American River College Tuition & Completion (2026)
American River College is a public community college in Sacramento, California, enrolling about 25,621 students. The college offers associate degrees, career certificates, and transfer pathways to four-year universities. Typical net price after grant aid is about $7,999 for students who receive it, compared with published tuition near $1,288. Student demographics in federal data include White (36.6%) and Hispanic or Latino (31.8%) among the largest enrollment groups.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $1,288
- 2024 Average Net Price: $7,999 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: N/A Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 25,621 19.7% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 36.63%
- Carnegie Classification: Associate's Colleges: Mixed Transfer/Vocational & Technical-Mixed Traditional/Nontraditional
- First-Generation Students: 51.4%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 0.0% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price decrease of 15.2% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 35.1%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 47,212
- Room & Board: $22,086 annual estimate
American River College: what the data shows
Common questions about American River College, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is American River College?
American River College is located in Sacramento, CA (ZIP 95841-4286).
NCES locale classification: Rural fringe.
Is American River College public or private?
American River College is a Public institution.
How much does American River College cost?
Published tuition: $1,288 in-state, $12,616 out-of-state.
Average net price after aid: $7,999.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $7,599 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $6,219 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $9,538 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $11,652 |
| $110,001+ | $13,845 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $5,152.
How big is American River College?
Total enrollment: 25,621 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 47,212 students.
About 20% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at American River College?
150%-time completion rate: 36.63%.
First-year retention: 72.0%.
What do graduates of American River College earn?
Median earnings: $34,072 six years after entry; $40,162 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $9,625.
21.09% of students receive Pell grants.
What is American River College known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies (838 completions)
- Carpentry/Carpenter (491 completions)
- Social Sciences, General (400 completions)
- Biological and Physical Sciences (317 completions)
- Business Administration and Management, General (253 completions)
- Psychology, General (183 completions)
- Drywall Installation/Drywaller (177 completions)
- Child Care Provider/Assistant (151 completions)
- Physical Sciences, General (116 completions)
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse (81 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is American River College a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show completion rate 36.63%; median earnings $40,162 at 10 years; net price $7,999. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$1,288
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at American River College was $1,288.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$7,999
2024 Value
In 2024 American River College had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $7,999.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$31,996 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$7,999 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$5,152 4-Year In-State Tuition
$50,464 4-Year Out-of-State Tuition
$22,086 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$1,152 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$24,526 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$98,104 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for American River College.
Financial Aid by Income Level
21.09% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
2.93% 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 American River College 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 River College in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $1,104 | $7,200 | $6,435 |
| 2014 | $1,104 | $7,272 | $6,371 |
| 2015 | $1,104 | $7,440 | $7,068 |
| 2016 | $1,104 | $7,704 | $7,057 |
| 2017 | $1,104 | $8,208 | $5,419 |
| 2018 | $1,104 | $8,712 | $4,796 |
| 2019 | $1,104 | $8,928 | $4,816 |
| 2020 | $1,288 | $9,760 | $5,561 |
| 2021 | $1,288 | $10,168 | $6,039 |
| 2022 | $1,288 | $10,768 | $5,459 |
| 2023 | $1,288 | $12,808 | $4,628 |
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
Acceptance rate data is not available for this institution.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
American River College reported total enrollment of about 25,621 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 52% male and 48% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (36.6%), Hispanic or Latino (31.8%), and Asian (13.2%). About 21.09% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 51.4% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
19.7% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at American River College in 2024 is 25,621 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 47,212 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
72.0%
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
The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is White at 36.6%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
7.09% 100% Completion Time
36.63% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 7.09% of students graduating from American River College completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies: 41% male / 59% female
- Carpentry/Carpenter: 99% male / 1% female
- Social Sciences, General: 34% male / 66% 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 American River College.
Return on Investment
$9,625 Median Student Debt
$40,162 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
23.97% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
1155.22% Return on Investment
2.4 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for American River College.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 108 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies: 838 completions
2. Carpentry/Carpenter: 491 completions
3. Social Sciences, General: 400 completions
4. Biological and Physical Sciences: 317 completions
5. Business Administration and Management, General: 253 completions
6. Psychology, General: 183 completions
7. Drywall Installation/Drywaller: 177 completions
8. Child Care Provider/Assistant: 151 completions
9. Physical Sciences, General: 116 completions
Most popular programs at American River College.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for American River College graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for American River College from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 35.1%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $11,450
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $6,226
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
American River College is a public institution located in Sacramento, CA, classified as Associate's Colleges: Mixed Transfer/Vocational & Technical-Mixed Traditional/Nontraditional. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies, Carpentry/Carpenter, Social Sciences, General. Enrollment is approximately 25,621 students. Student body composition includes White (36.6%), Hispanic or Latino (31.8%), Asian (13.2%). The 150%-time completion rate is 36.63%. Approximately 21.09% of students receive Pell Grants. About 51.4% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Public
Carnegie Classification: Associate's Colleges: Mixed Transfer/Vocational & Technical-Mixed Traditional/Nontraditional
Location
Sacramento, CA 95841-4286
Region: Far West
Insights and Analysis
Graduation Rate Considerations: The 36.63% graduation rate at American River College falls below the national average. Prospective students should carefully consider factors such as academic preparation, support services, and career outcomes when evaluating this institution.
Diverse Program Offerings: With over 108 distinct degree programs, American River College 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 American River College located?
American River College is located in Sacramento, CA.
How much does American River College cost?
Reported tuition is $1,288 and average net price is $7,999 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $22,086 annually.
What is the student body demographics at American River College?
American River College reports undergraduate enrollment of about 47,212 students, White (36.6%), Hispanic or Latino (31.8%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend American River College?
About 51.4% of students at American River College are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of American River College earn?
Median earnings are $34,072 six years after entry and $40,162 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at American River College?
The 150%-time completion rate is 36.6% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do American River College students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $9,625.
Is American River College public or private?
American River College is a public institution located in Sacramento, CA.
Is American River College an HBCU?
No. American River College is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is American River College a tribal college?
No. American River College is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is American River College a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
By the common federal eligibility proxy used here (≥25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard), yes—American River College reports 31.8% Hispanic enrollment share.
Is American River College religiously affiliated?
No religious affiliation is reported for American River College in IPEDS institutional characteristics.
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
- California college profile
- California college costs
- California colleges by ROI
- California trade schools profile
- Sacramento, California city profile
- Far West regional profile
- Rural college profile
- Campus-setting profiles
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in California
- California college costs
- California colleges by ROI
- California trade schools profile
- Sacramento, California city profile
- Far West regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in California
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.