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American College of the Building Arts

Charleston, SC·Private nonprofit·155 students
Last updated: March 22, 2026

A good fit for students who want small classes and close faculty access. no major red flags in the data. a private nonprofit school with 155 students.

44%
Accept
155
Students
$30,403
Net Price
62%
Grad Rate
N/A
Earnings
10 yr
$12,500
Debt

About This School

American College of the Building Arts is a private nonprofit institution located in Charleston, South Carolina with approximately 155 undergraduate students enrolled. The school is moderately selective, accepting approximately 44% of applicants. The average net price after financial aid is $30,403 per year. The graduation rate is 62%.

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.

Worth considering if you're serious about traditional building trades and craft — this tiny Charleston school (just 140 students) offers an unusually focused education with a 100% freshman retention rate, suggesting students who enroll genuinely stick with it. The financial picture is actually reasonable: median debt at graduation is only $10,500, well below the national average. The one honest concern is the 64% graduation rate, which means roughly 1 in 3 students doesn't finish — worth asking the admissions office directly about what drives that number before committing.

Founded
2004
Setting
Midsize city
Avg Faculty Salary
$8,846

Admissions

Test Policy: Considered but not required

SAT Scores

Average Composite1190
Reading 75th %ile640
Math 75th %ile650

ACT Scores

Midpoint Composite24

Cost & Financial Aid

In-State Tuition
$21,500
Out-of-State Tuition
$21,500
Avg Net Price
$30,403
after aid

Net Price by Family Income

Under $30k$27,879
$30–48k$29,454
$48–75k$32,248
$75–110k$33,835
$110k+$34,704

Average annual cost after grants/scholarships, by household income. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

Financial Aid

Students receiving Pell Grants18%
Median debt at graduation$12,500

Full Cost

After Graduation

Graduation Rate
62%
within 6 years
Retention Rate
75%
freshmen returning
Earnings (10 yr)
N/A
after enrollment
Median Debt
$12,500
at graduation

Will This School Pay Off?

Median Debt
$12,500
at graduation
Earnings (6 yr)
N/A
after enrollment
Earnings (10 yr)
N/A
after enrollment

Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.

Student Body

White90%
Black3%
Hispanic/Latino2%
Asian3%
Two or more races1%
American Indian/Alaska Native1%

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (155 undergraduates).

Contact & Location

Address

American College of the Building Arts

649 Meeting Street

Charleston, SC 29403-4223

View on Google Maps →

Other Schools in South Carolina

Browse all South Carolina schools →

Sources & Methodology

Data

Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.

Contextual Enrichment

School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.

Important Caveats
  • Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
  • Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
  • Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
  • Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
Trademarks

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