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Abilene Christian University

Abilene Christian University

Abilene Christian University is a private university located in Abilene, Texas. It was established in 1906 as the Childers Classical Institute. The university has an enrollment of more than 4,500. The student body at ACU represents all 50 U.S. states and more than 55 countries all over the world. The university offers a wide variety of degrees and programs in diverse areas of study. The university is organized into the following academic divisions:

  • College of Arts and Sciences
  • College of Biblical Studies
  • College of Business Administration
  • College of Education and Human Services
  • Graduate School
  • Graduate School of Theology
  • School of Information Technology and Computing
  • School of Nursing
  • School of Social Work

Abilene Christian University is a member of the Lone Star Conference of the NCAA Division II. Its sports teams participate in a wide variety of sports, and are known as the Wildcats.

Overview of Abilene Christian University

The campus of Abilene Christian is in Abilene, TX, which is a medium-sized city. Its Churches of Christ nature is one of the defining aspects of the school. Abilene Christian is a private, not-for-profit institution. Degrees at the school include, at the school's highest level, the Doctoral degree.

Areas of Study

Abilene Christian has a greater breadth of degree programs (majors) than most colleges of its size. The school is known for its programs in fine arts and liberal arts.

Abilene Christian Selectivity

Admission at Abilene Christian is selective, not open to all who apply. Getting into the school is challenging; it only admitted 47% of those who applied in 2007-2008. Three quarters of students in 2007-2008 had SAT verbal scores of at least 485. Half of math SAT scores of accepted students fell between 490 and 615.

Faculty

The school has a tenure system for senior faculty.

Student Body

In 2007-2008, Abilene Christian had 4,675 students enrolled (4,399 full-time equivalent).

Student Life

The school offers dorm rooms to a higher percentage of its students than do most colleges. Abilene Christian offers students meal plans. The school values student athletics, and belongs to the Lone Star Conference.

The school reports its educational mission is:
"The mission of Abilene Christian University is to educate students for Christian service and leadership throughout the world."

More complete details are provided below.

Contacting Abilene Christian

Abilene Christian University
1600 Campus Court
Abilene, TX 79699
General Phone: (325) 674-2000
http://www.acu.edu

Abilene Christian Programs and Degrees (2008-2009)

General CategoryDegreesMost Common Majors [see all]
Liberal Arts222interdisciplinary studies, peace and conflict resolution, English, political science, history, international studies, sociology, social studies, ...
Business and Management219accounting, business management, marketing, finance
Education and Teaching106elementary school teaching, physical education teaching, music teaching, math teaching, social studies teaching, biology teaching, educational administration, higher education administration, ...
Media85communication studies, public relations, journalism, digital communications, photojournalism, broadcast journalism, communication and journalism
Religion and Philosophy82pastoral counseling and ministries, youth ministry, ministry, bible studies, theology and religious vocations, missionary studies, pastoral counseling
Therapy and Counseling61psychology, marriage and family therapy, counseling psychology, clinical psychology, school psychology
Science49biology, biochemistry, chemistry, physics
Nutrition and Exercise Therapy47sports and fitness management, health and physical education, dietitian
Family and Social Work38family studies, social work, family systems
Medical Support and Technology34speech pathology
Nursing and Emergency Medicine30registered nursing, nurse practitioner, nursing administration
Fine Arts20fine arts, fine arts studies
Design19interior design
Drama and Performing Arts12drama
Security and Law Enforcement11criminal justice and administration
Computer Science and Engineering10computer science
Conservation and Resource Management9environmental science
Agricultural Science and Management9agricultural operations
Mathematics5mathematics
Medicine5gerontology, medical preparatory
Engineering3engineering physics, engineering science
Animal Science and Care3animal science
Architecture and Planning3architectural services
Music1music, piano, voice
Art Studies0art studies
Photography and Commercial Art0commercial art
Landscaping and Horticulture0range management

Number of programs and degrees for Abilene Christian in 2008-2009:

Degree LevelTotal
Awarded
Number of
Programs
Bachelor's degree85071
Master's degree17034
Postbaccalaureate certificate523
Doctor's degree - research/scholarship61
Associate's degree31
Post-master's certificate11
Award of less than 1 academic year11
Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years01

Abilene Christian Student Body

In 2007-2008, Abilene Christian had a total enrollment of 4,675 students (4,399 full-time equivalent).

Students in the Freshman Class:

GroupPercent
Men47%
Women53%
Full-Time100%
Part-Time0%

Students By Class:

GroupPercent
Undergraduate83%
Graduate17%

Racial Diversity:
RacePercent
White75%
Black8%
Hispanic7%
Asian1%
American Indian1%
Unknown3%
(Foreign Students)5%

Students by Age:

AgePercent
Under 181%
18-1933%
20-2134%
22-2417%
25-296%
30-342%
35-392%
40-493%
50-642%
65+0%

Incoming (Freshman) Students by Place of Residence:
(From available data sampling)

ResidencePercent
Texas82%
California3%
(International Students)2%
Colorado2%
New Mexico1%
Virginia1%
Tennessee1%
Georgia1%
Florida1%
Oklahoma1%
Washington1%
Missouri1%
Ohio1%
New York1%

Abilene Christian Graduation, Retention, and Transfers

Retention Rates (2007):

GroupReturning From
Previous Year
Full-Time74 %

Abilene Christian Room and Board (2007)

Abilene Christian offers campus housing for 1,874 of its 4,399 (full-time) students. Freshmen are required to live on campus.

(Please refer to our profile of Abilene, Texas for details about the area surrounding the campus. Also see our list of other Texas Colleges).

The school offers students a meal plan with 21 meals per week.

Abilene Christian Admissions and Selectivity

Acceptances:

GroupApplicantsAcceptedPercent
Accepted
EnrolledPercent of
Accepted Enrolled
Total3,8971,82047%97153%
Men1,58974947%45360%
Women2,3081,07146%51848%

Standardized Test Scores:

Test25th Percentile75th Percetile
SAT Verbal485610
SAT Math490615
ACT Verbal2128
ACT Math2027
ACT Composite2127

Application Requirements:

ItemRequirement
GPArecommended
Class Rankrecommended
High School Recordrequired
College Prep Programrecommended
Recommendationsrequired
Formal Demonstration of Competencerecommended
Standardized Tests (SAT and/or ACT)required
Percent of Applicants Submitting SAT55%
Percent of Applicants Submitting ACT45%
TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)required
Other Standardized Testsnot required

Abilene Christian Expenses and Financial Aid (2008-2009)

Expenses and Financial Aid:

ExpenseAmount
In-state tuition and fees$ 18,930
Out-of-state tuition and fees$ 18,930
Room and board$ 7,236
Room charge$ 3,150
Board (meal plan) charge$ 4,086
Books and supplies$ 1,150
Other expenses$ 3,184

Financial Aid:
Abilene Christian participates in Federal Title IV financial aid programs. (The school's OPE ID is 353700)

Abilene Christian Faculty

Abilene Christian has a tenure system for faculty.

Tenure Status of Faculty (2008-2009):

Full-Time Faculty LevelMenWomen
Tenured8522
Non-tenured, but on tenure track5024
Non-tenured and not on tenure track1525

Salaries for full-time faculty:

Full-Time Faculty (2008-2009):

Full-Time Faculty LevelContract LengthNumber MenAvg Salary MenNumber WomenAvg Salary Women
Professoracademic year49$79,2597$71,916
Associate professoracademic year47$65,56016$59,326
Assistant professoracademic year42$55,86626$51,930
Instructoracademic year12$55,57822$40,976
All faculty totalacademic year150$66,52271$52,173

*: salaries are not displayed where there are fewer than 3 professors in the category.

Abilene Christian Athletics

Athletic Conferences:

SportConference
FootballLone Star Conference
BasketballLone Star Conference
BaseballLone Star Conference
TrackLone Star Conference

Students on Athletic Scholarships (2007):

SportMenWomenTotal
Total12868196
Football66066
Track192140
Basketball111021
Baseball15015
All Other Sports173754

Abilene Christian Degree Programs (2007)

AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE AND MANAGEMENT
Agribusiness/Agricultural Business Operations

ANIMAL SCIENCE AND CARE
Animal Sciences, General

ARCHITECTURE AND PLANNING
Architecture and Related Services, Other

ART STUDIES
Art/Art Studies, General

BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT
Accounting
Business Administration and Management, General
Finance, General
Marketing/Marketing Management, General

COMPUTER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
Computer Science

CONSERVATION AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Environmental Science

DESIGN
Interior Design

DRAMA AND PERFORMING ARTS
Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General

EDUCATION AND TEACHING
Art Teacher Education
Biology Teacher Education
Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services
Educational Leadership and Administration, General
Elementary Education and Teaching
English/Language Arts Teacher Education
Foreign Language Teacher Education
Higher Education/Higher Education Administration
History Teacher Education
Junior High/Intermediate/Middle School Education and Teaching
Mathematics Teacher Education
Music Teacher Education
Physical Education Teaching and Coaching
Reading Teacher Education
Science Teacher Education/General Science Teacher Education
Secondary Education and Teaching
Social Studies Teacher Education
Special Education and Teaching, General

ENGINEERING
Engineering Physics
Engineering Science

FAMILY AND SOCIAL WORK
Family Systems
Human Development and Family Studies, General
Social Work

FINE ARTS
Fine Arts and Art Studies, Other
Fine/Studio Arts, General

LANDSCAPING AND HORTICULTURE
Range Science and Management

LIBERAL ARTS
English Language and Literature, General
History, General
International/Global Studies
Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution
Political Science and Government, General
Social Sciences, Other
Sociology
Spanish Language and Literature
Speech and Rhetorical Studies

MATHEMATICS
Mathematics, General

MEDIA
Broadcast Journalism
Communication Studies/Speech Communication and Rhetoric
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other
Digital Communication and Media/Multimedia
Journalism
Photojournalism
Public Relations/Image Management

MEDICAL SUPPORT AND TECHNOLOGY
Speech-Language Pathology/Pathologist

MEDICINE
Gerontology
Health/Medical Preparatory Programs, Other

MUSIC
Music, General
Piano and Organ
Voice and Opera

NURSING AND EMERGENCY MEDICINE
Family Practice Nurse/Nurse Practitioner
Nursing Administration (MSN, MS, PhD)
Nursing/Registered Nurse (RN, ASN, BSN, MSN)

NUTRITION AND EXERCISE THERAPY
Dietetics/Dietitian (RD)
Health and Physical Education, General
Sport and Fitness Administration/Management

PHOTOGRAPHY AND COMMERCIAL ART
Commercial and Advertising Art

RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY
Bible/Biblical Studies
Divinity/Ministry (BD, MDiv)
Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology
Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries, Other
Pastoral Studies/Counseling
Theology and Religious Vocations, Other
Youth Ministry

SCIENCE
Biochemistry
Biology/Biological Sciences, General
Chemistry, General
Physics, General

SECURITY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT
Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration

THERAPY AND COUNSELING
Clinical Psychology
Counseling Psychology
Marriage and Family Therapy/Counseling
Psychology, General
School Psychology

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Abilene Christian Highlights

(Details are provided further down on this page.)

What Sets Abilene Christian Apart:

CategoryTrophy 
Number of degree programs
(vs. all colleges)
Top 7%Abilene Christian Number of degree programs
% of degrees in religion and philosophy
(vs. colleges of similar size)
Top 10%Abilene Christian % of degrees in religion and philosophy
% of full-time faculty on tenure track
(vs. all colleges)
Top 13%Abilene Christian % of full-time faculty on tenure track
Dorm rooms per full-time student
(vs. all colleges)
Top 14%Abilene Christian Dorm rooms per full-time student
% of degrees in fine arts
(vs. colleges with similar degree levels)
Top 16%Abilene Christian % of degrees in fine arts
Number of students
(vs. all colleges)
Top 16%Abilene Christian Number of students
Male % of student body
(vs. colleges of similar size)
Top 18%Abilene Christian Male % of student body
Selectivity (based on % of applicants accepted)
(vs. all colleges)
Top 18%Abilene Christian Selectivity (based on % of applicants accepted)
% of degrees in liberal arts
(vs. colleges with similar degree levels)
Top 19%Abilene Christian % of degrees in liberal arts
Explanation of the Highlights categories

Notable:
Churches of Christ affiliation
Accepts some high school credits
Offers credit for life experience
Grants credits for AP courses
Offers distance learning
Career counseling
Career services
Student employment services
Remedial classes for students
Option to study abroad
Offers part-time study
On-campus library
Offers campus housing
Offers a board (meal) plan
Tenure system for quality teaching
Offers athletic scholarships
NCAA athletic conference member

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