Abilene Christian vs Azusa Pacific
Abilene Christian University (ACU) and Azusa Pacific University (APU) are two private Christian universities that offer a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs. While both institutions share a commitment to providing a faith-based education, they differ in several key aspects. ACU, located in Abilene, Texas, has a smaller student body and a lower acceptance rate compared to APU, which is situated in Azusa, California. ACU's student body is predominantly White, while APU's student body is more diverse. In terms of academics, ACU offers a variety of popular majors, including nursing, business, and education, while APU is known for its strong programs in business, psychology, and music. Both universities have high graduation rates, with ACU's rate slightly higher than APU's. To help you make an informed decision about which university is the right fit for you, we have compiled a comprehensive comparison table that highlights the key differences between AC
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![]() Abilene Christian University |
![]() Azusa Pacific University |
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Overview |
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Location | Abilene, Texas | Azusa, California |
Campus setting | City: Midsize | Suburb: Large |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 79.0% | 79.0% |
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Yes | No |
Religious affiliation | Churches of Christ | Undenominational |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 70.1% | 94.1% |
Application fees | $65 |
Undergraduate:
$45
Graduate:
$45
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SAT range | 1050 - 1270 | 966 - 1266 |
ACT range | 22 - 28 | 19 - 25 |
Students submitting SAT score | 35.0% | 16.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 28.0% | 3.0% |
Total number of applicants | 8,208 | 3,967 |
Total number of admissions given out | 5,755 | 3,733 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 833 | 636 |
Yield rate | 14.5% | 17.0% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Not required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Not required | Not required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Not required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $55,500 | $64,752 |
Average net price | $29,734 | $27,112 |
Tuition | $39,250 | $40,830 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$5,878
Meal plan:
$5,750
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Room/dormitory:
$5,316
Meal plan:
$4,140
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
100.0%
Average amount $23,662 |
99.0%
Average amount $27,436 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
53.0%
Average amount $5,275 |
35.0%
Average amount $5,109 |
Students taking out private loans |
16.0%
Average amount $18,262 |
4.0%
Average amount $19,046 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
3,138
Men 39.2% Women 60.8% |
3,939
Men 31.8% Women 68.2% |
Graduate students |
1,774
Men 28.1% Women 71.9% |
4,187
Men 25.9% Women 74.1% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
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Moderate
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Out-of-state students | 14.8% | N/A |
International students | 3.3% | 3.4% |
Campus local/setting | City: Midsize | Suburb: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 2,153 | 2,467 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Texas Oklahoma California Arizona Tennessee | N/A |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 13:1 | 10:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges | Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 60.2% | 71.5% |
Dropout rate | 38.8% | 28.0% |
Transferred out | N/A | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other (Master's Degrees)
Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution (Graduate/Professional Certificates)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services (Master's Degrees)
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Marketing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Education, General (Doctoral Degrees)
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Doctoral Degrees)
Psychology, Other (Doctoral Degrees)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Education, General (Master's Degrees)
Business/Commerce, General (Master's Degrees)
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