Abilene Christian University
Abilene Christian University at a Glance
Reviewed by James A. Barham, PhD, Vice President and Academic Editor. Influence ranks come from our InfluenceRanking™ methodology; other figures come from federal data, with the year shown under each section. Report an error
Abilene Christian University Featured Rankings
- #3 Liberal Arts Colleges in Texas 2026
- #3 Best Online MBA in Healthcare Management
- #3 Best Small Colleges in Texas 2026
- #3 Online Bachelor’s in Graphic Arts
- #5 Best Online Bachelor's in Cybersecurity in Texas
- #6 Online Bachelor’s in Christian Ministry
- #6 Christian Colleges in Texas 2026
- #7 15 Colleges with the Happiest Freshmen
- #7 Private Colleges in Texas 2026
- #8 Online Master’s in Biblical Studies
- #9 Online Master’s in Healthcare Administration
- #9 Christian Colleges Bachelor's Degrees
- #10 Online Bachelor’s in Digital Media
- #11 Texas' Best Online Colleges 2026
- #11 Online Bachelor’s in Healthcare Administration
- #12 20 Fastest Online Master's of Counseling Degree Programs
- #13 Best Online MBAs Texas
- #14 Best CCCU Colleges 2026
- #16 The Best Online Christian Colleges and Universities for Doctoral Degrees
- #17 Online Master’s in Educational Administration
- #18 The Best Online Christian Colleges and Universities for Master's Degrees
- #19 Online Bachelor’s in Cybersecurity
- #20 Texas's Best Online Master's Degrees
- #22 Best Colleges in Texas 2026
- #24 Online Master’s in Organizational Leadership
- #24 Social Work Liberal Arts Colleges
- #43 Best Online Colleges
About Abilene Christian University
According to Wikipedia, Abilene Christian University is a private Christian university in Abilene, Texas. It was founded in 1906 as Childers Classical Institute. It is affiliated with Churches of Christ. History The Churches of Christ in Abilene founded it as a Christian university for West Texas. Childers Classical Institute opened in the fall of 1906, with 25 students. It initially included a lower school starting in the seventh grade.
Abilene Christian University's Online Degrees
BS in Digital Media
Degree Concentrations
- Film Production
- General Track
- Graphic Design
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4-5 years
- Format: Fully online
BS in Management
Degree Concentrations
- Leadership
- Human Resource Management
- Operations
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4-5 years
- Format: Fully online
BS in Marketing
Degree Concentrations
- General Track
- Analytics
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4-5 years
- Format: Fully online
BS in Organizational Leadership
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4-5 years
- Format: Fully online
Bootcamp in Accounting
- Required Credits: 1 course
- Completion Time: 1 course
- Format: Fully online
Graduate Certificate in Business Analytics
- Required Credits: 12
- Completion Time: 1 year or less
- Format: Fully online
Graduate Certificate in Conflict Management and Resolution
- Required Credits: 15
- Completion Time: 1 year or less
- Format: Fully online
Graduate Certificate in Conflict Management and Resolution (for Educators)
- Required Credits: 15
- Completion Time: 1 year or less
- Format: Fully online
Graduate Certificate in Conflict Management and Resolution for Church Leaders
- Required Credits: 15
- Completion Time: 1 year or less
- Format: Fully online
Bootcamp in Economics
- Required Credits: 1 course
- Completion Time: 1 course
- Format: Fully online
MBA in Business Administration
Degree Concentrations
- International Business
- General Business
- Analytics
- Healthcare Administration
- Operations and Supply Chain Management
- Marketing
- Required Credits: 36
- Completion Time: 2-3 years
- Format: Fully online
MA in Conflict Management and Resolution
Degree Concentrations
- Healthcare Organizations
- Practitioner
- General
- Organizational
- Required Credits: 36
- Completion Time: 2-3 years
- Format: Fully online
MS in Management
Degree Concentrations
- Marketing
- Healthcare Administration
- International Business
- Analytics
- Operations and Supply Chain Management
- Required Credits: 30
- Completion Time: 2-3 years
- Format: Fully online
MS in Organizational Development
- Required Credits: 36
- Completion Time: 2-3 years
- Format: Fully online
BS in Information Technology Administration
Degree Concentrations
- Cyber Security
- App Development
- Required Credits: 128
- Completion Time: 4.5-5.5 years
- Format: Fully online
Graduate Certificate in Cybersecurity
- Required Credits: 15
- Completion Time: 1 year or less
- Format: Fully online
MSIT in Information Technology
- Required Credits: 36
- Completion Time: 2-3 years
- Format: Fully online
EdD in Education
Degree Concentrations
- Higher Education
- Conflict Management
- Learning with Emerging Technologies
- Positive Leadership
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion Time: 3.5-4.5 years
- Format: Fully online
MEd in Higher Education Administration
Degree Concentrations
- Academic Advising
- Conflict Resolution
- Student Affairs Leadership
- Required Credits: 33
- Completion Time: 2-3 years
- Format: Fully online
MEd in Instruction and Learning
Degree Concentrations
- Conflict Resolution
- Learning with Emerging Technologies
- Required Credits: 30
- Completion Time: 2-3 years
- Format: Fully online
BS in Integrated Studies
Degree Concentrations
- Customized
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4-5 years
- Format: Fully online
BS in Applied Communication
Degree Concentrations
- Organizational Change
- Healthcare Communication
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4-5 years
- Format: Fully online
BS in Child and Family Services
Degree Concentrations
- General Track
- Child Life
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4-5 years
- Format: Fully online
BS in Christian Service and Formation
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4-5 years
- Format: Fully online
BS in Communication Disorders
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4-5 years
- Format: Fully online
MDiv in Divinity
- Required Credits: 72
- Completion Time: 4-5 years
- Format: Fully online
MA in Christian Ministry
Degree Concentrations
- Ministry and Bible
- Student and Family Ministry
- Spiritual Formation
- Ministerial Leadership
- Required Credits: 48
- Completion Time: 2.5-3.5 years
- Format: Fully online
MA in Global Services
- Required Credits: 48
- Completion Time: 2.5-3.5 years
- Format: Fully online
MA in Theological Studies
- Required Credits: 36
- Completion Time: 2-3 years
- Format: Fully online
BS in Health and Human Performance
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4-5 years
- Format: Fully online
Pre Nursing in Pre-Nursing Track
- Required Credits: 68
- Completion Time: 2-3 years
- Format: Fully online
BS in Healthcare Administration
Degree Concentrations
- Change Management
- General Track
- Public and Community Health
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4-5 years
- Format: Fully online
Graduate Certificate in Healthcare Collaboration and Conflict Management
- Required Credits: 15
- Completion Time: 1 year or less
- Format: Fully online
DNP in BSN to DNP
- Required Credits: 18
- Completion Time: 2-3 years
- Format: Fully online
DNP in Nursing Practice
Degree Concentrations
- Executive Nursing Leadership
- Advanced Practice Nurse
- Required Credits: 39
- Completion Time: 2-3 years
- Format: Fully online
MS in Nutrition
- Required Credits: 36
- Completion Time: 2-3 years
- Format: Fully online
BS in Psychology
Degree Concentrations
- General
- Required Credits: 128
- Completion Time: 4.5-5.5 years
- Format: Fully online
Post-Graduate Certificate in Medical Family Therapy
- Required Credits: 12
- Completion Time: 1 year or less
- Format: Fully online
MMFT in Marriage and Family Therapy
Degree Concentrations
- General
- Medical Family Therapy
- Treatment of Trauma
- Child and Adolescent Therapy
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion Time: 3.5-4.5 years
- Format: Fully online
Abilene Christian University Admissions, Retention, and Graduation Information
| Annual Applications | Acceptance | Retention Rate | Graduation Rate | Median SAT Score | Median ACT Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10,510 | 66% | 81% | 55% | 1170 | 25 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and NCES); acceptance rate for fall 2024; test scores for fall 2024; applications and enrollment for fall 2023; retention for students who started in fall 2023; graduation rate within six years for students who started in 2019.
How Much Does Abilene Christian University Cost To Attend?
| Tuition and fees (in-state) |
|---|
| $45,800 |
| Income | Average Net Cost |
|---|---|
| 0 - 30K | $27,867 |
| 30K - 48K | $20,381 |
| 48K - 75K | $24,259 |
| 75K - 110K | $27,712 |
| 110K+ | $37,152 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and NCES); tuition and fees for 2025–26; net price for 2024–25, for first-time, full-time students receiving financial aid.
How Much Do Abilene Christian University Graduates Make?
Ten years after starting college, former Abilene Christian University students who received federal financial aid earn a median of $61,376 a year, and 91% of those not still in school are working.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard; students who started college in 2011–12 or 2012–13, measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars.
Abilene Christian University's Demographics
Students enrolled at any time during the 2023–24 school year, including part-time and online students.
| Student Body | Under-Grads | Graduates |
|---|---|---|
| 5,872 | 3,465 | 2,407 |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics; 12-month enrollment for 2023–24.
Where is Abilene Christian University?
Abilene Christian University is located at Abilene, TX 79699.
How Safe is Abilene Christian University?
Abilene Christian University reported 0.6 violent and property offenses on campus per 1,000 students in 2024, fewer than most midsize residential campuses. Its figures can also be looked up in the U.S. Department of Education’s Campus Safety and Security database.
Relative to its enrollment, Abilene Christian University has a violent crime rate of 0.02% and a property crime rate of 0.04%. Abilene has a violent crime rate of 0.43% and a property (including theft) crime rate of 1.77%. Sources: campus: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety and Security data, on-campus offenses in 2024 (violent: murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault; property: burglary, motor vehicle theft and arson, which excludes ordinary theft); city: FBI Crime Data Explorer, offenses reported to the city police in 2024.
What Is Abilene Christian University Known For?
Abilene Christian University is known for its academic work in the following disciplines:
- Religious Studies
- Social Work
- Chemistry
- History
- Physics
- Criminal Justice
- Psychology
- Nursing
- Engineering
- Education
- Communications
- Medical
- Literature
- Biology
- Political Science
- Mathematics
- Computer Science
- Sociology
Abilene Christian University's Top Areas of Influence With Degrees Offered
Each rank compares how much Abilene Christian University's faculty and alumni have shaped a field with other schools, using Wikipedia, Wikidata and scholarly citation databases such as Crossref and Semantic Scholar. World and U.S. ranks reflect modern influence; the historical rank counts influence across all time. How we rank influence
Abilene Christian University ranks #152 in the U.S. and #675 worldwide for influence in Religious Studies.
religious-studies-hub DegreesAbilene Christian University ranks #190 in the U.S. and #444 worldwide for influence in Social Work.
social-work DegreesAbilene Christian University ranks #277 in the U.S. and #1394 worldwide for influence in Chemistry.
chemistry DegreesAbilene Christian University ranks #419 in the U.S. and #1190 worldwide for influence in History.
history DegreesAbilene Christian University ranks #435 in the U.S. and #1976 worldwide for influence in Physics.
physics DegreesAbilene Christian University ranks #450 in the U.S. and #841 worldwide for influence in Criminal Justice.
criminal-justice DegreesAbilene Christian University ranks #528 in the U.S. and #1365 worldwide for influence in Psychology.
psychology DegreesAbilene Christian University ranks #532 in the U.S. and #1405 worldwide for influence in Nursing.
nursing DegreesAbilene Christian University ranks #555 in the U.S. and #3266 worldwide for influence in Engineering.
engineering DegreesAbilene Christian University ranks #556 in the U.S. and #2459 worldwide for influence in Education.
education DegreesAbilene Christian University ranks #577 in the U.S. and #2140 worldwide for influence in Communications.
communications DegreesAbilene Christian University ranks #682 in the U.S. and #2460 worldwide for influence in Medical.
medicine DegreesAbilene Christian University ranks #698 in the U.S. and #2110 worldwide for influence in Literature.
literature DegreesAbilene Christian University ranks #763 in the U.S. and #3317 worldwide for influence in Biology.
biology DegreesAbilene Christian University ranks #864 in the U.S. and #3745 worldwide for influence in Political Science.
political-science DegreesAbilene Christian University ranks #921 in the U.S. and #3646 worldwide for influence in Mathematics.
math DegreesAbilene Christian University ranks #998 in the U.S. and #4418 worldwide for influence in Computer Science.
computer-science DegreesAbilene Christian University ranks #1391 in the U.S. and #4428 worldwide for influence in Sociology.
sociology DegreesWho Are Abilene Christian University's Most Influential Alumni?
Abilene Christian University's most influential alumni include professors and professionals in the fields of Social Work, Religious Studies, and Criminal Justice. Here are some of Abilene Christian University's most famous alumni:
- James Tabor
- A Biblical scholar.
- Clayton Heathcock
- An American chemist.
- H. Jeff Kimble
- An American physicist.
- L. Michael White
- An American biblical scholar.
- Edward Fudge
- A Christian theologian.
- Thomas B. Warren
- An American Restorationist Philosopher and Theologian.
- Douglas A. Foster
- An American historian.
- Daniel Johnston
- An American musician .
- Dale Martin
- An American biblical scholar.
- John W. Pilley
- An American ethologist and canine researcher.
- Robert Kelley
- A President of the University of North Dakota.
- Jack P. Lewis
- An American Bible scholar .
