Explore ACU

Your Calling, Our Mission:
Start Your Journey at ACU

Welcome to your starting point for life at Abilene Christian University. This page has everything you need to know to become a Wildcat. Whether you are looking for a specific major, curious about campus traditions or ready to apply, you’ll find all the resources you need to make a confident choice about your future. To get started, use the table of contents below to skip directly to the topics that matter most to you and begin exploring your path to ACU.

Welcome to your starting point for life at Abilene Christian University. This page has everything you need to know to become a Wildcat. Whether you are looking for a specific major, curious about campus traditions or ready to apply, you’ll find all the resources you need to make a confident choice about your future. To get started, use the table of contents below to skip directly to the topics that matter most to you and begin exploring your path to ACU.

Main Content

Discover the ACU Mission

At Abilene Christian University, we cultivate courageous world-shapers. You’ll join a close-knit community that values faith as much as learning. See how our mission, campus life and academics fit your goals.

Experience Student Life and Traditions

College is about more than just classes. At ACU, you can join student-led organizations, play intramurals and take part in campus-wide traditions like Sing Song. You can see our student clubs and groups to find out how you can get involved in our high-spirited community.

Grow Your Faith in Community

Chapel is an opportunity for students, faculty and staff to gather in praise and worship. This tradition invites you to pause from the busyness of college life to deepen your faith and be encouraged alongside the ACU community. Learn more about the Chapel tradition to see how it can contribute to your spiritual growth.

See the World with Study Abroad

We take the ACU experience worldwide with Study Abroad programs in places like Oxford, England; Leipzig, Germany; and Valencia, Spain. Study in community with ACU faculty and other students while you learn about new cultures. Explore our Study Abroad locations to see where you could go.

52% of students participate in Study Abroad or global service trips

 

Prepare for a Successful Career

Your time at ACU prepares you for success after graduation. Our alumni launch into successful careers and get into top graduate schools. ACU’s Career Development Center guides you in preparing for internships and jobs in every industry.

92% of our graduates are employed or enrolled in graduate school within 6 months of graduation


 

Find the Best Academic Program for You

Whether you want to study on campus or online, we have a degree for you. We offer many different majors, from nursing to business and the arts. Our 14:1 student-teacher ratio means professors know you by name. You can search all academic programs to find the one that matches your interests, or filter our programs to on-campus bachelor degrees.

Explore Campus with a Virtual Tour

You don’t have to leave home to see our beautiful campus. Our interactive virtual tour lets you explore our dorms, classrooms and labs from any device. Get a feel for our campus, and then schedule an in-person visit. Start your virtual campus tour right now.

Earn College Credit Early

Through ACU’s premier dual enrollment program, you can earn college credit while you’re still in high school. Take one of our most popular courses, designed for high school students, online on your schedule. Explore your interests, get a feel for college-level work and earn credits toward your degree.

Become a Rising Scholar

Spend a week exploring and learning with standout faculty in Europe or on ACU’s campus. Earn ACU credit while participating in hands-on, community-based learning. Read about our Rising Scholars offerings, and decide what course you’ll take first.

Get Clear Facts on Financial Aid

We believe a great education should be affordable. With your application, you’re automatically considered for scholarships of up to $27,000 per year. To help you and your family plan for the future, we provide tools that help you see the cost and your financial aid options early on. You can use our financial aid tools to estimate your costs today.


 

Get More Information

If you’re not sure where to begin, we’re here to help! When you fill out the form below, you’ll be connected with our encouraging admissions team. They can explain our academic programs and financial aid opportunities and answer any other questions about life at ACU. This is the fastest way to get personal help and clear up any confusion about the college process. Complete the information request form below to connect with ACU’s admissions team.

Schedule Your Visit

The best way to know if ACU is right for you is to visit us. You can take a tour, meet students and faculty, and see the campus for yourself. Seeing campus in person lets you envision your college life. Plus, when you visit by April 15 of your senior year, you’ll earn an $8,000 scholarship. Book your campus visit today to pick a date that works for you.

Apply Now

If you are ready to become a Wildcat, it’s time to apply. Applications open Aug. 1 of your senior year. Our application process is simple and easy to follow. Self-report your grades, and we’ll let you know what materials you need to send later. You can start your undergraduate application whenever you are ready.

Contact Your Personal Admissions Counselor

You don’t have to figure everything out on your own. You get a dedicated counselor to help with any questions, from applications to campus life to financial aid. Your counselor is there to support you from start to finish. Just enter your zip code below, and we’ll match you with your personal admissions counselor.

Use the Application Checklist to Stay on Track

Applying to college can feel like a lot of work, but we make it easy. Our checklist shows you every step you need to take. You’ll know exactly when things are due and what is missing. This keeps you organized so you don’t miss out on important deadlines. Review the application checklist to see what you need to do next.


 

Frequently Asked Questions

Probably so! Many careers require a bachelor’s degree, and people with college degrees earn more on average than people without one. At ACU, you can choose from more than 180 different academic paths, so you can find a good fit for your interests and goals. Your admissions counselor can talk through your goals with you to be sure you’re on the right path.

A college degree is a major investment in your future. ACU gives you the information and tools you need to financially plan for your education. We award over $33 million in scholarships each year, and 100% of admitted students receive financial aid. Completing the FAFSA is the best way to maximize your financial aid eligibility. Use our financial aid information to move forward confidently.

Choosing a career involves thinking about your interests, skills and personality. Before you even arrive at ACU, you can attend a Discover Your Strengths session to uncover your unique talents and how those connect to various majors. Once you’re admitted, your academic advisor can talk with you about various career paths. After you start at ACU, you’ll have access to our Career Development Center and opportunities like internships and job shadowing that will help you find your path.

Abilene is a city of 130,000 people located in West Texas, about 150 miles west of Ft. Worth. It’s within a few hours’ drive of Dallas, Austin and San Antonio and has a convenient airport for longer trips. Abilene offers the perfect combination of small-town community and big-city amenities. Our downtown features local boutiques, restaurants, coffee shops and museums. Weekends are full of cultural events, parades, rodeos and concerts. Learn more about our city, and see why Abilene is not just a college town. It’s a place to call home.

Yes, ACU has 17 Division I athletic teams, including football, basketball, volleyball, soccer, baseball, softball, track and field and golf. We’ve been to the March Madness tournament three times, and Wildcat alumni include 43 NFL players and 40 Olympians. Tailgating and cheering on our athletics teams is a big part of the ACU experience.

ACU’s application process is test-optional, so you’re not required to have an ACT, SAT or CLT score to apply. Students who apply test-optional will still be considered for merit-based scholarships, but they may not be eligible for our highest academic awards or for the Honors College.

Our application opens each year on August 1 for current high school seniors. We encourage you to apply early to maximize scholarship opportunities and allow plenty of time to plan for your first year.