American River College campus
American River College logo

American River College

Type 2 year, Public
Campus locale Suburb: Large
Degrees offered Undergraduate
Calendar system Semester
Student body size Large
Student to faculty ratio 26 to 1
Students retention rate 69%
On-time graduation rate 29%

Located in Sacramento, California, ARC-Sacramento is a public, institution that offers undergraduate degrees. The college operates on a semester-based calendar system, providing students with structured academic terms.

One of the notable aspects of American River College is its open admission policy. This means that all high school graduates and individuals who hold a GED qualification are eligible to apply for admission. This inclusive approach allows a wide range of students to pursue their higher education goals, regardless of their academic background.

American River College is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, ensuring that the institution meets certain standards of quality and effectiveness. This accreditation also allows students to transfer credits to other accredited institutions if they choose to continue their education elsewhere.

While the on-time graduation rate at ARC-Sacramento is reported to be 29%, it is essential to consider the context of this statistic. For comparison, California state's graduation rate for the 2021-2022 was 56% whereas the national average was 35%.

The student retention rate of 69% at ARC-Sacramento suggests that a significant percentage of students choose to continue their studies at the institution after their first-year.


  • Accredited by: Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges

In-State Tuition & Fees

$1,288

Cost of attendance at American River College in 2022 for students from California.

See how the college's in-state sticker price compares to 2 year , public colleges in the state as well as nationally.

California's average $6,749
National average $4,604

Out-of-State Tuition & Fees

$10,168

Cost of attendance at American River College in 2022 for the out-of-state and international students

See how the college's out-of-state sticker price compares to 2 year , public colleges in the state as well as nationally.

California's average $20,840
National average $8,757

Average Grant & Scholarships

In 2022, 89 of freshman students at American River College received on average $4,440 in grant and scholarships from the college, the state and/or the federal government. Below is detail stats of the aid provided to full-time, freshman students.

$4,440
Students Receiving Aid Average Amount Total Amount
Pell Grant 478 41% $4,680 $2,236,893
Other Federal Grant 535 46% $5,077 $2,716,193
State Grant/Scholarships 1,030 89% $1,765 $1,817,919
Institutional Grant/Scholarships 90 8% $731 $65,756
Total Grant & Scholarships 1,036 89% $4,440 $4,599,868

Graduation Rate

The following chart shows the graduation rate of American River College students who enrolled in 2018 and after. The stat covers all undergraduates registered as full-time students to study a 4-year bachelor's degree program for the first time.

The breakdown shows the graduation rate by race/ethnicity of US students. All international students are represented under one group.

As of August 31, 2021, the average graduation rate of American River College students is 29.4%. Female students graduated at a rate of 32.0%, whereas male students graduated at a rate of 26.7%.

29.4%

  • asian 48.3% 99 students
  • African American 16.3% 16 students
  • white 31.1% 179 students
  • unknown 33.3% 2 students
  • hawaiian 23.1% 3 students
  • hispanic 19.7% 84 students
  • International Students 30.0% 6 students
  • Mixed Race 34.3% 35 students

Service Offerings

American River College provides the following additional services to its students
  • On-campus day care for students' children
  • Remedial services
  • Placement services for graduates
  • Academic/career counseling services
  • Employment services for students

Educational Offerings

American River College offers educational programs in the following categories. Check the programs section to learn more about specific programs that you are interested in.
  • Academic
  • Occupational
  • Postbaccalaureate Recreational or avocational education
  • Adult basic remedial or high school equivalent

Special Learning Opportunities

  • Study abroad

Veteran Services

  • Dedicated point of contact for support services for veterans, military service-members, and their families
  • Recognized student veteran organization
  • Credit for military training