American College of the Building Arts
Charleston, SC 29403-4223
About American College of the Building Arts
American College of the Building Arts is a private university in Charleston, South Carolina, enrolling about 155 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 44.44% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Student demographics in federal data include White (90.3%) and Black or African American (2.6%) among the largest enrollment groups.
Key findings
- American College of the Building Arts charges 27% below the national private non-profit median tuition ($21,500).
- Versus the South Carolina median, sticker tuition is 66% above.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 62.07%.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| American College of the Building Arts | $21,500 | $30,403 | 1 |
| Private Non-profit (national median) | $29,325 | — | 1,444 |
| South Carolina (state median) | $12,978 | $11,376 | 63 |
| Suburban (locale median) | $13,135 | $18,048 | 684 |
| United States (national median) | $11,900 | $17,156 | — |
Compares this campus to school-type, state, and locale medians plus a U.S. national median (College Scorecard–derived). Locale groups campuses by NCES locale type; state tuition is the median published tuition among campuses in that state.
How expensive is American College of the Building Arts really?
Key findings
- American College of the Building Arts charges 27% below the national private non-profit median tuition ($21,500).
- Versus the South Carolina median, sticker tuition is 66% above.
American College of the Building Arts tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $21,500
Finding American College of the Building Arts charges 27% below the national private non-profit median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $21,500. That is 27% below the national private non-profit median ($29,325). Versus the South Carolina median ($12,978), sticker tuition is 66% above. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is about 1.8×.
Method Sticker tuition compared with Scorecard-derived medians by ownership, state, locale, and national rollups when available.
Interpretation Published tuition measures sticker price relative to private non-profit and geographic peers; it does not equal what undergraduates typically pay after aid.
Limitation Sticker comparisons omit room, board, and institutional aid; average net price and income-band net prices are the stronger signals of typical family cost.
Evidence: published tuition at American College of the Building Arts versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at American College of the Building Arts versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at American College of the Building Arts is $30,403.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $30,403 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $19,027 above the South Carolina median net price. Versus suburban campuses, net price runs $12,355 above the locale median.
Method Average net price from College Scorecard; compared with state, locale, and U.S. medians from EDsmart aggregates.
Interpretation Average net price is a stronger institutional cost signal than published tuition because it incorporates grant aid.
Limitation The campus average masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average.
Key takeaway At American College of the Building Arts, average net price exceeds published tuition alone because net price uses a fuller cost-of-attendance base.
American College of the Building Arts: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for American College of the Building Arts—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
High completion indicates students finish programs at scale; it does not alone measure instructional quality or labor-market fit.
Financial profile
Annual tuition
$21,500
Avg. net price
$30,403
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $27,879 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $29,454 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $32,248 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $33,835 |
| $110,001+ | $34,704 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $86,000. See cost investigation.
Student outcomes
Share of first-year students returning the following fall.
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What American College of the Building Arts is known for
Top program completions
See earnings & programs for more.
Admissions landscape
- Selective — about half of applicants (or fewer) are admitted.
- Yield: 100% of admitted students enrolled.
- Average SAT: 1190
- Midpoint ACT: 24
See Admissions for the full funnel.
Is American College of the Building Arts a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
American College of the Building Arts is a good school for those looking for high program completion rates.
EDsmart Data does not assign an opinion score; this framing summarizes the strongest Scorecard signals for this campus.
More from the data
Location, control, enrollment, and aid context for American College of the Building Arts.
Campus
Location
Charleston, SC
City / state
- ZIP
- 29403-4223
- NCES locale
- Suburb
Compared with Suburban campuses nationally, net price is 68% above the median for Suburban campuses ($18,048 median).
Control
Institution type
Private Non-profit
Control
- Region
- Southeast
- Carnegie
- Not classified (exclusively post-baccalaureate programs)
Size
Enrollment
155
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 156
- Full-time share
- 99%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$12,500
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 18.44%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for American College of the Building Arts.
Financial Aid by Income Level
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at American College of the Building Arts 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 American College of the Building Arts in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2019–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $20,572 | $20,572 | — |
| 2020 | $20,572 | $20,572 | $29,826 |
| 2021 | $20,572 | $20,572 | $28,880 |
| 2022 | $20,572 | $20,572 | $29,579 |
| 2023 | $20,572 | $20,572 | $26,389 |
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.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
This institution is selective, accepting about half of all applicants.
Applicants → admits → first-time enrollment from College Scorecard / IPEDS. Bar widths are scaled for readability at highly selective schools.
Test Scores
Average 1190 (middle 50% not reported)
Midpoint 24 (middle 50% not reported)
Scores for enrollees who submitted tests (College Scorecard).
Academic Requirements
Estimated from admission selectivity and test scores. Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
Estimated range · median 3.20
Estimated GPA band from selectivity and test scores — not an official requirement.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
American College of the Building Arts reported total enrollment of about 155 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 83% male and 17% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (90.3%), Black or African American (2.6%), and Asian (2.6%). About 18.44% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
99.4% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at American College of the Building Arts in 2024 is 155 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 156 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
75.0%
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
Largest share of total enrollment in our College Scorecard extract.
College Scorecard student demographics (total enrollment shares).
Do students complete their programs?
Time to Complete
55.17% 100% Completion Time
62.07% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 55.17% of students graduating from American College of the Building Arts completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Architectural and Building Sciences/Technology: 86% male / 14% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
What do American College of the Building Arts graduates earn—and in which programs?
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of American College of the Building Arts.
Evidence Median federal loan debt: $12,500. Average net price used in cost models: $30,403.
Method College Scorecard median earnings (10-year), median debt, and EDsmart ROI / payback models using campus net price.
Interpretation Institution-wide ROI and debt ratios summarize campus averages; program choice still drives individual outcomes.
Limitation Salary reflects median earnings ten years after entry; ROI is not program-specific.
Return on Investment
Debt and 4-year net cost vs. cumulative 10-year median earnings for American College of the Building Arts.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 1 programs by IPEDS completions (2 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at American College of the Building Arts.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for American College of the Building Arts graduates.
How financially powerful is this institution?
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for American College of the Building Arts—endowment assets (fiscal year 2023), instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Institutional endowment
$1.9M
End-of-year assets · Fiscal year 2023
- South Carolina median 0.15× the median ($12.8M)
- Southeast median 0.10× the median ($19.4M)
- U.S. median 0.07× the median ($26.4M)
- South Carolina median 1.8× the median ($7,041)
- Southeast median 1.4× the median ($9,308)
- U.S. median 1.1× the median ($12,100)
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 76.7%
- South Carolina median 15.9 pp above median (60.7%)
- Southeast median 17.2 pp above median (59.4%)
- U.S. median 18.7 pp above median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $8,846
- South Carolina median 1.3× the median ($6,831)
- Southeast median 1.3× the median ($6,825)
- U.S. median 1.2× the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $20,328
- South Carolina median 2.5× the median ($8,125)
- Southeast median 3.1× the median ($6,602)
- U.S. median 2.8× the median ($7,288)
Instructional metrics from College Scorecard. Peer medians are campus-level; see the institutional financials deep dive. Detailed non-instructional staff counts are not included here.
American College of the Building Arts at a glance
American College of the Building Arts
American College of the Building Arts is a private non-profit institution in Charleston, SC, classified as Not classified (exclusively post-baccalaureate programs).
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Architectural and Building Sciences/Technology
- Largest enrollment groups
- White or Caucasian90.3%Black or African American2.6%Asian2.6%
Schools near American College of the Building Arts
Other campuses in Charleston, SC when available, plus nearby institutions in South Carolina.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade C) within South Carolina, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is American College of the Building Arts located?
American College of the Building Arts is located in Charleston, SC.
What is American College of the Building Arts's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at American College of the Building Arts is 44.4% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 58 applicants and 36 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
What is American College of the Building Arts's tuition?
American College of the Building Arts tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $21,500 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $30,403 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does American College of the Building Arts cost?
Reported tuition is $21,500 and average net price is $30,403 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $14,091 annually.
What is the student body demographics at American College of the Building Arts?
American College of the Building Arts reports undergraduate enrollment of about 156 students, White (90.3%), Black or African American (2.6%) in federal College Scorecard data.
What test scores do students need for American College of the Building Arts?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, American College of the Building Arts reports midpoint SAT about 1190 and midpoint ACT about 24.
What is the graduation rate at American College of the Building Arts?
The 150%-time completion rate is 62.1% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do American College of the Building Arts students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $12,500.
Is American College of the Building Arts public or private?
American College of the Building Arts is a private nonprofit institution located in Charleston, SC.
Is American College of the Building Arts an HBCU?
No. American College of the Building Arts is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is American College of the Building Arts a tribal college?
No. American College of the Building Arts is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is American College of the Building Arts a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
Using a 25% Hispanic enrollment threshold on College Scorecard demographics, American College of the Building Arts does not meet that proxy (reported share 1.9%).
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
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 Scope
This profile uses institution-level fields from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, merged with IPEDS directory attributes where needed for locale, ownership, and program completions.
Benchmark rows compare this campus to NCES locale-type medians (for example Suburban) from our processed location extract. Implied U.S. medians are derived from locale-vs-national percentage fields in that extract—not a separate national Scorecard table.