On-Campus Experiences

Rising Scholars

Held on our beautiful campus in Abilene, Texas, students enroll in one course during their Rising Scholars on Campus experience. This program will showcase what college life is like as a Wildcat. You'll live in the dorm, eat in the campus center, study in the library, worship together and make memories in our charming town of Abilene.

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KEY DATES

November 5, 2025

Application Opens

January 15, 2026

Early Application Deadline

Rising Scholars On-Campus Experiences are a unique opportunity for high school students to experience college life while exploring their academic and career interests. Students live on campus for a week, take a course for 1 hour of college credit and participate in community building and spiritual development.

When: July 12-18, 2026

Cost: $1,000 – includes course fees for one hour credit, lodging, all meals, group excursions, and activities. 

Students who complete a Rising Scholars On-Campus Experience and later enroll at ACU receive a $1,000 scholarship for their first year.

“I was drawn to Rising Scholars because it is such a unique entry point into the university experience. It gives us the opportunity to meet students early (which I have loved for those that end up coming), shape their expectations of college, and help them see themselves as capable of succeeding in a college classroom. I also love the creativity it allows in course design. My Taylor Swift and Marketing course allowed me to connect academic concepts to things students are genuinely excited about.” -Jennifer Golden, Associate Professor, Department of Management Sciences

 

2026 RISING SCHOLARS ON CAMPUS OFFERINGS

Caring for Livestock through God’s Commandments
Department of Agriculture and Environmental Science 

Are you passionate about animals or agriculture? Explore an introduction to livestock anatomy, nutrition and health management practices utilized in today’s agricultural industry. Throughout the week, we will not only delve into the scientific aspects but also discuss how God’s calling for care drives our interactions with animals including cattle, horses, goats, sheep, swine and chickens. Additionally, students will have the unique chance to take a field trip to ACU’s Rhoden Farm. This visit will provide hands-on experience and a practical understanding of the concepts covered throughout the class.

Changing the World, One Student at a Time
School of Education

Teachers hold the power to transform lives and shape communities. In this course, students will explore the vital role educators play in inspiring learning, fostering creativity and building supportive environments. Through visits to local sites, Rising Scholars will discover innovative teaching strategies and gain hands-on insight into how educators create meaningful, dynamic classrooms.

This experience invites students to understand the many ways teachers influence academic growth and personal development – preparing the next generation to lead and serve with passion and purpose.

Detecting DNA
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

DNA is essential to every living thing, holding the instructions that allow cells to grow and function. But how do we actually know it’s there? In this hands-on course, you’ll explore the fascinating history behind the discovery of DNA and dive into real-world experiments that scientists use today. You’ll learn how to isolate DNA, measure how much is present and even see it with your own eyes! We’ll also add DNA to cells to see how it changes their function. Join us for a closer look at the science that makes life possible.

Discovering the World of Business
College of Business Administration

What makes a business succeed? It takes people with different strengths — from managing money to leading teams to sharing ideas with the world. In this course, you’ll get a taste of four key areas of business: accounting, finance, management, and marketing. Through interactive projects and teamwork, you’ll step into the roles that bring a business to life. You’ll also visit with local entrepreneurs and businesses to see how it all works in the real world.

Whether you dream of starting your own company or just want to explore what a career in business could look like, this course is your chance to discover where you might fit in.

Exploring Allied Healthcare Professions: Integrating Practice and Faith
School of Nursing

When it comes to healthcare, where do you start? Which career field is best for you? How do you live out your mission? This course will explore various allied healthcare professions (nurses, occupational therapists, speech therapists, physical therapists, counselors, etc.) through case studies, specific job descriptions and content, and first-hand healthcare experience in our simulation lab. Integrating Christian principles into a field of service will teach us all how to make a difference in healthcare. 

Innovative Engineering
Department of Engineering and Physics

Are you ready to dive into a world where creativity meets technology? Imagine solving real-world challenges with cutting-edge tools. This course offers a unique chance to explore different engineering fields, from robotics and aerospace to environmental engineering, all while working on fun, interactive projects. You’ll collaborate with peers who share your passion, learn from industry professionals, and gain skills that will set you apart in college and beyond. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to turn your innovative ideas into reality and discover what engineering is all about.

Sports Television Production
Department of Journalism and Mass Communication

Step behind the scenes of live sports broadcasting in this hands-on course modeled after ACU’s award-winning journalism and mass communication program. Rising Scholars will combine sports media production with real-world experience using ACUTV, ACU’s state-of-the-art studio.

Students will be challenged to create, produce and edit stories for daily live news broadcasts, gaining invaluable skills in storytelling, interviewing campus athletes and mastering cutting-edge technology. Working in the professional Mankin/Orr studio and control room, they’ll build confidence and competence in television production,  preparing them for future careers in media.

This course offers a dynamic blend of creativity, teamwork and technical expertise that brings the excitement of sports to life on screen.

The Book Was Better
Department of Language and Literature 

In this course, we read a handful of texts (a short story, a young adult novel and a graphic novel) and then watch their film adaptations, all for the purpose of investigating the complicated process of adaptation. What is the relationship between a text and its adaptation? How does one impact the other, and how do we approach each as a reader and a viewer? And, finally, why is the book almost always better than the film?

Thinking Morally: An Introduction to Ethics
Department of Bible, Missions and Ministry

What is the right thing to do? What does it mean to be a good person? Are there “right” answers to moral questions, or is morality entirely subjective? In this course, students will explore foundational questions and theories in the world of ethics, with special attention given to the ways that Christian faith informs how we think about our moral decisions. Students will explore some important thought experiments in the world of moral philosophy and consider how moral philosophy informs contemporary debates on important moral issues.

The American Jazz and Swing Era: Music and Dance!
Department of Language and Literature

Have you ever wondered how jazz began as an American music genre?  Have you ever wondered how a dance style that began in the 1920s found a huge revival in the 1990s among college-aged students?  Have you ever wanted to learn how to dance some Charleston and Lindy Hop steps?  If so, join this exciting week of learning about and learning how as we explore the music and dance of the Jazz Era. Students will read, listen and dance (no partner needed) to understand the roots of a musical style both uniquely American and internationally flavored. 

Wildcat Stars Under the Spotlight
Department of Theatre

Step onto the theatrical stage and let your light shine. Whether you are a seasoned thespian and want to polish your audition technique or are new to the world of theatre, you are invited to step into the spotlight and spend a week training for a musical theatre performance. Students will be exposed to theatre technique for the singer, actor and dancer, through musical theatre song breakdown, actor/singer coaching, improv and choreography. The week will culminate with a showcase performance with ACU Theatre Wildcat Stars Under the Spotlight!

Important Dates

  • November 5, 2025 – Application opens 
  • January 15, 2026 – Early Application Deadline
    • February 1, 2026 – student contract and $500 non-refundable payment due to early admits to guarantee spot
  • June 1, 2026 – Regular Application Deadline (applications will be accepted until June 1 as space is available)
    • June 15, 2026 – student contract and $500 non-refundable payment due to regular deadline admits 
  • June 20, 2026 – Waitlist students notified if space is available 

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Submit the online application.
  • Students must be a current high school sophomore or junior.
  • Submit a letter of recommendation completed by a current high school teacher or administrator.
  • Rising Scholars On-Campus Experiences are competitive, and limited spots are available.

Students who enroll in Rising Scholars On-Campus Experiences are enrolling as an ACU student for a one-hour course. Students are expected to go to class and complete all assignments related to the course. 

Rising Scholars On-Campus Experiences participants stay on campus in Bullock Hall. Men and women are housed separately in the dorm.

The program begins on Sunday evening and concludes on Saturday morning. Students will go to class Monday through Friday for approximately 3 hours each day. Outside of class, students will live the ACU experience. Activities include spiritual development, intramurals, small groups, games, experiences around Abilene and free time.

Yes, students can choose to bring a vehicle to campus. If given permission by their parents, students can leave campus during free time.

Yes, curfew will be enforced by residence life staff at 11 p.m. each evening

American Airlines flies into Abilene Regional Airport. ACU will provide transportation from ABI airport to campus.