National university
#20 Best colleges in TexasAbilene Christian University
Abilene, TX · Private nonprofit · 4-year
Your real cost
Average price after aid $26,182 a year
Median debt at graduation: $24,250 (all students)
Estimate your own price · the college’s net price calculator
Rankings
Where this college places on our top lists. Lists are worked out from official data and our own research; places in the top quarter of each list are shown. See every list
In America
In Texas
- Best colleges for criminal justice in Texas#5 of 60
- Best colleges for social work in Texas#5 of 34
- Best mid-size colleges in Texas#6 of 35
- Best colleges for education in Texas#12 of 65
- Best colleges for nursing in Texas#10 of 52
- Best colleges for accounting in Texas#12 of 61
Show 19 more
- Best colleges for communications and journalism in Texas#13 of 64
- Best colleges for marketing in Texas#11 of 54
- Best colleges for exercise science and kinesiology in Texas#13 of 63
- Best colleges for English in Texas#14 of 67
- Best colleges for finance in Texas#12 of 57
- Best colleges for music in Texas#12 of 56
- Best colleges for biology and pre-med in Texas#15 of 68
- Best colleges for history in Texas#15 of 67
- Best colleges for mathematics in Texas#15 of 67
- Best colleges for psychology in Texas#16 of 71
- Best colleges in Texas#20 of 85
- Best colleges for chemistry in Texas#15 of 63
- Best colleges for business in Texas#19 of 79
- Best colleges for political science and pre-law in Texas#15 of 62
- Best test-optional colleges in Texas#16 of 65
- Colleges with the highest graduation rates in Texas#22 of 85
- Best colleges for computer science in Texas#7 of 27
- Best colleges for art and design in Texas#14 of 54
- Best colleges for engineering in Texas#12 of 46
Academic Excellence
Each measure counts for the share shown.
- Graduation rate 35% of scoreThis measure counts for 35% of the Academic Excellence score.59%
- First-year retention 20% of scoreThis measure counts for 20% of the Academic Excellence score.81%
- Entering students' test scores 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.SAT 1,194 · ACT 25
- Student-to-faculty ratio 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.13 to 1
- Instructional spending per student 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.$10,340
Bars show points on each measure’s scale. How Academic Excellence is computed.
Source: College Scorecard (College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026))
What families pay, by income
Average yearly price after grants and scholarships, for students who receive federal aid.
| Family income | Price after aid |
|---|---|
| Up to $30,000 | |
| $30,001–$48,000 | |
| $48,001–$75,000 | |
| $75,001–$110,000 | |
| Over $110,000 |
Full cost of attendance before aid: $59,256 a year.
Use the college’s net price calculator for your own estimate.
Cost and value
Federal data: what families pay after aid, what graduates earn, and what they owe.
| Undergraduate students Fall enrollment (IPEDS) | 3,188 |
|---|---|
| Men and women Undergraduates, fall 2023 (College Scorecard) | Men 40% · Women 60% |
| First-generation students Share of students who are first-generation, by the College Scorecard’s definition | 24% |
| First-year students from another state Of first-time students whose home is a U.S. state, fall 2023 (IPEDS) | 15% |
| Total students | 5,114 |
| Average net price (per year) After grants and scholarships, for students receiving federal aid | $26,182 |
| Cost of attendance (per year) | $59,256 |
| Median federal debt at graduation | $24,250 |
| Graduation rate First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time | 59% |
| Graduation rate for Pell grant recipients Finishing within 6 years (College Scorecard) | 48% |
| Graduation rate for first-generation students Finishing within 6 years (College Scorecard) | 47% |
| Borrowers paying down their loans within 3 years Borrowers who repaid at least $1 of principal within 3 years (College Scorecard) | 70% |
| First-year retention | 81% |
| Median earnings 10 years after entry | $55,736 |
| Admission rate | 66% |
| Application fee Undergraduate application fee, 2023–24 (IPEDS) | No application fee |
| Students receiving Pell grants | 22% |
| Average SAT | 1194 |
|---|---|
| SAT reading & writing | 540–650 |
| SAT math | 530–620 |
| ACT composite | 22–28 |
| Test policy | Considered but not required |
Value: Good (how it’s computed)
Sources: College Scorecard · IPEDS College Navigator · Net price calculator
College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026); IPEDS 2024-25 directory and institutional characteristics; fall 2023 enrollment.
Earnings by major
Median earnings of bachelor’s graduates a few years after finishing, by major (College Scorecard).
| Major | Median earnings |
|---|---|
| Accounting | |
| Computer science | |
| Nursing | |
| Finance | |
| Speech-language pathology | |
| Marketing | |
| Business administration | |
| Kinesiology and exercise science | |
| Social work | |
| Psychology | |
| Interdisciplinary studies | |
| Teacher education | |
| Family and human development | |
| Design | |
| Secondary education | |
| Communication studies | |
| Other theology and religious vocations |
Also offered (no earnings published yet): Agricultural business, Animal Sciences, Bible/Biblical Studies, Biochemistry, Biology, Broadcasting, Chemistry, Computing and information science, Criminal justice, Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services, Engineering (general), English, Fine arts, Gerontology, Global studies, History, Journalism, Liberal arts, Management information systems, Mathematics, Music, Natural resources and conservation, Other architecture, Physics, Political science, Pre-health, Public relations, Romance languages, Sociology, Software and media applications, Special education, Theatre.
What students study most
Share of bachelor’s degrees by field, first majors in 2023–24 (IPEDS).
| Field | Share of degrees |
|---|---|
| Business | |
| Health professions | |
| Liberal arts and general studies | |
| Biology | |
| Communication |
Campus life
| Setting | City |
|---|---|
| Part-time undergraduates | 3% |
| Undergraduates aged 25 and older | 2% |
| On-campus room and board (per year) | $14,540 |
| Sports | NCAA Division I · Western Athletic Conference |
| Study abroad | Offered |
| Students per faculty member | 13 to 1 |
| Faculty who are full-time | 65%Of instructional faculty, fall 2023 (College Scorecard) |
| Endowment per student | $185,008Endowment at the end of fiscal year 2023, per full-time-equivalent student (IPEDS) |
| Dorm space | For about 79% of studentsCampus beds divided by undergraduate enrollment. Not how many students live on campus (IPEDS) |
| Nearest airport with scheduled flights | Abilene Regional Airport (ABI)About 4 miles away in a straight line (OurAirports) |
| Town population | 128,0532020–2024 five-year estimate (U.S. Census Bureau) |
| Nearest city of 250,000 people or more | Fort WorthAbout 139 miles away in a straight line (U.S. Census Bureau) |
| Average temperature in January | 46°F1991–2020 normal, from ABILENE RGNL AP, TX US, about 4 miles away (NOAA) |
| Average temperature in July | 85°F1991–2020 normal, from ABILENE RGNL AP, TX US, about 4 miles away (NOAA) |
Federal data (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Campus safety reports
On-campus crimes reported in 2024, per 1,000 students.
| Category | This campus | U.S. rate |
|---|---|---|
| Rape | 0.04 | 0.07 |
| Robbery | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Aggravated assault | 0.00 | 0.04 |
| Burglary | 0.08 | 0.08 |
| Motor vehicle theft | 0.00 | 0.15 |
Numbers reflect what each campus reported. They differ with campus size and how reporting is done, so compare with care. U.S. rate: total reported offenses divided by total students at every institution in the report.
Questions families ask
- What is Abilene Christian University’s Compass Score?
- Very good (grade B+). It ranks in the top 35% of rated colleges. The grade comes from outcomes (40%: graduation, retention and earnings), entering students (40%: test scores and selectivity), cost (15%: debt and price after aid) and teaching (5%: class size), all from federal data.
- How much does Abilene Christian University cost after financial aid?
- The average net price is $26,182 a year for students who receive federal aid, after grants and scholarships. What your family pays depends on income; the college’s net price calculator gives your own estimate.
- How hard is it to get into Abilene Christian University?
- Abilene Christian University admitted 66% of applicants in the most recent federal data.
- How do Abilene Christian University’s graduates do?
- 59% of first-time, full-time students graduate within six years; the median earnings of former students ten years after entry are $55,736; the median federal debt at graduation is $24,250.
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About this school’s data
- IPEDS unit ID 222178
- Carnegie classification: Doctoral/professional university
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges d.b.a. Commission on Colleges and Universities (U.S. Department of Education DAPIP)
- Religious affiliation (IPEDS): Churches of Christ
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Colleges like this one
The same kind of school first, then the closest in selectivity, size and cost.
Compare side by side: Abilene Christian vs University of Indianapolis · Abilene Christian vs Widener · Abilene Christian vs Concordia University-Irvine · Abilene Christian vs Lipscomb
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