Tuition, Admission, Programs, Scholarships

Introduction

Arapahoe Community College, located in Littleton, Colorado, is a public institution situated in a suburban area and boasts an enrolment of  2,628 for full-time and 11,157  part-time bringing it to a total of 13,785 students as of Fall 2023 including undergraduate and graduate. 

Moreover, the college operates on a semester-based academic calendar and maintains a student-faculty ratio of 23-to-1.  Although the highest degree available at the institution is an associate degree, Arapahoe Community College offers an open admissions policy and grants credit for life experiences. 

Why Choose Arapahoe Community College?

Aside from the credit for life experiences, the institution also provides  the following for students;

1. Employment/placement services for students.

2. On-campus daycare for students’ children ensures that you worry less about your child’s welfare while you concentrate on your studies. 

3. Academic/Career counseling services. 

4. No application fee

5. It is highly ranked in programs like; criminal justice, engineering, nursing, business, computer science, and medicine.

In addition,  Arapahoe Community College provides students with the opportunity to pursue degrees and certificates in 44 diverse fields.  Furthermore, the most popular programs are Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies, General Studies, Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, and others.

Moreover, at Arapahoe Community College, 16 percent of undergraduate students are awarded grant or scholarship aid, with an average award amount of $6,118.

Clubs & Organisations

You can become a part of the ACC community by participating in a club additionally,  joining an honors society, or getting involved in the Student Government Association (SGA). 

For instance, these clubs and organizations will help you open doors to: 

• Connecting with fellow students
• Forming new friendships
• Fostering a sense of belonging
• Building essential skills in leadership, communication, networking, and other areas
• Broadening your knowledge and enriching your resume
• Have exciting new experiences as you share your interests and passions with others. 

OFFICIALLY RECOGNISED ORGANISATIONS AND HONOUR SOCIETIES AT ACC

However, there is a list of officially Recognised Organisations and Honour Societies

• Student Government Association (SGA)
• The National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS)
• Phi Theta Kappa (PTK)
• Salute

 OFFICIALLY RECOGNISED CLUBS AT ACC

Given below are the current officially recognized clubs at ACC

• All-Inclusive Queer Alliance
• American Chemical Society
• Arapahoe Pinnacle
• Board Game Club
• Clay Club
• Creative Writing Club
• Elevate Club
• Interior Design Club
• Jugger Club
• PC Repair Club
• Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) Club
• Rock Climbing Club
• Space Grant Teams

Weekend Activities

ACC offers a wide range of events through its Student Life Office. Nevertheless, these events include interactive games, activities promoting school spirit, cultural celebrations, wellness sessions, educational workshops, leadership experiences, and exciting off-campus activities. 

Therefore, students can find information about these events on the student life event calendar and bulletin boards located around the school campus or at various stops. 

Merit Awards and Financial Aid

Financial aid options available at Arapahoe Community College include grants, scholarships, student loans, and work-study programs. In addition, grants are provided by the federal government, state, or the college itself, and are awarded based on financial need. However, grants do not require repayment.

Moreover, 10% of undergraduate students at the college receive Pell grants. Once in a while, student loans are funds given to students to help cover college expenses. Therefore, these loans must be repaid with interest in the future.

20% of full-time, first-time undergraduate students at Arapahoe Community College are awarded federal student loans.

Scholarships 

Due to generous donations from generous benefactors sometimes, the ACC Foundation collaborates with Financial Aid to grant ACC Foundation Scholarships. Over $1 million is awarded annually in scholarships by the ACC Foundation. subsequently,  Students have the opportunity to receive multiple scholarships.

Both current and accepted ACC students are encouraged to apply for ACC scholarships from November to April. However, ACC also offers scholarships throughout the year for all students, irrespective of these months.

Instructions on How to Apply:

To apply, it is recommended that you fill out a FAFSA or CASFA form. If you need assistance. 

Certainly, you can attend a free FAFSA Lab as the data from these forms can help determine your eligibility for additional scholarships from the Foundation and the institution.

Follow these steps to apply:

1. Complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

2. Fill out a scholarship application between November and April.

3. By completing the general scholarship application, you will be connected to various scholarship opportunities. 

Hence, make sure to review if any of these additional scholarships have additional questions.  Additionally, complete all questions and forms to maximize your chances of receiving the most amount of money possible.

4. Note that concurrent enrolment students are not eligible for scholarships until they have completed high school. 

Eligibility

Therefore, to be eligible to apply for ACC scholarships, applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Must currently be a student at ACC or have been accepted into ACC.
• Must plan to be enrolled for the upcoming Fall semester.
• Must have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0. High school students or college transfers can provide their prior GPA, but official transcripts will be required.
• Must plan to be a part-time student, taking at least 6 credits or more.

Hence, it should be noted that while these are the general requirements for applying for ACC scholarships, some scholarships may have additional qualifications which will be specified on the scholarship application site. 

If awarded a scholarship, recipients will receive a specific set of requirements that they must fulfill before the start of the semester.  Moreso, scholarships are typically awarded in fall and spring semesters and can only be used for tuition, fees, and books. 

However, scholarships are only applicable to courses taken at ACC and cannot be used at any other institution. Nevertheless, specific terms and conditions for individual scholarships are also provided during the application process. 

How to Apply for Admission at ACC

Applying to ACC is just like a breeze with no obstacles in your way because the application process and admission requirements are hassle-free. 

Although, ACC offers open-door admission, meaning anyone who is at least 17 years old and has completed high school, obtained a GED certificate. 

Despite, being homeschooled, or a high school non-graduate, one is encouraged to apply and the best part is that there is no application fee. 

1. Start Phase

• Browse through the range of programs available at ACC  to find the perfect program for you.
• Sign up and complete your ACC application.

*Note that certain programs have a selective admissions process which requires additional documentation and information for application. Therefore, remain attentive to your email for steps to verify and activate your account.

Moreover, remember to check your SPAM or JUNK folders. On the other hand, f you do not receive an email within 15 minutes, please reach out to the Admissions Office by sending an email to admissions@arapahoe.edu or calling 303.797.5637 for support.

The application processing time takes 3-5 business days and an acceptance letter will be sent to the email address you provided.

2. Apply for Financial Aid

After completing your application form, you can request financial aid which involves submitting your FAFSA application. However, the deadline for each academic year is March 1st, which begins with the Fall semester.

Moreso, if you are unable to apply for FAFSA and you require assistance with college expenses, you can apply for State Financial Aid through the Colorado Application for State Financial Aid (CASFA).  

3. After Acceptance 

To thrive as a college student at ACC, there are a few essential things you will need to have which are; 

• Regular access to a laptop or desktop computer, reliable internet access, and the ability to log in to myACC, which is a centralized platform for accessing all the services you will need as an ACC student. Therefore, you can log information for myACC will be provided in your Acceptance Letter.
• Navigate through your college journey with the help of Navigate, a tool that will assist you with tasks such as math and English course placement, meeting with your academic advisor, registering for classes, and paying tuition. To access Navigate, simply login to myACC. 
• If you are a new student, it is important to send your transcripts (high school, college, and/or GED) and/or ACT/SAT scores to complete your application.
•  Complete the 2-part Student Orientation Experience as the first part of the orientation is available online through myACC however, it will provide you with valuable information about ACC’s resources, services, and activities.

Note that completing student orientation is mandatory for first-time college students after high school.  Nevertheless, by participating in orientation, you will gain a comprehensive understanding of the services that ACC offers to support your academic.

• Schedule a meeting with your Academic Advisor to register for classes. Furthermore, advisors are ready to assist you in optimizing your time and financial resources while attending ACC. They will guide you in selecting the appropriate classes for your degree, certificate, or future transfer to a 4-year school. 

4 After Registration

• Upon completing the stages above, you will have to do the following;
• Pay tuition fee
• Set up your student email address
• Save your electronic ACC student ID 
• Download essentila ACC apps to stay updated with campus alerts, appointments, and important information.

Additionally, if you need a Parking Pass, you can obtain it from either the Campus Police or the Sturm Collaboration Campus Welcome Desk. 

Remember to bring your paid fees receipt from the Cashier’s Office or your online payment as proof. The price for a pass is $25 for either the Fall or Spring Semester or $40 for an annual.

What are the Courses and Programs at Arapahoe Community College

They include;

• Accounting 
• Anthropology
• Architectural Studies 
• Art
• Astronomy
• Automotive Technology 
• Biology 
• Business and Business Administration

What Is the Tuition for the 2024 Academic Year of Arapahoe Community College?

2023-2024 Estimated Cost per year

(based on ACC website; Cost of Attendance) 

Expenses	Resident*	Resident*, Lives with Parents	Non-Resident*	Non-Resident*, Lives with Parents
Tuition	$3,940	$3,940	$16,174	$16,174
Required Fees	$368	$368	$368	$368
Loan Fees*	$36	$36	$36	$36
Books	$1,460	$1,460	$1,460	$1,460
Housing	$10,485	$7,470	$10,485	$7,470
Food	$4,194	$2,322	$4,194	$2,322
Medical	$3,150	$3,150	$3,150	$3,150
Personal	$1,611	$1,440	$1,611	$1,440
Transportation	$1,665	$1,665	$1,665	$1,665
Total	$26,909	$21,851	$39,143	$34,085

For the academic year 2020-2021, in-state students paid a tuition fee of $4,080, while out-of-state students were charged $15,502. Notably, there is no application fee at this institution.

Which Bodies Are Accredited with The Arapahoe Community College?

Arapahoe Community College (ACC) holds accreditation from The Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. 

 Rankings Of Arapahoe Community College

In the 2024 rankings, Arapahoe Community College achieved 89 badges. Among the majors offered, the visual & performing arts program at the school is ranked the highest.

In College Factual’s 2024 analysis, Arapahoe Community College is positioned as the 1,362 out of 2,217 schools in the nation that were evaluated for their overall quality. Futhermore, among the 33 colleges in Colorado, Arapahoe Community College is ranked at 24^th.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Arapahoe Community College in Littleton, Colorado, offers diverse programs, scholarships, and a supportive community.  consequently, with its open admissions policy, affordable tuition, and notable rankings, ACC provides valuable education and enriching experiences for students. 

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