American River College (ARC) is a two-year public college that is part of the Los Rios Community College District in the five-county region of Sacramento, California. The other community colleges in this district include Cosumnes River College, Folsom Lake College and Sacramento City College. ARC grants occupational certificates and technical education as well as associate's degrees. There are also online classes and e-services available. ARC offers excellent post-secondary education to students seeking to transfer to four-year institutions.
Known for its innovative programs, ARC is also one of the largest community colleges in California. It transfers a significant number of students to UC Davis and California State University - Sacramento.
History
In 1942, Sacramento's Grant Union Junior College was opened to train civilians for service in World War II. It grew as a technical college and the name was changed in 1945, and again in 1955, when it became American River Junior College District. In 1965, the college was renamed American River College (ARC) and became part of the Los Rios Community College District.
ARC began providing training for Sacramento police, sheriff, fire personnel, and the basic police academy at the Sacramento Regional Public Safety Training Center.
Academics
American River College follows the semester system, offering a fall, spring and summer semester.
In addition to running the Sacramento Regional Public Safety Training Center, ARC offers numerous programs of study on its main campus.
ARC Programs of Study:
- Behavioral & Social Sciences
- Computer Science & Information Technology
- English
- Fine & Applied Arts
- Health & Education
- Humanities
- Mathematics
- Physical Education & Athletics
- Science & Engineering
- Technical Education
Student Life
American River College serves a large and diverse student body, and offers many student programs and support services including:
- Accelerated College Education (ACE)
- CalWORKS (California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids)
- Career Center
- Child Development Centers
- Cooperative Agencies Resources Education (CARE)
- Counseling Center
- Disabled Students Programs and Services
- English as a Second Language (ESL) Center
- EOPS (Extended Opportunity Programs and Services)
- Foster and Kinship Care Education - Independent Living Program
- Four Directions College Success Program (FDCSP)
- Honors Program
- Journey
- Learning Communities
- Learning Disabilities (LD) Program
- Learning Resource Center (LRC)
- Library
- Mathematics, Engineering and Science Achievement Program (MESA)
- Math Multimedia Learning Center (MMLC)
- Partnership to Assure College Entry (PACE)
- Puente Program
- Reading Across Disciplines (RAD)
- Reading Center
- Re-entry and Veterans Information Center
- Science Skills Center
- Tutorial Center
- Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC)
There are many ARC campus events and recreational activities available to ARC students that include theatre and music performances, sports events, career fairs and workshops, as well as "College Hour," which offers a calendar of various talks, panels and discussions of timely issues.
Traditions
The "stately" oak tree is the college's official symbol and the beaver its official mascot (nicknamed "Igor" for "eager-beaver".)
Athletics
The American River College's Beaver Teams are active in many intercollegiate athletics including:
Men's Sports:
- Basketball
- Cross Country
- Football
- Soccer
- Water Polo
- Baseball
- Golf
- Swimming
- Tennis
- Track & Field
Women's Sports:
- Basketball
- Cross Country
- Golf
- Soccer
- Volleyball
- Water Polo
- Softball
- Swimming
- Track & Field
- Tennis
Satellite Campuses
American River College has several Off-Campus Centers offering classes around the Sacramento metro area that include:
- Ethan Way Center
- Mather Center
- McClellan Center
- Natomas Center
- San Juan Center
- Twin Rivers Pre-Apprenticeship Training Center
Community Life
American River College's Community and Diversity Center Initiative (CDCI) was established to provide bridges between its students and the community. The CDCI offers resources for opportunities to meet other students and community members to build a support network. Its mission is to help students and community expand and grow with "cross-cultural understanding, awareness and responsiveness."
Estimated Costs & Financial Aid
The average "out of pocket" cost of attendance, after any grants and scholarships are considered, is around $8,600. In order to calculate a more accurate and detailed cost of attendance check out their cost calculator here. The figures listed below are for informational purposes only and do not represent current or future tuition, fees, and expenses.
Financial Aid Details
The table below breaks down the types of financial aid, the percent of students receiving aid, and average amount of aid per student per year.
| Percent of Students | Average Amount | |
|---|---|---|
| Any Financial Aid | 78% | - |
| Receiving Grants & Scholarships | 77% | $4,770 |
| Receiving Student Loans | 4% | $5,153 |
Admissions, Academics, & Student Services
Student Services
To help support students, American River College may offer student services including:
- Distance learning
- Remedial instructional courses
- Counseling assistance
- Employing students to lower education costs
- Helping students find work after graduation
- Day care
Graduation & Transfer Rates
Community colleges often times offer both career training courses and curriculum to help students transfer out to a 4-year college or university, that is why we include how this school compares for both graduation and transfer rates against other community colleges in Sacramento County and community colleges in California in total.
| American River | Sacramento County | California | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graduation Rate | 26.7% | 26.6% | 24.3% |
| Transfer-out Rate | 12.9% | 11.3% | 13.8% |
Specialized Programs & Accreditations
- Funeral Service Education Program
- Accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education, Committee on Accreditation (since 2002)
Programs Offered
The program list below is organized by areas of study. The programs that have a link will direct you to the program's profile page where you can learn more about education requirements and career pathways.
Get more information about the programs offered by American River College by clicking the request information to the right.
(C) Certificate or Award | (A) Associate's | (B) Bachelor's | (M) Master's Degree | (D) Doctorate (PhD,...)
Agriculture Operations
- Horticulture (C)
- Plant Nursery Operations and Management (A, C)
- Landscaping (A, C)
Business and Marketing Studies
- Business Administration (A, C)
- Bookkeeping (A, C)
- Commerce (A, C)
- Administrative Assistant (A, C)
- Small Business Management (A, C)
- Real Estate (A, C)
- Taxation (C)
- Sales Manager (A)
- Retail Management (A)
- Office Management and Supervision
Communication Technology
- Audio and Video Production (A, C)
- Prepress , Desktop Publishing and Digital Imaging Design (A)
- Animation (C)
- Photographic and Film Technology (C)
Communications and Journalism
- Communications (A)
- Journalism (A)
- Advertising
Computer and Information Sciences
- Computer Programming (A, C)
- Computer Networking (A, C)
- Web Management and Webmaster (C)
- Computer Science (A)
- Data Modeling & Database Administration (DBA) (A, C)
- Computer and Information Systems Security (A, C)
- Computer Support Specialist (A, C)
- Data Entry and Microcomputer Applications (A, C)
- Computer Graphics (C)
- Computer
- Web Design
Construction Trades
- Building Construction Technology (C)
- Carpentry (A, C)
- Electrician (C)
- Drywall Installation (C)
Engineering
- Telecommunications Engineering (C)
Engineering Technology
- Biomedical Technology (A, C)
- Computer Aided Design (CAD) (A, C)
- Engineering Technology (A, C)
English Language and Literature
- English (A)
- Creative Writing (C)
- Technical and Business Writing (A)
Family and Consumer Sciences
- Child Care Provider (A, C)
- Foodservice Administration and Management (C)
- Adult Development and Aging (A, C)
- Child Care (C)
- Apparel and Textiles Management (A)
Foreign Languages and Literature
- Foreign Languages and Literatures (A)
- Sign Language Interpretation and Translation (A, C)
- Sign Language (A, C)
Health and Clinical Professions
- Nursing (A)
- Respiratory Therapy (A)
- Substance Abuse and Addiction Counseling (A, C)
- Audiology and Speech Pathology (A)
- Nursing Assistant (C)
- EMT & Paramedic (A, C)
- Home Health Aide (C)
- Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences (C)
History
- History (A)
Interdisciplinary Studies
- Biological and Physical Sciences (A)
Legal Professions and Studies
Liberal Arts and Sciences
- Liberal Arts (A, C)
Mathematics and Statistics
- Math (A)
Mechanic and Repair Technology
- Electrical Equipment Installation and Repair (A, C)
- Auto Mechanic (A, C)
- Diesel Mechanic (A, C)
- Auto Body (A, C)
- Industrial Electronics Technology (C)
- Alternative Fuel Vehicle Technology
Natural Resources and Conservation
Personal and Culinary Services
- Cooking and Related Culinary Arts (A, C)
- Restaurant and Catering Management (A, C)
- Funeral Service and Mortuary Science (A)
Physical Sciences
Precision Production
- Welding (A, C)
- Sheet Metal Technology (C)
Psychology
- Psychology (A)
Public Administration and Social Services
- Human Services (A, C)
Recreation and Fitness Studies
- Sports Medicine (A)
- Kinesiology And Exercise Science (A)
- Physical Fitness Technician (C)
- Parks and Recreation (A)
Security and Protective Services
- Police Science (A, C)
- Fire Prevention (A, C)
Social Sciences
- Social Science (A)
- Anthropology (A)
- Sociology (A)
- Geography (A, C)
- Political Science (A)
- International Relations (A, C)
Visual and Performing Arts
- Interior Design (A, C)
- Art Studies (A)
- Music (A)
- Fashion Design (A)
- Drama and Theatre Arts (A)
- Film Studies (C)
- Theatre Design and Technology (A)
- Drawing (C)
- Visual and Performing Arts (A)
- Dance (A)
Other Community Colleges Nearby
The list of nearby schools has been selected by researching which schools offer similar programs to American River College.
- Sacramento City College in Sacramento, CA (11 miles away)
- Folsom Lake College in Folsom, CA (12 miles away)
- Sierra College in Rocklin, CA (12 miles away)
- Cosumnes River College in Sacramento, CA (14 miles away)
- Woodland Community College in Woodland, CA (21 miles away)