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