Abilene Christian University is institutionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, or SACSCOC, to award degrees. Institutional accreditation applies to the university as a whole; it is distinct from approval or accreditation of an individual professional program.
Institutional accreditation is relevant to eligibility for federal student aid and is commonly considered when other colleges evaluate transfer credit. It does not mean that another institution must accept every course. ACU's business school also holds specialized accreditation from AACSB International. Applicants to fields such as nursing, teaching, or other licensed professions should check the current standing of their particular program and the rules of the state where they hope to practice; university accreditation alone does not establish professional licensure eligibility.
First-year applicants to Abilene Christian University generally need an undergraduate application and a secondary-school record showing high school completion or an equivalent credential. ACU is not an open-admission institution: applicants are reviewed for admission rather than admitted solely because they apply.
Institutional admissions reporting identifies the high school transcript and GPA as required information. Class rank and completion of a college-preparatory curriculum may be considered but are not listed as universal requirements. Recommendations are not generally required. SAT and ACT scores may be considered, rather than treated as a requirement for every applicant; students should confirm the test policy for their application term and for any scholarship or selective program.
In reported first-year admissions figures, ACU admitted about 66% of applicants. Among enrolled first-time students who submitted scores, the median SAT composite was 1160 and the median ACT composite was 25. Those medians describe score submitters, not a minimum needed for admission. Applicants educated in a language other than English may need to document English proficiency; TOEFL is identified in institutional reporting as a required test for applicable applicants. International, transfer, graduate, and program-specific applications can have different documents and deadlines.
ACU's reported undergraduate application fee is $50. An application fee is a charge for processing an application, not an enrollment deposit or a payment toward tuition.
Fees and waiver options can depend on applicant type, application route, or a current admissions promotion. Before paying, an applicant who may qualify for a fee waiver should check the instructions in the application or ask admissions how to request one; paying first may make a waiver difficult to apply afterward. Transfer, graduate, and online applicants should check the fee displayed for their own application rather than assuming that the undergraduate figure applies.
ACU students interested in Army ROTC may be able to participate through the Army ROTC program hosted by Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene. This is a cross-institution arrangement, not the same as ACU operating its own Army ROTC unit.
A student considering ROTC should confirm current cross-enrollment eligibility, where classes and training take place, and how ROTC courses fit an ACU degree plan with the host program and ACU advising. ROTC participation, scholarship selection, and a later service obligation are separate questions; receiving a scholarship is not automatic. Applicants interested in Air Force or Navy ROTC should verify an available participation arrangement before planning around either branch.
Abilene Christian University accepts transfer applicants and generally considers credit from other accredited colleges. Transfer enrollment is reported for fall, spring, and summer terms, though a particular major may have a more limited starting schedule.
Applicants should expect to provide official transcripts from every college attended. Whether a high school record is also needed can depend on the applicant's prior college coursework and the current admission rules. Admission to ACU does not, by itself, settle how many credits will count toward a particular major: course equivalencies, grades, degree requirements, and limits on transferred work all matter.
ACU reports that it accepts qualifying Advanced Placement credit and considers CLEP examinations and American Council on Education credit recommendations. These are potential credit pathways, not a promise that a particular exam or course will satisfy a major requirement. Transfer applicants should request an official, program-specific credit evaluation and ask which remaining courses must be completed at ACU, especially before leaving another institution or paying a deposit.
Abilene Christian University offers study-abroad opportunities, including programs associated with locations such as Oxford, England, and Leipzig, Germany. Options and destinations can change by term, and short-term experiences may differ substantially from semester-long study.
Before applying, students should establish whether a program is operated by ACU, arranged through a partner, or offered by another provider. They should also confirm course approval, degree applicability, housing arrangements, travel documents, and the full program budget. Financial aid may apply differently depending on the program and term, so a student should obtain both academic approval and an individualized aid review before committing to travel.
12% of admitted students enrolled (906 of 7,482)
Application fee
$50Early Decision
NoEarly Action
Yes, deadline November 1Median composite SAT score
1160Median composite ACT score
25Percent of students submitting ACT scores
27.8%Percent of students submitting SAT scores
63.3%High school completions
General Educational Development (GED) requiredSecondary school GPA
RequiredSecondary school rank
Considered but not requiredSecondary school record
RequiredCompletion of college-preparatory program
Considered but not requiredRecommendations
Neither required nor recommendedFormal demonstration of competencies
Considered but not requiredAdmission test scores
Considered but not requiredTOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language
RequiredOther Test (Wonderlic, WISC-III, etc.)
Neither required nor recommendedOpen admission policy
NoDual credit
NoCredit for life experiences
NoAdvanced placement (AP) credits
YesStudy abroad
YesStudent can complete their preparation in certain areas of specialization
YesPreparation at another institution required
NoApproved by the state for initial certification or licensure of teacher
YesGenerally accepts credits
YesAccept ACE recommendation for credit
YesPossible transfer
Fall, Spring, SummerData last updated on November 2, 2026
Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026
Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.