American River College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Sacramento, California. It enrolls 25,621 students (a very large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorWestern Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (2-Year). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
67/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes50
Value68
Affordability40
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, American River College generally admits all qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending American River College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $7,999 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$7,999
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
21%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
3%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$1,288
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$12,616
Room & Board (off-campus)
$22,086
Books & Supplies
$1,152
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$6,930
Total Cost of Attendance
$16,384
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$7,599
$30,001 – $48,000
$6,219
$48,001 – $75,000
$9,538
$75,001 – $110,000
$11,652
Over $110,000
$13,845
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$1,92210%percentile
$3,50025%percentile
$9,625Medianpercentile
$15,19275%percentile
$27,01990%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $9,500
↓ $125
No Pell $5,982
↓ $3,643
Dependent students $5,500
↓ $4,125
Independent students $9,500
↓ $125
Female students $9,431
↓ $194
Male students $9,266
↓ $359
What this means:
21% of students receive Pell grants. Most cost is borne by families above Pell thresholds. Verify your individual aid offer before deciding.
Graduation Rate & Retention
7% of full-time students who enrolled at American River College graduate within six years, and 72% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
7%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
72%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered American River College earn a median of $40,162 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$40,162
Earning > $25K
62%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$35,700
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$41,800
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$35,800
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$44,300
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$54,300
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $6,100, about 15% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
33.2 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 71% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
American River College is home to 25,621 students, a sprawling student community. Some distinctive traits: 51% are first-generation college students, 80% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
25,621
Part-Time
80%
First-Generation
51%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 36.6%9,367
Hispanic 31.8%8,158
Asian 13.2%3,372
Other 7.9%2,016
Black 6.5%1,665
International 0.2%44
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at American River College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large SuburbSacramento, California
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
47%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)
What You Can Study
American River College offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
99 distinct programs across
31 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at American River College is 28:1, high (larger classes are common).
Student : Faculty
28:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$3,768
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Avg Faculty Salary
$99,264
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
349 instructional faculty across 1 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Instructors
349
100%
$99,264
Pros & Cons of American River College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how American River College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Very affordable net price after aid
Open admissions
Wide variety of programs and student life
Low typical debt at graduation
First-gen-friendly student body
Flexible part-time enrollment options
CONS
Larger class sizes than typical
Large institutional setting can feel impersonal
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
Modest first-year retention
Earnings outcomes are on the lower side
Best for:
Based on the data, American River College is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; families focused on keeping net cost low; working adults or students needing part-time study options.
Frequently Asked Questions about American River College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about American River College.
Is American River College hard to get into?
American River College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at American River College?
American River College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does American River College cost?
The average net price after aid at American River College is $7,999 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is American River College worth it?
Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $40,162 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $7,999 per year. That's roughly 5.0x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is American River College known for?
American River College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Social Sciences, Biological and Physical Sciences. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do American River College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering American River College are $40,162, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is American River College accredited?
Yes. American River College is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges.
How many students attend American River College?
American River College enrolls 25,621 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at American River College?
American River College graduates 7% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is American River College a public or private college?
American River College is a Public institution.
Where is American River College located?
American River College is located in Sacramento, California.
What programs does American River College offer?
American River College offers 99 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Social Sciences, Biological and Physical Sciences.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at American River College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at American River College is 28:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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