For the fourth year in a row, ACU is the highest-ranking university in Texas in the U.S. News & World Report “Academic Programs to Look For” benchmarks focused on student success – placing in six of eight categories this year. ACU was one of only 19 U.S. institutions ranked in the top 50 nationally in both Undergraduate Research/Creative Projects and Undergraduate Teaching, alongside Carnegie Mellon, Dartmouth, Duke, Harvard, Princeton, Rice, Stanford, Vanderbilt and Yale in the 2022-23 rankings. Â
Here, we look at some of the people and programs that make ACU’s student experience unique.
Service Learning: #5 in the nation
ACU’s mission of educating students for Christian service and leadership throughout the world, along with the proven benefits of service learning as a high-impact practice in higher education, has made service learning a signature feature of the ACU experience. A service learning component is incorporated in courses spanning all majors. Learn more
First-Year Experience: #8 in the nation
ACU’s innovative approach to student orientation ensures all new Wildcats and their families begin their journey with a comprehensive introduction to college life. They learn about campus through an online series leading up to a two-day on-campus summer orientation. Just before school starts, Wildcat Week immerses them in the academic, social and spiritual life of ACU, and connects them with student mentors. Learn more
Learning Communities: #9 in the nation
ACU students find many opportunities to join learning communities, ranging from the Cornerstone seminar class for new students to cohort programs within specific majors that span a student’s collegiate career. Study abroad and global service learning trips enable students to participate in courses with the same cohort in an international setting. Learn more
Senior Capstone: #22 in the nation
Senior Capstones provide students a culminating experience to their years at ACU. They create a project that integrates and applies what they’ve learned, often through a research paper, a performance, a portfolio of “best work,” or an exhibit of artwork. Learn more
Undergrad Research/Creative Projects: #28 in the nation
Students learn key skills that open doors for graduate school and successful careers through numerous undergraduate research opportunities at ACU. Through the support of ACU’s Office of Undergraduate Research and individual faculty mentors, students engage in laboratory and field research in the natural sciences, and projects in the social sciences, performing and fine arts, humanities, and business. Learn more
Study Abroad: #35 in the nation
By immersing in a new culture, ACU Study Abroad programs inspire students to build connections, discover new things about themselves and the world, and expand their perspective in a way that strengthens and deepens their faith and intellect. Learn more
Best Undergraduate Teaching: #41 in the nation
At the heart of learning at ACU are dedicated faculty who are experts in their fields, passionately committed to students’ growth and success. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 14:1, each student benefits from personalized instruction and one-on-one mentoring in addition to classroom learning. Learn more