Abilene Christian University is the highest-ranking university in Texas in a U.S. News & World Report benchmark focused on student success. ACU achieved Top 20 status in three of eight high-impact categories among 1,500 universities evaluated for “A Focus on Student Success” and is the only Texas institution to be ranked in five of the categories.
Here, we look at some of the people and programs that make ACU’s student experience unique.
Center for Careers and Experiential Learning
Experiential learning opportunities have been central to the ACU student experience for years. The new Center for Careers and Experiential Learning provides a centralized home for several programs, including the Career Center, Study Abroad, Undergraduate Research, and the Halbert Center for Missions and Global Service. Learn more
Service Learning: #4 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: #9 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: #11 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
Study Abroad: #35 in the nation
Sometimes the most life-changing lessons happen outside the perimeter of campus. From Oxford to Montevideo and Leipzig to Beijing – and dozens more locations – ACU’s Study Abroad program helps students broaden their worldview by immersing them in a new culture while they earn college credit. Forty percent of ACU students participate in Study Abroad. Learn more
Study Abroad’s new Oxford residence
The purchase of a new Study Abroad residence in Oxford, England, marks another exciting milestone in the university’s 21st-Century Vision goal of preparing students to think globally by offering valuable cross-cultural experiences. This property will serve as a welcoming and comfortable hub to explore Oxford, London, Great Britain and the European continent. Learn more
Undergraduate Research/Creative Projects: #42 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