Abilene Christian University is a private research university in Abilene, Texas, serving roughly 3,195 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 66.03% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $55,736 among students who received federal aid.

Key Facts

  • 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $44,200
  • 2024 Average Net Price: $26,182 After Financial Aid
  • 2024 Acceptance Rate: 66.03% Moderate Selectivity
  • 2024 Enrolled Students: 3,195 97.1% Full-Time
  • 2024 Graduation Rate: 59.01%
  • Carnegie Classification: Doctoral/Professional Universities
  • First-Generation Students: 24.5%
  • Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 4.6% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
  • Net price trend: Average net price decrease of 1.8% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
  • Full-Time Faculty: 65.1%
  • Average SAT Score: 1194
  • Undergraduate Enrollment: 3,664
  • Applicants (IPEDS): 10,510
  • Room & Board: $14,540 annual estimate

Abilene Christian University: what the data shows

Common questions about Abilene Christian University, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.

Where is Abilene Christian University?

Abilene Christian University is located in Abilene, TX (ZIP 79699).

NCES locale classification: Suburb.

Is Abilene Christian University public or private?

Abilene Christian University is a Private Non-profit institution.

How much does Abilene Christian University cost?

Published tuition: $44,200.

Average net price after aid: $26,182.

Family income bandAvg. net price
Family income $0–$30,000$20,285
$30,001–$48,000$21,150
$48,001–$75,000$23,012
$75,001–$110,000$27,576
$110,001+$31,763

Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $176,800.

How hard is it to get into Abilene Christian University?

Admission rate: 66.03%.

Among enrollees who submitted scores: average SAT 1194 and midpoint ACT 25.

Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.

How big is Abilene Christian University?

Total enrollment: 3,195 students.

Undergraduate enrollment: 3,664 students.

Graduate enrollment: 1,956 students.

About 97% enroll full-time in our extract.

What is the graduation rate at Abilene Christian University?

150%-time completion rate: 59.01%.

First-year retention: 80.5%.

What do graduates of Abilene Christian University earn?

Median earnings: $46,727 six years after entry; $55,736 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).

How much debt do students have?

Median federal loan debt among completers: $24,250.

22.33% of students receive Pell grants.

What is Abilene Christian University known for?

Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:

See ROI & Programs for more.

Is Abilene Christian University a good school?

We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 66.03%; completion rate 59.01%; median earnings $55,736 at 10 years; net price $26,182. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.

Tuition & Cost

Tuition Costs

$44,200
2024 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2024, the cost of tuition at Abilene Christian University was $44,200.

Tuition comparison with similar institutions.

Average Net Price

$26,182
2024 Value

In 2024 Abilene Christian University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $26,182.

Average net price comparison with similar institutions.

Total Cost of Attendance

$104,728 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost

$26,182 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)

$176,800 4-Year Tuition

$14,540 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)

$1,250 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)

$59,990 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)

$239,960 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)

4-year total cost breakdown for Abilene Christian University.

Financial Aid by Income Level

22.33% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

39.90% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

Financial aid distribution by income level.

Student Loan Default Rate

0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)

The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Abilene Christian University was 0.00%.

Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.

Tuition tracker

Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Abilene Christian University in that year.

Reporting years in the table below: 20132023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).

Year In-state tuition & fees Out-of-state tuition & fees Average net price
2013$28,350$28,350$24,106
2014$29,450$29,450$22,705
2015$30,830$30,830$23,507
2016$32,070$32,070$25,624
2017$33,330$33,330$26,037
2018$34,850$34,850$26,766
2019$36,300$36,300$26,809
2020$37,800$37,800$28,051
2021$39,350$39,350$29,300
2022$40,500$40,500$27,916
2023$42,380$42,380$27,401

Sticker tuition and net price over time

Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.

College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).

Net price by family income

Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).

Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.

Acceptance Rate & Admissions

Acceptance Rate

66.03% Acceptance Rate

10,510 Total Applicants

6,714 Students Admitted

862 First-Time Students Enrolled

12.84% Yield (enrolled ÷ admitted)

This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.

Acceptance rate compared to national average.

Test Scores

SAT Average: 1194

ACT Average: 25

Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.

Academic Requirements

Estimated GPA Range: 3.0 - 3.4

Estimated Median GPA: 3.20

Note: GPA requirements are estimated based on admission selectivity and test scores. Actual requirements may vary.

Estimated GPA and test score ranges.

Enrollment & Student Demographics

Abilene Christian University reported total enrollment of about 3,195 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 40% male and 60% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (61.0%), Hispanic or Latino (18.9%), and Black or African American (7.1%). About 22.33% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 24.5% of students are first-generation college students.

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

97.1% Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Abilene Christian University in 2024 is 3,195 students.

Undergraduate enrollment is about 3,664 students. Graduate enrollment is about 1,956 students.

Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.

Retention Rate over Time

80.5%
2024 Retention Rate

Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.

Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.

Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is White at 61.0%.

Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).

College Scorecard student demographics.

Graduates & Outcomes

Time to Complete

49.06% 100% Completion Time

59.01% 150% Completion Time

In 2024, 49.06% of students graduating from Abilene Christian University completed their program within 100% "normal time".

Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.

Completions by Sex (Top Programs)

  • Business Administration and Management, General: 59% male / 41% female
  • Educational Leadership and Administration, General: 36% male / 64% female
  • Marriage and Family Therapy/Counseling: 14% male / 86% female

IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).

Completions by Race & Ethnicity

Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: White.

Summed across program completion records in our extract.

ROI & Programs

Financial value and program information for Abilene Christian University.

Return on Investment

$24,250 Median Student Debt

$55,736 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)

43.51% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio

432.20% Return on Investment

4.4 years Estimated Payback Period

Financial value analysis for Abilene Christian University.

Top Programs by Completions

10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 73 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).

1. Business Administration and Management, General: 93 completions

2. Educational Leadership and Administration, General: 77 completions

3. Marriage and Family Therapy/Counseling: 74 completions

4. Speech-Language Pathology/Pathologist: 73 completions

5. Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies: 66 completions

6. Nursing Practice: 50 completions

7. Exercise Science and Kinesiology: 49 completions

8. Biology/Biological Sciences, General: 48 completions

9. Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 45 completions

Most popular programs at Abilene Christian University.

Employment Outcomes

Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.

Earnings outcomes for Abilene Christian University graduates.

Operations

Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for Abilene Christian University from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).

Instructional Resources

  • Full-time faculty share: 65.1%
  • Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $8,928
  • Instructional expenditure per FTE: $10,340

Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.

Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.

About

Abilene Christian University is a private non-profit institution located in Abilene, TX, classified as Doctoral/Professional Universities. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Business Administration and Management, General, Educational Leadership and Administration, General, Marriage and Family Therapy/Counseling. Enrollment is approximately 3,195 students. Student body composition includes White (61.0%), Hispanic or Latino (18.9%), Black or African American (7.1%). The admission rate is 66.03%. Average SAT scores for admitted students are 1194. The 150%-time completion rate is 59.01%. Approximately 22.33% of students receive Pell Grants. About 24.5% of students are first-generation college students.

Institution Type

Private Non-profit

Carnegie Classification: Doctoral/Professional Universities

Location

Abilene, TX 79699

Region: Southwest

Insights and Analysis

Diverse Program Offerings: With over 73 distinct degree programs, Abilene Christian University provides students with a wide range of academic options. This diversity allows students to explore various fields and find programs that align with their interests and career goals.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Abilene Christian University located?

Abilene Christian University is located in Abilene, TX.

What is Abilene Christian University's acceptance rate?

The acceptance rate at Abilene Christian University is 66.0% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 10,510 applicants and 6,714 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.

How much does Abilene Christian University cost?

Reported tuition is $44,200 and average net price is $26,182 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $14,540 annually.

What is the student body demographics at Abilene Christian University?

Abilene Christian University reports undergraduate enrollment of about 3,664 students, White (61.0%), Hispanic or Latino (18.9%) in federal College Scorecard data.

How many first-generation students attend Abilene Christian University?

About 24.5% of students at Abilene Christian University are first-generation college students.

What test scores do students need for Abilene Christian University?

Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Abilene Christian University reports midpoint SAT about 1194 and midpoint ACT about 25.

What do graduates of Abilene Christian University earn?

Median earnings are $46,727 six years after entry and $55,736 ten years after entry.

What is the graduation rate at Abilene Christian University?

The 150%-time completion rate is 59.0% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.

How much debt do Abilene Christian University students have?

Median federal loan debt among completers is $24,250.

Is Abilene Christian University public or private?

Abilene Christian University is a private nonprofit institution located in Abilene, TX.

Is Abilene Christian University an HBCU?

No. Abilene Christian University is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.

Is Abilene Christian University a tribal college?

No. Abilene Christian University is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.

Data Sources

This page uses data from the following sources:

  • Abilene, Texas city profile
  • Southwest regional profile
  • All state profiles
  • Regional profiles
  • National benchmarks
  • School directory
  • All schools in Texas
  • Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.

    Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.

    Methodology

    Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.

    All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.