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American College of the Building Arts

#1429 in US ranking Charleston, SC
Type:
Private not-for-profit
Programs:
4 years or more

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Cost

Cost / year
$40,607
Tuition & fees
$19,872
Avg. aid
$6,438
Receiving aid
48%

Admissions

Acceptance rate
44%
SAT range
1130–1290
ACT range
20–27

Outcomes

Graduation rate
62%
Median salary
$38,788
1 yr after graduation

What does American College of the Building Arts offer in terms of athletics?

ACBA is not identified as offering a varsity sports program or belonging to an intercollegiate athletic association. Applicants should not expect NCAA teams or athletic recruiting to be part of the college experience.

That does not rule out informal recreation organized by students, but informal activity is distinct from a college-sponsored varsity, club, or intramural program. Students for whom organized athletics is important should ask what activities are currently available before enrolling.

What student groups and Associations are available at American College of the Building Arts?

At ACBA, shared academic interests and workshop projects are likely to be important ways for students to connect. A student should nevertheless distinguish those everyday collaborations from formally recognized student organizations with membership, officers, and college support.

Applicants seeking a particular academic club, cultural organization, student-government role, or service group should request the current student-organization directory or activity calendar. That is more reliable than assuming a small specialized college offers the same range of groups as a large university. Community projects and professional gatherings may provide additional ways to meet people, but participation and availability can vary by term.

Who studies at American College of the Building Arts?

ACBA reported 155 enrolled students in 2024-25, making it a small institution by enrollment. Its first-time, degree-seeking entering group numbered 53 students.

Of those 53 first-time students, 47 were men and six were women. Geographic reporting indicates that students came from both South Carolina and other states; about 32% were state residents and 68% came from elsewhere in the United States. Those figures describe an entering group, not necessarily the composition of every class or workshop. The small overall enrollment is relevant when considering course scheduling, peer networks, and the scale of student activities.

How does student life look like at American College of the Building Arts?

Daily life at ACBA is shaped more by classes, design work, and hands-on craft instruction than by a large residential-campus calendar. Its small enrollment may make classmates and instructors familiar to one another, though the student-to-faculty ratio alone cannot describe any individual student's experience.

Because the college does not provide college-operated undergraduate housing, students must also organize much of their life outside class around commuting or an independently arranged rental. Applicants can get a clearer picture of the weekly routine by reviewing a sample course schedule, visiting the teaching spaces, and asking how students access workshops and academic help outside scheduled classes.

What libraries are available to students at American College of the Building Arts?

ACBA's reported campus-library count is zero. Students should not assume that it has a conventional university library building with extensive study rooms, circulating collections, or around-the-clock access.

Research needs still arise in design, architectural history, preservation, and construction courses. Before enrolling, students who rely on particular databases, journals, accessible materials, or quiet study space should ask which resources ACBA provides directly and whether any arrangements with outside libraries are available. Access through a public library or another institution should not be assumed to include the same privileges as enrollment at that institution.

American College of the Building Arts Student Life for 2027

Total enrollment

155

Full Time Degree Seeking Freshmen

53

Total staff

13 full time, 7 part time

Veterans affair office

No

American College of the Building Arts Student Body

Undergraduate vs. graduate students

Undergraduate: 155

Full-time vs. part-time students

Full-time: 154
Part-time: 1

Full-time degree-seeking students by gender

Women: 6
Men: 47

Students by race/ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino: 3
Black or African American: 4
White: 140
American Indian or Alaska Native: 2
Asian: 4
Two or more races: 2

Data 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.