Abilene Christian University
Abilene, TX, USA

Reviews

Abilene Christian University

Brittany from Abilene, TX

a current student here
15 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
I have learned and grown so much here. The teachers are amazing and care so much for you as a student and as a person. You will learn a ton in your classes, and will be more than prepared when you enter the work field or continue on with your education.
Am enjoying being here
The atmosphere here is great. The school provides a ton of opportunities for you to get involved and meet new people. You will have many opportunities for service and volunteer work, missions trips, and times to have just plain fun. I enjoy being here because here you are treated as a person rather than just another number. I have had the chance to talk to and connect with all my professors and meet a ton of great friends.
Bang for the buck
Albeit the tuition is pretty high, but you will be getting a great education, a place to become your own person and to grow in your faith. You will be provided with so many opportunities to better yourself and your future resumes or applications. The small classrooms will provide you the chance to get to know your professors, so when it comes time for those letters of recommendation, the professors will know you and your work ethic and the letter will shine in its genuineness.
Tips for prospective students
Get connected and become involved. The school will provide you many opportunities to become involved and the best thing to do is to take advantage of those opportunities. Get to know your professors and build positive relationships with them, they are great and genuinely care about you.
Great for these types of students
It is great for students looking for smaller classes and more personal relationships with professors and staff. It is a place for students looking for tons of volunteer work, mission work, and service work. It is a safe and fun environment if you are looking for a small but great school.

McKenzie from Carrollton, TX

a current student here
11 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
The professors here truly care about their students' education. In most of my classes I attended my first year, there were a lot of discussions in the classes; in addition to learning the information in the textbooks, the professors allowed us (the students) to discuss our many different perspectives. All of the information I learned in class, was useful to not just pass the course, but to apply to my everyday life. I especially appreciated learning new ideas in a Christian setting.
Am enjoying being here
I enjoyed being in the college so much, that as I'm home in Dallas for the summer, I'm anxious to get back to ACU! The atmosphere at ACU is so friendly and inviting; Abilene, very quickly became home to me. Both the students, the faculty, and the staff seem to share the same ideal of making a difference in the world, and when I was on campus I easily desired the same goal. I have very much enjoyed my first-year experience at ACU because I made many great friends and great connections, that I'm sure will last my life-time.
Bang for the buck
While ACU is very expensive, and I have struggled financially like many college students, the quality of education that ACU provides can't be beat. All of the faculty are genuinely interested in the well-being of their students as well as the high-education provided to their students. What makes ACU's education most profound to me, is that the classes are taught from a Christian foundation.
Tips for prospective students
The biggest tip I can provide, is to go into your freshman year with an open mind, and the desire to grow as an individual as well as in your faith. I learned so much about myself my freshman year, and after all of growth I did my freshman year, I still desire to grow even more through my next years in college.

Another tip I have is to venture out and try new things that you have never done before because maybe you were too shy or too afraid. I was shy most of my years in high school, but I grew to be much more outgoing in college, and because of it, I made some of the best friends I'll ever have.

Make sure to pick your friends wisely though, because you want friends who will support you in having fun but also support you in making time to study for your classes.

--Make a healthy balance of fun and studying. The reason you're in school is for an education, so don't forget to study! However, college is also the time to enjoy the college experience, so have some fun with your friends. Don't burn yourself out from studying too much!
Great for these types of students
ACU is a great university for anyone who wants to receive a high education, and wants a small classroom size. ACU also provides a great atmosphere for anyone who wants to grow in their faith.

Carolina from San Antonio, TX

a current student here
5 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
Abilene Christian University is a really great school to attend if you really want to pursue a higher education while still staying true to your Christian faith. It's on the pricey side but it's not impossible to manage. ACU has great faculty and very friendly people.
Tips for prospective students
Make sure you try to go to chapel every day in the beginning of the semester so you can get them over with and have the last couple week chapel-free. It's convenient as well because that's when finals start to come up. Also try to find as many outside scholarships as you can to help pay off tuition because ACU is pretty pricey. Don't blow all of your bean bucks on Starbucks, spend them wisely. Don't procrastinate.
Academic Rigor
I wouldn't say classes are too hard but it is very easy to not do very well due to procrastinating, over confidence and laziness.
Dorm Life
Nelson Hall is very laid back and usually quiet. Room size is a reasonable size and bathrooms are always clean. The RA's are also very friendly.
Food and Dining
The most popular fast food restaurant on campus is Chick-fil-a. The rest are Pizza Hut, Quizno's and Einstein's. The Bean (cafeteria) has pretty good tasting food and usually has something new every visit but only if you go during lunch and dinner time. Other times, when it's not that busy, you will constantly see burgers, hot dogs and sandwiches.
What to do for fun
Honestly, not much because Abilene isn't a very busy city.
Campus Safety
Very safe school.

Sarah from Abilene, TX

a current student here
4 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
ACU provides a loving environment, exceptional professors, and a well of student resources. In my 4 years at this university, I have been overwhelmed with the amount of love and cohesiveness in this community; we really are the ACU family, and people are always willing to help you with anything. Yet the attention to faith and community doesn't sacrifice high-quality education either - although, as a private university, ACU is expensive, you truly get what you pay for.
Tips for prospective students
APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS!
Be prepared to encounter people with a wide range of perspectives, opinions, and values - just because it's a Christian school doesn't mean everyone thinks the same. Embrace this, because it's a great opportunity to see the world in new ways and it will allow you to grow as a person.
Take advantage of activities and events both at ACU and in Abilene as a whole - it's a great way to make friends and you'll definitely regret missing out on all the fun and unique experiences.
Academic Rigor
The professors at ACU definitely push you to grow and learn as much as possible, even in elective classes. If you are looking for easy college classes, ACU is not for you. If you want to challenge yourself, ACU will be a great fit!
Dorm Life
Girls dorms are better than guys dorms.
Freshmen AND sophomores are required to live on campus.
Freshmen have a curfew of midnight Sunday-Thursday.
Opposite gender cannot freely visit the rooms, so there is visitation twice a week 6-11pm.
Bathrooms are always clean and the rooms in most dorms are decent-sized!(Gardner Hall is definitely the biggest room for freshmen girls).
Food and Dining
The Bean (the cafeteria) has TONS of options and a lot of it is homemade.
The food court is great but a little pricey.
What to do for fun
There are a lot of great restaurants in Abilene - Abi-Haus, Hickory Street, Cypress Street, WhollyCow, and more.
There are not a lot of options for dancing - most people go to Guitars and Cadillacs (mix of country and top 40) on Thursday night, which is college night (get in for free with a college ID). There is also Blues (blues/swing dancing).
We have a zoo, PrimeTime, a mall, and movie theaters as well.

There isn't a whole lot to do in Abilene, but we have learned that it is more about who you spend your time with than what you are doing, so be sure to make good friends.
School events are usually great and they are scheduled pretty often. My suggestion is to get involved in some sort of club(s).
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
Highways and Byways during Praise Day chapel is a big part of ACU culture. Additionally, after school events we always put our arms around each other's shoulders (even if you're strangers) and sway as we sing, The Lord Bless You and Keep You.
Greek Life
We don't have fraternities and sororities, but we do have men's and women's social clubs which are practically the same thing except that they can't have an official club house.
Campus Safety
We have our own police department - ACUPD - not just campus security. They are legitimate cops.
Lighting is pretty good on campus as well.
VERY low crime rates.

Sarah from Wiggins, CO

a current student here
4 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
not only about academic subjects, but also about people who are very diverse.
Am enjoying being here
A LOT! There are lots of campus activities and events to be involved in. Although the first semester at ACU was difficult to adjust to, it will be that way anywhere you go. The environment is very open and friendly to all types of people.
Bang for the buck
ACU comes with a fair sized price tag, but not unreasonable. Scholarships are available though. There are many scholarships to be had, just from ACU. If you are an athlete, ACU offers many athletic scholarships, so look into them. If you are not (like me), you should look into the departmental scholarships or the merit scholarships. The best one I heard about was the presidential scholarship, which offers full and half tuition, depending on ACT scores and an interview.
Tips for prospective students
Make sure that you look at scholarships for ACU early on. There is scholarship money available, but the cut off dates seem to be a little early to me. Also, due to the fact that ACU is affiliated with the Church of Christ, be prepared to attend a required amount of chapel. I personally enjoy chapel very much, not only for the spiritual benefits, but because it offers a 30 minute mental and emotional break from the craziness of the day.
Great for these types of students
Anyone who wants a quality education with a spiritual christian backdrop should consider ACU. ACU is a place where you have the christian environment to grow in your faith if you want to, without having it stuffed down your throat. If you like diversity and but don't want the massively overwhelming size of some universities, ACU may be the place for you.

Allison from Crawford, TX

accepted here and planning to attend soon
3 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Will learn a lot
I'm excited about the programs and the classes they have to offer at ACU.
Will enjoy being here
I have visited the campus twice and it is beautiful. I can't wait till I get to be there full time.
Bang for the buck
ACU does cost more than some state schools, but it also offers you something that those schools can't--a small Christian environment where the teachers and students are all excited to help you grow in your walk with Christ
Tips for prospective students
Start looking for scholarships early and study hard for ACT and SAT testing. There are a few great scholarships if you do well on those test.
Great for these types of students
A student who is seeking after God and wants an environment where they will be challenged to grow in there faith, while they are given the tools to do what God has called them to do.

Kaitlyn from Washington, ME

a current student here
3 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
ACU is a terrific, faith-based university with many opportunities to get straight A's and keep them too! My friends and I enjoy passing around new and interesting facts that we have learned in our classes. At ACU, I really learn something new every day.
Am enjoying being here
The people, faculty and students alike, are very friendly and welcoming. They really enjoy each other and all of the faculties main goals each semester is to get to know each student, no matter how large the class, at least on a first name basis. Everyone is really fun to be around and energetic as well.
Bang for the buck
Despite the fact that ACU is a bit pricey, the amount of opportunities that it offers to get involved in the community around the University far outways the price.
Great for these types of students
ACU is a great university for students from all walks of life. There is not a single person here that I have found who will judge another. Everyone is extremely friendly and just a joy to be around. So, ACU is great for just about everyone!

Katheryn from George West, TX

a current student here
3 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
At ACU the classes are always interesting and intriguing. The professors are excellent and are always up to date on current issues and events within their field of expertise as well as others and will combine this into the curriculum. The classes are interactive and this has been increased some by the Global Learning Initiative that was implemented in 2008-2009 school year that gave incoming Freshmen the choice between a paid for iTouch or iPhone (service not included with phone). This increased students ability to communicate with professors and peers which in turn increased student to professor feed back. Thus, increasing the overall learning experience. I have learned a lot while at ACU and look forward to learning much more.
Am enjoying being here
ACU is amazing! When I came to a Wildcat Preview Day I was blown away. You walk on campus and you instantly feel you are a part of a community. In fact I was so impressed I made my decision that very day! My being a student at the school has only increased my love and enjoyment of the school. The student population of about five thousand students is big enough that you are always meeting new people but small enough that you can actually form relationships with people outside your major. The facilities and grounds are excellent and the amount of extracurricular activities available is amazing. ACU is a great place for me and I am blessed to be there.
Bang for the buck
Tuition at ACU is costly, with average total cost for a student being around thirty thousand dollars a year. However, you get way more than you pay for as a student. When you go into class it isn't just a lecture hall, it is an interactive classroom that allows you to utilize every source available to you. The professors want to be there and want to help you learn and understand what they are teaching. The extracurriculars give you an outlet to just relax and enjoy being around other students. The facilities are excellent and help to increase your learning experience. Then there is the overall experience you get from being at ACU that is priceless.
Tips for prospective students
Abilene Christian University is a Christian University with a connection to the Church of Christ. Christianity is a huge part of the school and it is the driving force behind every aspect of it. ACU is a wonderful school that truly cares about the student. Every part of the Faculty, Administration and staff from the Janitors to the Schools President, works hard to make the students feel welcome and a part of the school. The education is excellent and the professors are always willing to help you in any way they can. The sports program is wonderful and the school has been nationally ranked many times. Extracurricular activities are endless and the programs you can join through the school could change your life. Become a part of the school there is something for everyone at ACU, you just have to ask.
Great for these types of students
ACU is great for students who have been living the Christian faith for a long time and want a place to continue to grow and learn, it is wonderful for students who are new to the faith and want to grow while at school and it is good for students who are unsure of their faith position and just want an excellent education. ACU welcomes everyone and works hard to accommodate them, but the Christian faith is major part of the school and will be evident in every Chapel you attend, every Bible Class, every class and activity.

Maelene from San Antonio, TX

researching this school
2 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
Beautiful campus with a homey feeling.
Academic Rigor
Seems very challenging with great professors.
Dorm Life
Cute dorms and living spaces
Food and Dining
Great food and have gluten free options as well as vegetarian
What to do for fun
The gym is well kept and there are always things to do on campus
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
Sing-Song is amazing! It's an annual tradition where all the clubs, frats and sororities compete against eachother in an Acapella contest.
Campus Safety
Seems very safe and welcoming

Maddie from Lubbock, TX

accepted here and planning to attend soon
2 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
ACU is a small, close knit school on a beautiful campus. Whenever I visited, I was welcomed immediately by various members of faculty and students. Everyone is very kind without shoving the religious affiliation down your throat.
Tips for prospective students
Definitely apply for financial aid, because this is not a cheap school. However, 100% of students receive some financial aid and they do their best to make it as affordable as possible for every student. Also, get involved in the many activities/clubs they have on campus.
Academic Rigor
Small class sizes and caring professors definitely help, especially if you don't do as well in large lecture hall type classes. The courses can be challenging at times, but there is tutoring services available and professors are willing to work with you.
Dorm Life
The dorms are all very nice, although freshmen do get community bathrooms. Don't be too turned off by that, because its a great way to get to know your dormmates better through shower sing-alongs, mutual complaints and what-not.
Food and Dining
The Bean is nice, but don't let its title as the World Famous Bean get you too excited. There isn't too much variety in the food and I hear it gets old after a while.
What to do for fun
Get involved on campus!!! Join clubs, hang out, go to sporting events. I don't know too much about what Abilene itself has to offer yet, but I know they do a good job of hosting events on campus.
Campus Safety
They have a police force on campus, and they're everywhere.