Contact Information

General Contact

Admissions Office

Financial Aid Office

FINANCIAL AID RATE

73%

STUDENT TEACHER RATIO

27:1

DEGREE OFFERED ONLINE

26

FINANCIAL AID AWARD AVG.

$2,416

Average Grants + Scholarship Aid Awarded to Undergraduate Students

Percent of Full-Time Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid

Percent of Students Paying In-State Tuition vs Out-of-State Tuition

School Map

Liberal Arts Degree

The liberal arts program at American River College prepares students for careers in marketing, sales, business, social media, graphic design, data analysis and management, computer programming, and information technology networking and support. The program focuses in a structured combination of the arts. Program courses include: biological and physical sciences, social sciences, humanities, and independently designed programs of study. Get more details below including other California colleges that offer liberal arts degrees.

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American River College

30 Grant Ave, San Francisco, CA

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."

Students Enrolled in the Liberal Arts Program

Get more details below regarding enrollment, academics, and school demographics. American River College has offered the following academic levels for students:

  • Less Than One Year Certificate
  • Less Than Two-Year Award
  • Associate's Degree

Students by Academic Level (2019)

 Graduates
Less Than One Year Certificate10
Less Than Two-Year Award844
Associate's Degree6

Students by Gender (2019)

 Graduates
Male346
Female514

Students by Race (2019)

 Graduates
American Indian2
Asian129
Black43
Hispanic197
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders6
White388
Multiple Races79
Non Resident Alien5
Unknown11

Source: IPEDS Survey 2012-2020: Data obtained from the US Dept. of Education's Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). Data may vary depending on school and academic year.

Career Options for Graduates

Upon completion of the Liberal Arts program at American River College, most students have pursued careers in the following fields:

Postsecondary Teachers, All Other

Description

All postsecondary teachers not listed separately.

Career Outlook & Projections ()

According to the BLS, postsecondary teachers, all other employment is expected to grow at a rate of 9.3% from 2014 to 2024

Salary & Wages

    • San Francisco-Redwood City-South San Francisco, CA Metropolitan Division
      • Average Annual Salary: $73140

    Source: Job descriptions, estimated salary and wages, and projected job growth are taken from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

    Admission Requirements & Details

    The admissions information below may give an overview of the students American River College accepts. The details may include admissions application requirements and recommendations, as well as any college or dual credits that may be transferred.

    College Credits Accepted

    • Dual Credits
    • Life Experience Credits
    • AP Course Credits
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    Academics & Student Services

    Student Services

    To support students and graduates, American River College may offer student services like:

    • Distance learning
    • Remedial instructional courses
    • Counseling assistance
    • Employing students to lower education costs
    • Employment search assistance
    • Child care

    Intercollegiate Athletics

    • Baseball
    • Basketball
    • Football
    • Golf
    • Soccer
    • Softball
    • Swimming and Diving
    • Tennis
    • Track and Field, Outdoor
    • Track and Field, X-Country
    • Volleyball
    • Water Polo