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American College of the Building Arts

American College of the Building Arts

Charleston, SC · City · 155 students
Application deadlines: Check the admissions site
$30,403
Average net priceYour net price
<30
30–48
48–75
75–110
110+
By household income — tap a bar
63%
Graduation rate
67% typical
Not reported
Earnings 10 years on
44%
Acceptance rate
77% typical · not scored
Accredited by Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges
About

The American College of the Building Arts (ACBA) in Charleston, South Carolina, is the only accredited four-year institution in the United States that integrates a classical liberal arts curriculum with advanced craft training in the traditional building arts. Operating out of the historic Charleston Trolley Barn, the college offers highly specialized Bachelor of Applied Science degrees in disciplines such as Architectural Stone Carving, Timber Framing, Forged Architectural Ironwork, Plasterwork, and Classical Carpentry. The student experience is intensely hands-on, tight-knit, and guild-oriented, pairing small studio cohorts with master artisans who provide individualized, bench-side mentorship. This unique approach bridges academic scholarship with practical preservation trades, culminating in mandatory national or international summer externships that prepare graduates for elite restoration and design careers.


Wikipedia:American College of the Building Arts (ACBA) is a private, four-year liberal arts and sciences college located in Charleston, South Carolina, United States. It is licensed by the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education to grant a Bachelor of Applied Science and an Associate of Applied Science in six craft specializations in the building arts.

Location
Charleston, SC, 29403-4223 · City campus
✈
Nearest airport from college
JAX · Jacksonville
190 mi away
Cost & aid
Cost of attendance
These figures are federal data and may be out of date.
YoursEveryone
Tuition & fees$21,500
Books & supplies$950
Cost of attendance$38,073
Average net price$30,403
Same price for all students
Tuition & fees$21,500
Books & supplies$950
Cost of attendance$38,073
Average net price$30,403
Net price by family income
$0–30k
$27,879
$30–48k
$29,454
$48–75k
$32,248
$75–110k
$33,835
$110k+
$34,704
Grants from the school
42% of first-years get a grant from the school, averaging $6,490
Source: College Navigator (U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS)
Outcomes
Completion
Within 6 yrs
63%
Within 4 yrs
55%
Back for yr 2
75%
Transferred
4%
8 yrs after starting
46% graduated · 11% transferred · 43% left or unknown · none still enrolled
Debt
Median at graduation$12,500
Monthly payment$133
Admissions
Getting in
Admit rate
44%
Test policy
Test optional
SAT average
1190
R 560–640 · M 570–650
ACT midpoint
24
Comp 20–27 · E 19–26 · M 19–28
SAT middle 50%: 1130–1290
40080012001600
Admitted students
Admit rate: men 42.9% 
Yield: 94.6% of admitted students enroll 

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Essay prompts

If American College of the Building Arts asks for supplemental essays, the prompts are in the school's application.

Student Body
Gender
Men 83%Women 17%
Who enrolls
Faculty ratio
8 : 1
Pell grant
18%
Part-time
1%
Where first-years come from
In state (SC)
32.1%
Out of state
67.9%
International
0.0%

Most out-of-state first-years from: MA 4 · NC 4 · GA 3 · IL 3 · TX 3

Race & ethnicity
White
90%
Hispanic
2%
Black
3%
Asian
3%
Two or more
1%
AI/AN
1%
Varsity sports

No data. This school isn't in the U.S. Department of Education's athletics (EADA) file, so we can't list its teams. That doesn't mean it has none.

Programs & Earnings
Bachelor's degrees by annual completions
Architectural Sciences and Technology20
Type your major above to highlight and detail relevant programs.
Institutional
Resources
Endowment
$2M
Full-time faculty
77%
Faculty salary
$8,846/mo
Teaching spend
$20,328
per student
Federal loans
39%
Classification
Carnegie type
Special focus — other
Undergraduate profile
Four-year, inclusive admissions

Wondering if American College of the Building Arts is the right fit for you?

omhu builds a personalized college list — reach, match, and safety schools — tailored to your profile, grades, and goals. Get financial aid estimates, scholarship guidance, and deep dives on every school.

Personalized reach / match / safety list
Financial aid & net cost estimates
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