American College of the Building Arts
Charleston, SC · official site ↗
Private nonprofitSpecial Focus: Arts, Music & DesignSmall
57
Fin. Resilience
American College of the Building Arts is a private nonprofit institution in Charleston, SC, classified by Carnegie as “Special Focus: Arts, Music & Design.”
It enrolls about 155 undergraduates and is benchmarked here against 17 peer institutions (Special Focus: Arts, Music & Design · Private nonprofit).
On Ibex's Financial Resilience score it rates 57 out of 100 within that peer group, a transparent composite of endowment per undergraduate, net tuition revenue per student, and instructional spend per student.
Its strongest standing relative to peers is graduation rate (4-yr on-time · first-time, full-time) (55.2%, 100th percentile).
Its weakest is on-campus crime rate (0 per 1k).
Peer group
Special Focus: Arts, Music & Design · Private nonprofit
17 institutions
No cross-metric risk flags triggered.
Policy & demographic exposure
How exposed American College of the Building Arts is to the structural shifts reshaping higher ed: a composite structural-risk index plus the 2025 federal budget law’s endowment excise tax, Grad PLUS elimination, new Parent PLUS borrowing cap and new Workforce Pell short-term-credential opportunity, and the demographic enrollment cliff. Only signals that apply to this institution are shown.
Structural risk indexAn indicative 0–100 structural-risk index (higher = more pressure) blending operating margin, months of cash cushion, tuition dependency and the home-state enrollment cliff. Screens for the financial and demographic strain that precedes closures and mergers, directional, not a prediction.
53
ElevatedParent PLUS cap gapHow far the average Parent PLUS loan at this school exceeds the new $20,000/yr Parent PLUS borrowing cap the 2025 budget law imposes from July 2026 (FSA Direct Loan data). A positive gap is per-borrower financing that must shift to private loans, savings, or institutional aid; shown only where the average already tops the cap.
$3,672
Above capHigher than 35% of schools nationally
AY2025-26 YTD (through Q2, Dec 2025)
Enrollment cliff (home state)Projected change in the institution's home-state high-school graduates from 2025 to 2041 (WICHE). The U.S. total falls about 13%; a directional feeder-market signal, not an enrollment forecast.
6.7%
Stable or growingIndicative signals, not forecasts, see each metric’s definition and the methodology. Endowment-tax, Grad PLUS, Parent PLUS and Workforce Pell figures appear only where the institution is actually exposed; “nationally” compares against all schools that report each signal.
Turn these signals into action
Seeing exposure is step one. Ibex builds AI agents that monitor and act on exactly these pressures, explore an interactive demo. Live demos run real workflows; the rest are working mockups we build to your institution’s data.
Financial Health Index
0.7
on a −4 to 10 scale
Primary reserve 35%0 mo
Reserves vs. debt 35%0.00×
Return on net assets 20%3%
Operating result 10%5.8%
Composite of four ratios on a strength-factor scale (−4 weak → 10 strong): below 3 falls short of the threshold for financial health, below 1 signals acute stress, and above 6 is strong. Computed from IPEDS FY2022-23, the most recent finance release (it lags the current year by 2–3 years). Branch campuses that report finances at a parent/system level can show distorted ratios. For informational benchmarking, not a credit rating or financial advice.
Revenue composition
Where the money comes from
$3.6M total revenue · IPEDS FY2022-23
Tuition & fees is the largest single source at 70% of revenue.
Tuition & fees70.2%
Private gifts & grants25.9%
Other revenue2.6%
Investment return1.2%
Where each dollar of revenue comes from, as a share of total positive revenue. Sources are standardized across public (GASB) and private (FASB) reporting; a net investment loss in a down market is shown as 0% and excluded from the mix.
Federal funding mix
Which agencies fund this schoolThe share of this school's federal funding that comes from each awarding agency in FY2024. These are dollars agencies committed (obligations), not dollars the school spent, so the total will not match the audited federal-awards-expended figure elsewhere on this page. Matched to the school by its own SAM.gov Unique Entity ID.
$163,880 obligated · FY2024
Education alone accounts for 100% of it.
Education100.0%
Federal dollars each agency committed to this institution in FY2024, as a share of its total positive obligations (USAspending.gov). Obligations are money committed, not money spent, so this total will not match the audited “Federal awards expended” figure elsewhere on this page. Amounts an agency reclaimed during the year are excluded.
Net price by income
Average net price by family income
After grant & scholarship aid · Scorecard 2024-25
$0–30K$27,879
$30–48K$29,454
$48–75K$32,248
$75–110K$33,835
$110K+$34,704
Average annual net price (total cost minus grant and scholarship aid) paid by federal-aid recipients in each family-income band. Lower-income bands often pay less where need-based aid is strong.
Financial Health
Net tuition revenue / FTETuition revenue per full-time-equivalent student after institutional aid/discounts, what tuition actually nets.
Average
$17,839
53rd percentile in peer grouppeer median $17,839
2024-2517 peers
Instructional spend / FTESpending on instruction per FTE student, how much of the budget reaches the classroom.
Average
$20,328
59th percentile in peer grouppeer median $17,178
2024-2517 peers
Endowment (end of year)Total endowment value at year end, long-term invested wealth that funds operations and cushions shocks.
Average
$1.9M
50th percentile in peer grouppeer median $2.4M
FY2022-2312 peers
Value of endowment assets at the end of the fiscal year (IPEDS finance, FY2022-23: FASB F2H02 / GASB F1H02), co-vintage with the other finance-year metrics on this page. Usually filed at the parent campus: most branch and online sub-units show the parent's endowment as a clearly labeled inherited value, and a few report a small endowment of their own alongside it. Multi-year trend from College Scorecard, shown only where it matches the IPEDS filing.
In-state tuition & feesPublished in-state tuition and fees before aid (sticker price).
$21,500
75th percentile in peer grouppeer median $15,960
2024-258 peers
Out-of-state tuition & feesPublished out-of-state tuition and fees before aid (sticker price).
$21,500
75th percentile in peer grouppeer median $15,960
2024-258 peers
Avg annual cost of attendanceAverage total annual cost, tuition, fees and living costs, before aid.
$38,073
75th percentile in peer grouppeer median $30,928
2024-258 peers
Avg monthly faculty salaryAverage monthly salary of full-time faculty (IPEDS) – a proxy for faculty investment.
Strong
$8,846
75th percentile in peer grouppeer median $6,748
2024-2516 peers
Average monthly salary of full-time faculty, as reported to IPEDS.
Average net priceAverage yearly price families actually pay after grants and scholarships.
Below peers
$30,403
88th percentile in peer grouppeer median $20,536
2024-258 peers
Endowment per undergradEndowment divided by undergraduate headcount, endowment wealth behind each undergrad.
Average
$12,353
60th percentile in peer grouppeer median $12,353
FY2022-235 peers
Net price, low-income families (under $30K)Average yearly cost after all grant and scholarship aid for students from families earning under ~$30,000. Lower is better.
Below peers
$27,879
88th percentile in peer grouppeer median $20,324
2024-258 peers
Average annual net price (cost of attendance minus all grant and scholarship aid) paid by students whose families earn under about $30,000 a year (College Scorecard, FY2024-25). This is what the neediest admitted students actually pay, often far below the sticker price. Read it beside the overall net price and the high-income net price: a low figure here signals strong need-based aid. Lower is better.
Net price, high-income families (over $110K)Average yearly cost after grant aid for students from families earning over ~$110,000. Shown as context, not quality.
$34,704
2024-25
Average annual net price paid by students whose families earn more than about $110,000 a year (College Scorecard, FY2024-25), close to the full-pay cost since little need-based aid applies. Reported as context: the gap between this and the low-income net price shows how steeply the school discounts by family income. Not a measure of quality.
Net price, middle-income families ($30K-$48K)Average yearly cost after all grant and scholarship aid for students from families earning roughly $30,000 to $48,000. Lower is better.
$29,454
2024-25
Average annual net price (cost of attendance minus all grant and scholarship aid) paid by students whose families earn roughly $30,000 to $48,000 a year (College Scorecard, FY2024-25). It is the middle rung of the income net-price ladder: read it together with the low-income (under ~$30K) and high-income (over ~$110K) net prices to see how steeply the school discounts as family income rises. Lower is better.
Net price, upper-middle families ($48K-$75K)Average yearly cost after all grant and scholarship aid for students from families earning roughly $48,000 to $75,000. Lower is better.
$32,248
2024-25
Average annual net price (cost of attendance minus all grant and scholarship aid) paid by students whose families earn roughly $48,000 to $75,000 a year (College Scorecard, FY2024-25). It is the fourth rung of the five-rung income net-price ladder: read it with the low, middle, upper and high-income net prices to see how steeply the school discounts as family income rises. Lower is better.
Net price, upper-income families ($75K-$110K)Average yearly cost after all grant and scholarship aid for students from families earning roughly $75,000 to $110,000. Lower is better.
$33,835
2024-25
Average annual net price (cost of attendance minus all grant and scholarship aid) paid by students whose families earn roughly $75,000 to $110,000 a year (College Scorecard, FY2024-25). It is the fifth rung of the income net-price ladder, just below the full-pay tier: read it with the lower rungs and the high-income net price to see the full cost gradient by family income. Lower is better.
Operating marginNet surplus as a share of total revenue, whether the institution runs in the black.
Strong
5.7%
53rd percentile in peer grouppeer median 5.7%
FY2022-2315 peers
Net surplus as a share of total revenue (IPEDS FY2022-23): (total revenues − total expenses) ÷ total revenues. A surplus above 4% is strong; a thin surplus near 0% leaves little margin for shocks.
Tuition dependencyTuition's share of total revenue, how exposed the budget is to enrollment swings.
70.2%
67th percentile in peer grouppeer median 53.7%
FY2022-2315 peers
Tuition & fees as a share of total revenue (IPEDS FY2022-23). Higher = more exposed to enrollment swings.
Tuition discount rateInstitutional grant aid as a share of gross tuition (IPEDS, private nonprofits only) – the tuition-discount rate. The share of sticker tuition handed back as aid; a high rate (the national average is ~56%) signals heavy price competition for students.
Moderate
12.2%
53rd percentile in peer grouppeer median 12.2%
FY2022-2317 peers
Institutional grant aid as a share of gross tuition & fee revenue (IPEDS FY2022-23, FASB): allowances applied to tuition ÷ (net tuition revenue + those allowances) – the tuition-discount rate enrollment leaders track, i.e. the share of sticker tuition handed back as institutional aid. Private nonprofit institutions only; public (GASB) institutions report tuition differently and are not shown. The national private-college average is roughly 56% (NACUBO); above ~60% signals heavy price competition.
State appropriations shareState appropriations' share of total revenue, material for public institutions, near zero for private.
0%
100th percentile in peer grouppeer median 0%
FY2022-2315 peers
State appropriations as a share of total revenue (IPEDS FY2022-23). Material for public institutions; ~0 for private.
Administrative cost shareInstitutional support (central administration, governance, general administration, fundraising, and under FASB the operation & maintenance of plant) as a share of total expenses, private nonprofit (FASB) institutions only, where the figure is comparable. An informational gauge of administrative intensity, not a measure of waste.
16.7%
35th percentile in peer grouppeer median 28%
FY2022-2317 peers
Institutional support, central administration, executive management, governance, general administration, fundraising and (under FASB rules) operation & maintenance of plant, as a share of total expenses (IPEDS FY2022-23, FASB). Private nonprofit institutions only: public (GASB) institutions report functional expenses on a different basis and frequently consolidate large hospital and auxiliary operations, which makes a comparable ratio unreliable, so they are not shown. Because FASB folds plant operations into institutional support, this runs higher than a narrow 'central-office' figure, and schools with sizable hospital or auxiliary operations show a lower ratio as those costs enlarge total expenses. An informational benchmark of administrative intensity, compared within the peer group, not a measure of waste or quality.
Months of operating cushionMonths of operating expenses covered by expendable reserves, the institution's cash cushion.
Thin
0 mo
14th percentile in peer grouppeer median 8 mo
FY2022-2314 peers
How many months of operating expenses the institution could cover from expendable reserves (IPEDS FY2022-23 primary reserve ratio × 12). About 5 months, one semester, is the accreditor benchmark for solid footing; below ~3 months is thin. A negative figure means expendable reserves are themselves negative.
Reserves vs. debtExpendable reserves divided by long-term debt, whether reserves could cover the debt.
Thin
0.00×
FY2022-23
Expendable reserves ÷ plant-related debt (IPEDS FY2022-23 viability ratio). At or above 1.25×, reserves fully cover long-term debt. Shown blank when the institution carries little or no plant debt.
Return on net assetsChange in net assets over the year, whether the institution grew wealthier.
Adequate
3%
43rd percentile in peer grouppeer median 4%
FY2022-2314 peers
Change in total net assets ÷ net assets (IPEDS FY2022-23) – whether the institution grew wealthier over the year. 2–4% is adequate; above 4% is strong.
Endowment per FTE studentEndowment per full-time-equivalent student, the FTE-correct measure of endowment wealth per student.
Average
$12,938
50th percentile in peer grouppeer median $21,862
FY2022-2312 peers
End-of-year endowment ÷ 12-month FTE enrollment, endowment wealth per full-time-equivalent student. The FTE-correct companion to endowment-per-undergraduate; FTE counts graduate and part-time load, so research universities look less wealthy on this basis than on a headcount basis.
Avg Parent PLUS loanAverage Parent PLUS loan originated per recipient family.
$23,672
2024-25
Average federal Parent PLUS loan per recipient (U.S. Dept. of Education, FSA Direct Loan Dashboard, AY2025-26 YTD). Parent PLUS faces new aggregate borrowing caps under the 2025 budget law; a high average shows how far families currently borrow above other federal aid. Companion to the Grad PLUS and Parent PLUS cap-gap signals. Context, not a quality measure.
Spent on instructionInstruction as a share of total functional expenses (private-nonprofit reporting).
64.1%
100th percentile in peer grouppeer median 36.5%
2024-2517 peers
Instruction spending divided by total functional expenses (IPEDS Finance, FY2022-23 (FASB)). 'Where the money goes' context, reported here for private-nonprofit (FASB) institutions only, where the functional split is comparable; not computed for public or for-profit institutions. Higher is not automatically better; research universities and those with hospitals or large auxiliaries spread spending across other functions.
Spent on student servicesStudent services as a share of total functional expenses (private-nonprofit reporting).
3.9%
41st percentile in peer grouppeer median 9.2%
2024-2517 peers
Student-services spending (admissions, registrar, student life, counseling) divided by total functional expenses (IPEDS Finance, FY2022-23 (FASB)). Private-nonprofit (FASB) institutions only. Spending-mix context, not a quality measure.
Spent on academic supportAcademic support as a share of total functional expenses (private-nonprofit reporting).
4.4%
47th percentile in peer grouppeer median 5.5%
2024-2517 peers
Academic-support spending (libraries, academic computing, deans' offices) divided by total functional expenses (IPEDS Finance, FY2022-23 (FASB)). Private-nonprofit (FASB) institutions only. Context, not a quality measure.
Spent on researchResearch as a share of total functional expenses (private-nonprofit reporting).
0%
76th percentile in peer grouppeer median 0%
2024-2517 peers
Research spending divided by total functional expenses (IPEDS Finance, FY2022-23 (FASB)). Private-nonprofit (FASB) institutions only; near zero at teaching-focused colleges and sizeable at research universities. Spending-mix context, not a quality measure.
Financial responsibility scoreED financial-responsibility composite score (-1.0 to 3.0; >=1.5 is passing).
Below peers
1.4
8th percentile in peer grouppeer median 2.2
FY2022-23 (Federal Student Aid)13 peers
The U.S. Department of Education's financial-responsibility composite score, a -1.0 to +3.0 measure of an institution's solvency built from its audited finances. 1.5 and above passes; 1.0-1.4 is a zone needing oversight; below 1.0 fails and can trigger letter-of-credit or cash-monitoring requirements. ED computes it only for private non-profit and proprietary schools, so it is reported only where scored. Higher is safer. Banded against the school's peer group.
Parent PLUS cap gapHow far the average Parent PLUS loan at this school exceeds the new $20,000/yr Parent PLUS borrowing cap the 2025 budget law imposes from July 2026 (FSA Direct Loan data). A positive gap is per-borrower financing that must shift to private loans, savings, or institutional aid; shown only where the average already tops the cap.
Above cap
$3,672
2024-25
How far the AVERAGE Parent PLUS loan at this institution exceeds the new $20,000 annual Parent PLUS borrowing cap the 2025 budget law imposes from July 1, 2026 (the law also sets a $65,000 per-student aggregate Parent PLUS limit). A positive gap means the typical parent borrowing here currently takes more in a year than the new cap will allow, financing that must shift to private loans, savings, or institutional aid. Average annual loan per Parent PLUS recipient from the U.S. Dept. of Education / Federal Student Aid Direct Loan Dashboard, primarily award year 2025-26 (year-to-date through Q2, December 2025), with 2024-25 full-year retained where 2025-26 is not yet reported (labelled per school). Shown only where the average already exceeds the new cap; an exposure signal, not a forecast.
Structural risk indexAn indicative 0–100 structural-risk index (higher = more pressure) blending operating margin, months of cash cushion, tuition dependency and the home-state enrollment cliff. Screens for the financial and demographic strain that precedes closures and mergers, directional, not a prediction.
Elevated
53
2024-25
An indicative 0–100 structural-risk index (higher = more pressure), an equal-weight blend of the stress signals we measure: thin or negative operating margin, low months of operating cushion, high tuition dependency, and a shrinking home-state high-school-graduate pipeline (enrollment cliff). Averaged over whichever signals are available (at least two required). It screens for the financial and demographic pressures that precede closures and mergers, a directional indicator, NOT a prediction that any institution will close, and not a credit rating.
Federal funding obligatedTotal federal dollars all agencies committed to this institution in FY2024, across grants, contracts, and student aid.
Below peers
$163,880
20th percentile in peer grouppeer median $717,523
FY2024 (USAspending.gov)10 peers
Obligations reported to USAspending.gov for FY2024 (Oct 2023 to Sep 2024), summed across every awarding agency. This is money committed, not money spent, so it will not equal the audited 'Federal awards expended' figure and the two should not be subtracted from one another. Negative amounts (agencies reclaiming prior commitments) are excluded.
Federal funding agenciesHow many distinct federal agencies committed money to this institution in FY2024.
1
90th percentile in peer grouppeer median 1
FY2024 (USAspending.gov)10 peers
A count of awarding agencies with positive FY2024 obligations. Neither high nor low is inherently better: a community college funded solely by the Department of Education is behaving normally, while a research university typically draws on ten or more agencies.
Largest funder's shareShare of federal funding that comes from the single largest awarding agency.
100%
100th percentile in peer grouppeer median 100%
FY2024 (USAspending.gov)10 peers
The largest agency's FY2024 obligations as a share of the institution's total positive federal obligations. Read it as concentration, not risk: most teaching colleges sit near 100% because nearly all their federal money is Department of Education student aid.
Graduation & completion
Graduation rate · first-time, full-time
62.1%
62.1% graduate within 6 years (150% of normal time)
55.2% on-time, within 4 years (100%)
Counts only students who entered full-time as first-time freshmen and earned a bachelor's here, the conventional headline rate. Excludes part-time entrants and transfer-ins.
Completion rate · all students
50%
50% earned a degree or certificate within 8 years (IPEDS Outcome Measures)
The broader cohort, also counts part-time entrants and transfer-ins, and any credential. More inclusive, so it can run higher than the graduation rate.
Why two numbers? They measure different students over different windows, so they are not directly comparable. The graduation rate is the standard federal headline but tracks only first-time, full-time students through a bachelor's; the all-students completion rate adds the part-time and transfer students it leaves out, over a longer window. Read each for what it covers. Source: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS Graduation Rates & Outcome Measures, via College Scorecard.
Enrollment & Pipeline
Undergraduate enrollmentNumber of degree-seeking undergraduates (IPEDS fall headcount). A size measure, not a quality signal.
155
33rd percentile in peer grouppeer median 236
2024-259 peers
Admission rateShare of applicants offered admission. Lower means more selective; open-admission schools report none.
44.4%
20th percentile in peer grouppeer median 76.6%
2024-255 peers
First-year retentionShare of first-time, full-time freshmen who return for a second year, an early signal of student fit and support.
Average
75%
43rd percentile in peer grouppeer median 84.7%
2024-257 peers
Graduation rate (6-yr · first-time, full-time)Of first-time, full-time freshmen, the share who earn a bachelor's at this institution within six years (150% of normal time) – the conventional headline graduation rate. It counts only first-time, full-time students and excludes part-time entrants and transfer-ins, who are captured instead by the all-students completion rate.
Below peers
62.1%
20th percentile in peer grouppeer median 71.4%
2024-255 peers
Graduation rate (4-yr on-time · first-time, full-time)Of first-time, full-time freshmen, the share who earn a bachelor's within four years (100% of normal time) – the 'on-time' rate. It runs well below the six-year rate because many students take a fifth or sixth year; same first-time, full-time cohort as the six-year rate.
Strong
55.2%
100th percentile in peer grouppeer median 50%
2024-255 peers
Pell recipient shareShare of undergraduates on a federal Pell Grant, a proxy for the share from lower-income families.
18.4%
22nd percentile in peer grouppeer median 27.1%
2024-259 peers
Completion rate (all students · 8-yr)Of ALL entering degree-seeking undergraduates, full- and part-time, first-time and transfer-in, the share who earned a degree or certificate at this institution within eight years (IPEDS Outcome Measures). Broader than the graduation rate, which counts only first-time, full-time students, so the two are measured on different students and are not directly comparable.
Below peers
50%
25th percentile in peer grouppeer median 66.7%
2024-258 peers
Share of ALL entering degree-seeking undergraduates, full- and part-time, first-time and transfer-in, who earned a degree or certificate at this institution within eight years (IPEDS Outcome Measures, via College Scorecard). Broader and more inclusive than the graduation-rate figures, which count only first-time, full-time students entering a bachelor's program, so the two are measured on different groups of students and are not directly comparable.
Average SAT score
1,190
2024-25
Average SAT score of enrolled students who submitted scores (College Scorecard, FY2024-25). A selectivity and incoming-class signal, not a measure of institutional quality, and reported by fewer than half of institutions in the test-optional era. Schools that are test-optional or open-admission show none.
Adult learners (25+)Share of undergraduates aged 25 or older.
31.4%
44th percentile in peer grouppeer median 35%
2024-259 peers
Share of undergraduates aged 25 or older (College Scorecard, FY2024-25). Read as context on the student mix: schools serving many working adults look different on persistence and part-time measures than traditional-age campuses, and neither is inherently better.
Part-time undergraduatesShare of undergraduates enrolled part-time.
0.7%
22nd percentile in peer grouppeer median 17.1%
2024-259 peers
Share of undergraduates enrolled part-time (College Scorecard, FY2024-25). Context, not quality: a high part-time share is common at community and commuter institutions and affects graduation-rate comparisons, which are based only on full-time, first-time students.
Women (share of undergraduates)Share of undergraduates who are women.
17.4%
11th percentile in peer grouppeer median 46.1%
2024-259 peers
Share of undergraduates who are women (College Scorecard, FY2024-25). Reported as context on the student mix, not a measure of quality.
8-year completion (all students)Share of all entering students, including part-time and transfer-in, who earn an award within 8 years. Higher is better.
Below peers
50%
25th percentile in peer grouppeer median 66.7%
2024-258 peers
Share of ALL entering students, full-time and part-time, first-time and transfer-in, who complete an award within eight years (College Scorecard Outcome Measures, FY2024-25). It is a broader, more representative completion signal than the first-time-full-time graduation rates, because it counts the part-time and returning students those rates exclude. Higher is better.
Transfer-out rateShare of students who transfer to a different school within the tracking window. Shown as context, not quality.
6.9%
2024-25
Share of students who transfer OUT to a different institution within the tracking window (College Scorecard, FY2024-25). Reported as context, not a quality measure: it runs high at access-oriented schools and two-year feeders whose students routinely move on to a four-year program, and it should be read together with the completion and retention figures rather than on its own.
Admission yield
100%
Fall 2023
Share of admitted students who enrolled (IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023): students who enrolled ÷ students admitted. A demand signal, how many accepted offers the institution converts to enrollment. Higher yield generally reflects stronger demand, though binding early-decision programs and price positioning can inflate it. Open-admission institutions do not report admissions and show none.
12-month FTE enrollmentFull-time-equivalent enrollment over the full year, the denominator for per-student finance measures.
148
53rd percentile in peer grouppeer median 148
2022-2317 peers
Full-time-equivalent enrollment over the full 12-month year (IPEDS 12-month enrollment, 2022-23). Counts part-time students at their fractional load, so it runs above fall full-time headcount and is the denominator used for per-student finance measures.
Student-faculty ratioStudents per instructional faculty member, lower usually means smaller classes and more contact.
8:1
33rd percentile in peer grouppeer median 10:1
fall 20239 peers
Students per instructional faculty member (IPEDS, fall 2023). Lower generally means smaller classes and more faculty contact, though the measure mixes undergraduate and graduate teaching and is institution-reported.
SAT 25th percentile (total)25th-percentile SAT total of enrolled students (sum of section 25th percentiles).
1,130
2024-25
Sum of the 25th-percentile SAT reading and math section scores of enrolled students (College Scorecard, FY2024-25). With the 75th-percentile figure it shows the middle-50% SAT range. Selectivity context, not a quality measure; reported only where enough students submit SAT scores.
SAT 75th percentile (total)75th-percentile SAT total of enrolled students (sum of section 75th percentiles).
1,290
2024-25
Sum of the 75th-percentile SAT reading and math section scores of enrolled students (College Scorecard, FY2024-25). With the 25th-percentile figure it brackets the middle-50% SAT range. Selectivity context, not a quality measure.
ACT 25th percentile25th-percentile ACT composite of enrolled students.
20
2024-25
25th-percentile ACT composite score of enrolled students (College Scorecard, FY2024-25); with the 75th percentile it shows the middle-50% ACT range. Selectivity context, not a quality measure.
ACT 75th percentile75th-percentile ACT composite of enrolled students.
27
2024-25
75th-percentile ACT composite score of enrolled students (College Scorecard, FY2024-25). Selectivity context, not a quality measure.
Submitted SAT scoresShare of enrolled first-time students who submitted SAT scores.
44%
2024-25
Share of enrolled first-time degree-seeking students who submitted SAT scores (IPEDS, Fall 2023). A low share usually signals a test-optional or ACT-dominant institution, not a weakness; read alongside the score bands.
Submitted ACT scoresShare of enrolled first-time students who submitted ACT scores.
22%
2024-25
Share of enrolled first-time degree-seeking students who submitted ACT scores (IPEDS, Fall 2023). A low share usually signals a test-optional or SAT-dominant institution, not a weakness.
Fully online studentsShare of students enrolled exclusively in distance-education (online) courses.
0%
29th percentile in peer grouppeer median 30%
2024-2517 peers
Share of students enrolled exclusively in distance-education courses (IPEDS, Fall 2023). Describes delivery model, not quality; online-heavy institutions look different on residential measures.
Applicant-pool diversity shiftProjected change in the non-white share of the home state's public high-school graduating class, class of 2025 to 2037.
+3%
WICHE 2024 (11th ed.)
Percentage-point change in the non-white share of the institution's home-state public high-school graduating class between the class of 2025 (the national peak) and 2037 (WICHE, Knocking at the College Door, 11th ed., public-school race detail). A forward look at who the future applicant pool will be: a positive value means the state's graduating class is projected to grow more racially diverse. Strategic recruiting context, not a forecast of any one school's enrollment, and a college recruits from many states.
Hybrid (some online) enrollmentShare of students enrolled in some but not all courses online (hybrid), Fall 2023.
0%
41st percentile in peer grouppeer median 1%
Fall 202317 peers
Share of all students taking some, but not all, of their courses at a distance (IPEDS, Fall 2023). This is the hybrid middle ground between the fully online share and the fully in-person share, and it signals how far a school has moved coursework online without going exclusively remote. Context metric, not better or worse. Banded against the school's peer group.
Transfer-in share (undergraduate)Transfer-in students as a share of undergraduate enrollment, Fall 2023.
0%
11th percentile in peer grouppeer median 7.3%
Fall 20239 peers
Transfer-in students as a share of all undergraduates (IPEDS, Fall 2023). A high share means the school depends on transfer pipelines rather than first-time freshmen, which changes both recruitment strategy and melt/retention risk. Context metric, not better or worse. Banded against the school's peer group.
Graduate share of enrollmentGraduate students as a share of total enrollment, Fall 2023.
0%
12th percentile in peer grouppeer median 95%
Fall 202317 peers
Graduate students as a share of total headcount enrollment (IPEDS, Fall 2023). It separates research-intensive universities with large graduate bodies from undergraduate-focused institutions. Context metric, not better or worse. Banded against the school's peer group.
Women share of facultyWomen as a share of instructional staff (full- and part-time), Fall 2023.
16.7%
12th percentile in peer grouppeer median 42.1%
2023-2417 peers
Women as a share of all instructional staff, full- and part-time combined (IPEDS Human Resources, Fall 2023). A gender-composition signal for the teaching workforce. Context metric, not better or worse. Banded against the school's peer group.
Faculty of color shareU.S. faculty of color as a share of instructional staff, Fall 2023.
16.7%
41st percentile in peer grouppeer median 25%
2023-2417 peers
Instructional staff who are American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian, Black, Hispanic, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, or two-or-more races, as a share of all instructional staff (IPEDS Human Resources, Fall 2023). Nonresident and race-unknown staff are excluded from the numerator. Context metric, not better or worse. Banded against the school's peer group.
Women in applicant poolWomen as a share of all first-time degree-seeking applicants.
22.4%
2023-24
Women as a share of the school's first-time degree-seeking applicant pool (IPEDS Admissions, 2023-24). A read on the funnel's composition, useful for targeting and a proxy for program mix: nursing- and education-heavy schools skew female, engineering- and trade-heavy schools skew male. Neither skew is inherently better. Banded against the school's peer group.
Direct competitors within 100 miNumber of same-type institutions (same Carnegie class and control) within 100 miles.
Average
0
59th percentile in peer grouppeer median 0
2024-2517 peers
How many institutions of the same type (same Carnegie classification and control, i.e. the schools competing for the same students) sit within roughly 100 miles. A higher count means a more crowded local market and a harder yield fight, which matters most as the regional pool of high school graduates shrinks; a low count means the school has its catchment largely to itself. Distance is straight-line from campus coordinates. Banded against the school's peer group. Fewer is better for recruiting leverage.
States recruited fromNumber of distinct US states sending at least one first-time student.
11
Fall 2022
How many distinct US states the school's first-time degree-seeking class is drawn from (IPEDS Residence & Migration, Fall 2022). A higher count signals broader geographic reach and less dependence on any single state's shrinking pool of high school graduates; a low count means the school recruits from a narrow region and is more exposed to that region's demographic decline. Banded against the school's peer group.
Foreign first-time shareShare of first-time students whose legal residence is a foreign country.
4.3%
Fall 2022
Share of the school's first-time degree-seeking class whose legal residence is outside the United States (IPEDS Residence & Migration, Fall 2022). A measure of international reach in the entering class. Neither high nor low is inherently better; it is context for tuition-revenue mix and exposure to visa and geopolitical risk. Banded against the school's peer group.
Metro-area unemployment rateUnemployment rate in the school's metro area, ACS 2019-23.
Strong
3.8%
19th percentile in peer grouppeer median 5.2%
ACS 2019-2316 peers
The civilian unemployment rate in the school's metropolitan or micropolitan area (US Census ACS 2019-23, mapped by the school's federal CBSA code). It is a proxy for local labor demand: a lower rate means a tighter job market, a stronger near-term destination for graduates and a smaller pool of working adults to recruit. It describes the local economy, not the school. Schools outside any metro area are not scored. Banded against the school's peer group.
On-campus crime rateOn-campus criminal offenses per 1,000 students, 2024 (Clery Act).
Below peers
0 per 1k
92nd percentile in peer grouppeer median 0 per 1k
2024 (Clery)12 peers
Criminal offenses reported on campus in 2024 (murder, manslaughter, the four sex-offense categories, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, motor-vehicle theft and arson) per 1,000 students, from the school's federal Clery Act filing. Counts and enrollment are summed across the institution's campuses. A higher number does not always mean a more dangerous school: thorough reporting and dense residential campuses raise it. Lower is generally safer. Banded against the school's peer group.
Enrollment cliff (home state)Projected change in the institution's home-state high-school graduates from 2025 to 2041 (WICHE). The U.S. total falls about 13%; a directional feeder-market signal, not an enrollment forecast.
Stable or growing
6.7%
2024-25
Projected change in the number of high-school graduates in the institution's HOME STATE from the class of 2025 (the national peak) to 2041, per WICHE's Knocking at the College Door, 11th Edition (Dec 2024). The 'enrollment cliff' is the post-2008 birth decline reaching college age; the U.S. total is projected to fall about 13% over this window. A college recruits from many states, so its home-state projection is an indicative directional signal of feeder-market pressure, not a forecast of that institution's own enrollment.
In-state HS graduatesPublic + private high-school graduates in the school's state, class of 2025.
57,865
29th percentile in peer grouppeer median 137,304
Class of 2025 (WICHE)17 peers
The size of the school's home-state high-school graduating class in 2025 (WICHE Knocking at the College Door, public and private combined). It is the near-term in-state feeder market, the complement to the enrollment-cliff projection, which shows the direction that market is heading. Context metric, not better or worse. Banded against the school's peer group.
Enrollment momentum (CAGR)Enrollment momentum (CAGR).
Average
10.5%
56th percentile in peer grouppeer median 10.5%
2024-259 peers
Compound annual growth rate of undergraduate enrollment over the years the tool tracks (College Scorecard, roughly 2016-2024). Positive means the school is growing; negative means it is shrinking, the leading indicator of demand stress ahead of the demographic cliff. Banded against the school's peer group.
Net-price momentum (CAGR)Net-price momentum (CAGR).
Average
4%
65th percentile in peer grouppeer median 1.8%
2024-2517 peers
Compound annual growth rate of net tuition revenue per full-time-equivalent student over the tracked years. A high positive rate means the school's real net price is climbing faster than peers, which can strain affordability and yield. Banded against the school's peer group. Lower is better.
Selectivity momentum (CAGR)Selectivity momentum (CAGR).
-14.3%
2024-25
Compound annual growth rate of the admission rate over the tracked years. A negative value means the school is admitting a smaller share of applicants over time (getting more selective); a positive value means its admit rate is rising (getting less selective), often a sign of softening demand. Banded against the school's peer group.
Enrollment forecast (5-yr)Projected change in total enrollment about five years out, from the school's own trend.
Strong
60%
100th percentile in peer grouppeer median -4.8%
2024-2029 projection9 peers
Projected cumulative change in total enrollment roughly five years out, modeled by a least-squares log-linear fit on the school's own enrollment history (2016-2024). It uses the full multi-year series, so a single shock year (such as 2020) does not drive the result. This is a naive trend extrapolation, not a demographic model, and is capped at plus or minus 60 percent; treat it as direction-of-travel, not a precise count. Banded against the school's peer group; higher means projected growth.
Enrollment-demand indexComposite 0-100 of admission yield, selectivity and enrollment trend vs peers.
68.0
2024-25
A 0-100 composite of how much demand the school commands relative to its peer group: the average of its peer percentile ranks for admission yield, selectivity (a lower admit rate counts as stronger demand) and recent enrollment trend. Built only where at least two of those three are reported. Higher means stronger pull in the market. Banded against the school's peer group.
Admissions test policy
SAT / ACT requirement
IPEDS Fall 2023
Test-blind (not considered)
This school is test-blind: SAT or ACT scores are not considered in admission decisions. Reported to IPEDS for the most recent admissions cycle. Test policy is a live enrollment lever, so it is shown as the school's stated category rather than a peer rank.
Completion equity
Six-year graduation rate by group
First-time, full-time bachelor’s cohort · Scorecard 2024-25
White68%
Black0%
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander100%
Six-year graduation rate (150% of normal time) for the first-time, full-time bachelor’s cohort, broken out by race and ethnicity and for Pell-grant recipients (College Scorecard). Each bar uses the same measure as the headline graduation rate, so the gaps between groups are directly comparable. School overall: 63%.
Student body
Undergraduate race & ethnicity
IPEDS 2024-25
White90.3%
Black2.6%
Asian2.6%
Hispanic/Latino1.9%
American Indian/Alaska Native1.3%
Two or more races1.3%
Undergraduate enrollment by race and ethnicity, as reported to IPEDS (College Scorecard). “International” denotes nonresident students; “Unknown” means race/ethnicity was not reported.
Student Outcomes & Risk
Median debt at graduationMedian federal loan debt graduates carry at the point they complete.
Average
$12,500
60th percentile in peer grouppeer median $12,500
2024-255 peers
Share taking federal loansShare of students taking out federal loans, a borrowing-reliance signal.
39%
33rd percentile in peer grouppeer median 51.5%
2024-259 peers
Full-time faculty shareShare of faculty employed full-time, higher generally means more availability and continuity.
Average
76.7%
50th percentile in peer grouppeer median 78.1%
2024-2514 peers
Net-value indexComposite 0-100 of earnings, completion, net price and debt vs peers.
Below peers
24.0
12th percentile in peer grouppeer median 50.0
2024-258 peers
A 0-100 composite of student value relative to the peer group: the average of peer percentile ranks for median earnings ten years out, graduation rate, net price (lower counts as better value) and median debt (lower is better). Built only where at least two components are reported. Higher means more outcome per dollar. Banded against the school's peer group.
Top fields of study (bachelor's)
American College of the Building Arts’s largest fields by completions, with graduate earnings (4 years out) and debt benchmarked against the same field at its peer group. Sparklines show the 8-year completions trend.
| Field | Completions / yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs out | Median debt | Earnings premium | Risk score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Architecture | 18 | – | – | – | – |
Earnings-premium status is an indicative estimate: median graduate earnings four years out vs the SC state median earnings of a high-school graduate (undergraduate credentials) or a bachelor’s-degree holder (graduate credentials) from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (2022 ACS 5-year). The official U.S. Department of Education determination uses its own cohort definition and may differ.
The risk score (0–100) is an indicative blend of earnings-premium margin and the five-year completions trend, higher means a field pays closer to (or below) the benchmark and is shrinking. A directional screen, not an official determination.
Major-level detail (CIP 4-digit)
Architecture – 1 CIP program (4-digit), 0 with earnings
| Major (CIP 4-digit) | Compl./yr | Earn 4yr | Earn 1yr | % > threshold | Median debt | Debt/earn | Earnings premium | 2 of 3 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Architectural Sciences and TechnologyCIP 0409 › | 18 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
Major-level earnings, debt and threshold pass-rates are reported by College Scorecard only where enough graduates exist to protect privacy, so 0 of 1 major shows an earnings figure; the rest read “–”. % > threshold is ED’s own share of graduates out-earning the federal earnings threshold (the do-no-harm pass rate), drawn from the best available measurement window (4-, 5- or 1-year) pooled across all nine College Scorecard Field-of-Study releases; a small chip marks any figure not on the 4-year window, and hovering names the cohort size and source release. 2 of 3 yrs flags fields below the earnings-premium benchmark in two of the latest three reported cohort-years, the statutory trigger under the 2025 test (effective July 1, 2026). Indicative; the Department of Education’s official determination may differ. Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Field of Study (2014–15 through 2022–23 cohorts + most-recent snapshot), accessed March 2026.
See the interactive dashboard for all fields and credential levels (associate through doctoral). Source: College Scorecard Field of Study.
Frequently asked
How financially healthy is American College of the Building Arts?
On the NACUBO Composite Financial Index, the −4 to 10 balance-sheet score accreditors and institutional boards use – American College of the Building Arts scores 0.7 (Stress), computed from its IPEDS FY2022-23 finances. This is informational benchmarking, not a credit rating.
How selective is American College of the Building Arts?
American College of the Building Arts admits about 44% of applicants, and roughly 75% of first-year students return for a second year.
What is American College of the Building Arts's student-faculty ratio?
American College of the Building Arts reports a student-faculty ratio of 8:1 (IPEDS, fall 2023) – that is, about 8 students for every instructional faculty member.
How much does American College of the Building Arts cost?
The average published cost of attendance is $38,073 and the average net price after aid is $30,403 (College Scorecard).
Which schools are American College of the Building Arts's peers?
American College of the Building Arts is benchmarked against 17 institutions in the Special Focus: Arts, Music & Design · Private nonprofit peer group; all percentiles and medians on this page are computed within that group.
Compare with peers
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Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard & IPEDS (most recent releases), with the U.S. Census Bureau (ACS), the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (Employment Projections, field-demand outlook) and WICHE (enrollment-cliff projections). Figures lag the current academic year by roughly two to three years. Percentiles and medians are computed within the institution's peer group. Financial Resilience is a transparent composite, see each component above. Compiled by Ibex Insights.