Amarillo College (AC) Introduction and Academics

Introduction

Amarillo College is a community college in Amarillo, Texas. The college was first organized in 1929, and moved to the current main campus in 1937. Amarillo was one of the first public colleges in Texas to admit African Americans in 1951. The catchment area includes Swisher, Randall, Potter, Parmer, Oldham, Moore, Deaf Smith, Castro, and Carson counties. Today, the college serves more than 10,000 students at any given time. It is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

Campuses

The main campus, Washington Street, is located on nearly 31 acres near downtown Amarillo. Washington Street is home to the college’s own radio and television studios, including PBS member station KACV-TV. The Amarillo Art Center is also located on this campus.

The West Campus specializes in allied health and occupational technology programs, including Registered Nursing, Licensed Vocational Nursing, Dental Hygiene, Dentist Aide, Paramedic, Emergency Medical Technologist, Medical Data Specialist, Radiography, Radiation Therapy, Nuclear Medicine Technology, Surgical Technology, Respiratory Care, and more. The campus is located in close proximity to the hospital district and the Panhandle Regional Law Enforcement Agency, a convenience for students enrolled in law and medical programs.

The Polk Street Campus, located downtown, houses the Business & Industry Center. It is used largely for business and industry workforce trainings, rather than degree programs.

The East Campus is the technical center for the college. Students can study programs such as Auto Collision, Aviation Maintenance, Industrial Maintenance, Electronics, and Fire Protection at this campus.

Satellite campuses outside of town are located in Dumas and Hereford.

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Information Summary

Ranks 81st in Texas and 1813th overall. See the entire top 2,000 colleges and universities list
Overall Score (about)	67.1
Total Cost On-Campus Attendance	$3,826
Admission Success rate	N/A
Student Ratio Students-to-Faculty	19 : 1
Retention (full-time / part-time)	72% / 43%
Enrollment Total (all students)	9,854

Academics

There are more than 160 degree programs and a huge number of continuing education programs for professional certifications and licenses. Some of the strengths the school is known for include Aviation Maintenance Technology, Child Development/Early Childhood Education, Electronics Systems Technology, Industrial Maintenance Technology, Instrument and Control Technology, Business Management, Nondestructive Testing and Evaluation, and Renewable Energy Technology.

Online Learning

Amarillo offers a strong online education program. General education requirements are all available in online format, as well as a wide variety of personal interest and certification classes. Associates degrees which can be earned entirely online include Business Administration, Business Administration Computer Information, Criminal Justice, General Studies, Human Sciences, and Psychology. A Mortuary Science certificate is also available completely online.

There are several different partner programs which also offer online education. These include:

360 Training, a program offering classes to fulfill mandated continuing education credits for fields suck as insurance, cosmetology, and real estate brokers;

Gatlin Education Services Courses, providing open enrollment programs for Healthcare and Fitness, IT and Software Development, Hospitality and Gaming and more;

TheCourse, a Project Management Certification Preparation course, which assists students in their study for the PMP Exam;

Command Spanish, a standardized curriculum offering Spanish language lessons tailored to the following professionals: physicians, real estate brokers, respiratory therapists, school teachers, dentists, nurses, bank tellers, librarians, and pharmacists;

Ed2go, a broad-based suite of classes covering topics from teaching to grant writing to nutrition; and

MindEdge, a set of classes for entrepreneurs, covering the basics of business law, accounting, leadership, and strategic marketing.

Continuing Education and Personal Enrichment

Various departments offer a wide range of personal enrichment classes for children and adults. The Conservatory Theatre offers classes for children aged 6 to 18 and master classes for adult actors. The Music department offers Suzuki instruction in several instruments.

Dance lessons are available for all ages and in many styles, from Mommy and Me creative movement classes to belly dancing for adults. Other popular styles include tap, line dancing, country western, ballroom, hip-hop, tap, ballet, and jazz. The Physical Education department offers classes in cheerleading, dance, belly dancing, fencing, gymnastics, and sports and recreational theatre.

Adult classes include a variety of arts and crafts including pottery, painting, and drawing; physical fitness, including yoga, Zumba, aerobics, and Pilates; and recreation including archery, fishing, and martial arts.

Most Popular Fields of Study

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Admissions

In keeping with their mission to offer technical education and higher education opportunities to any adult who wishes to pursue them, Amarillo offers open admissions. Some health and technical programs may have further requirements, and some have limited registration, so be sure to inquire in the department of your choice prior to enrolling.

Financial Aid

In addition to the wide range of state and federal financial aid options available to college and university students in Texas, the college offers several of their own need- and merit-based scholarships. The college has a large foundation used to fund scholarships. Applicants for Amarillo College Foundation Scholarships must have a grade point average above 2.0 and complete a minimum of six hours of coursework per semester. Financial aid is also available for some continuing education classes, such as Certified Nurse Assistant, Phlebotomy, Truck Driving, and Quickbooks.

Student Financial Aid Details

Ranks 5210th for the average student loan amount.
Secrets to getting the best scholarships and financial aid in Texas.

Students

There are over 40 student organizations on campus to meet the personal and professional interests of a wide range of students. They include such options as Badger Hearts (a service organization), Campus Democrats, Campus Conservatives, Anime Club, and Music Makers.

Some housing is available to students who are 21 or over. Housing consists of apartments and houses on the East Campus. A variety of layouts are available to meet different needs.

Student Enrollment Demographics

Athletics

As with most community colleges, there is no competitive athletic program. The college hosts several intramural sports throughout the year, including soccer, volleyball, tennis, basketball, dodge ball, flag football, and softball. The Carter Fitness Center offers a wide range of weight training and cardio machines, volleyball courts, and basketball courts. Personal trainers are available to customize work out programs for each student.

Alumni

Well known alumni include:

Editorial cartoonist Ben Sargent
Medal of Honor recipient John C. Morgan
Songwriter Susan Gibson
NBA player Larry Kenon
Former US Secretary of the Treasury and Chair of the Federal Reserve Bank G. William Miller

Amarillo College