American College of Education
American College of Education — Online Programs, Tuition & Accreditation
American College of Education
All programs offered completely via distance education
101 West Ohio Street, Suite 1200, Indianapolis, Indiana 46204
Phone: (800) 280-0307
Website: www.ace.edu
Quick Facts
| Type | 4-year, Private for-profit |
| Accreditation | Higher Learning Commission (HLC) — accredited since 1943, next review August 2025 |
| Programmatic Accreditation | Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) — nursing programmes at baccalaureate and graduate levels, accredited since March 2020 |
| Total Enrolment | 14,263 (359 undergraduate, 13,904 graduate) |
| Student-to-Faculty Ratio | 9 to 1 |
| Faculty | 102 full-time, 315 part-time |
| Online Programs | Both undergraduate and graduate — 100% of students enrolled exclusively in distance education |
| Awards Offered | Bachelor's degree, Postbaccalaureate certificate, Master's degree, Post-master's certificate, Doctor's degree (research/scholarship) |
| Carnegie Classification | Special Focus Four-Year: Other Special Focus Institutions |
| Religious Affiliation | None |
| Federal Financial Aid | Eligible students' federally guaranteed loans may be deferred while enrolled |
| Military/Veteran Friendly | Yes — credit for military training, dedicated veteran support |
| Credit Accepted | Credit for life experiences, Advanced Placement (AP) credits |
| Application Fee | $50 |
| Teacher Certification | Yes — teacher certification programmes offered (below postsecondary level) |
Tuition & Fees (2024–2025)
| Undergraduate Tuition | $5,160 per year |
| Undergraduate Fees | $1,080 per year |
| Total Undergraduate Tuition & Fees | $6,240 per year |
| Graduate Tuition | $5,640 per year |
| Graduate Fees | $960 per year |
| Total Graduate Tuition & Fees | $6,600 per year |
ACE offers prepaid tuition plans, tuition payment plans, and other alternative tuition plans. At $6,240–$6,600 per year, ACE is one of the most affordable accredited options for education degrees. Figures are sourced from NCES College Navigator — verify directly with the institution before making financial decisions.
Grants, Scholarships & Net Price Calculator →
Financial Aid (2023–2024)
| Undergraduate Grant/Scholarship Aid | 40% of students — average award $391 |
| Pell Grants | 0% of students |
| Federal Student Loans | 0% of students |
ACE's financial aid profile is unusual: the low tuition means most students do not require federal loans or Pell Grants. The institution did not admit full-time first-time undergraduate students in 2023–2024, so standard net price data was not reported. ACE primarily serves graduate students and working professionals who are already employed — many have employer tuition reimbursement covering their costs.
Admissions, Retention & Graduation
ACE does not admit full-time first-time degree-seeking students in the traditional sense, so NCES does not report standard admissions data, retention rates, or graduation rates for this institution. The student body is overwhelmingly composed of working education professionals pursuing graduate credentials. Contact the admissions office for requirements.
Student Demographics (Fall 2024)
| Undergraduate Attendance | 100% full-time |
| Graduate Attendance | 100% full-time |
| Gender (Undergraduate) | 81% female, 19% male |
| Age (Undergraduate) | 91% aged 25 and over, 9% aged 24 and under |
Online Programs Offered
Education (ACE's primary focus — 4,820 master's degrees, 276 doctorates, 703 postgraduate certificates, and 31 bachelor's degrees conferred in education in 2023–2024)
- Educational Leadership and Administration (Postgrad Certificate, Master's, Doctorate) — largest programme, 1,074 master's + 142 doctorates
- Curriculum and Instruction (Postgrad Certificate, Master's, Doctorate)
- Educational/Instructional Technology (Postgrad Certificate, Master's, Doctorate)
- Reading Teacher Education (Master's) — 525 awards
- Special Education and Teaching (Postgrad Certificate, Master's)
- STEM Educational Methods (Master's) — 255 awards
- Health Teacher Education (Master's) — 240 awards
- Early Childhood Education and Teaching (Master's)
- Bilingual and Multilingual Education (Postgrad Certificate, Master's)
- Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education (Postgrad Certificate, Master's)
- Educational, Instructional, and Curriculum Supervision (Postgrad Certificate, Master's)
- Teacher Education and Professional Development (Master's)
- Elementary Education and Teaching (Postgrad Certificate, Master's)
- Secondary Education and Teaching (Postgrad Certificate, Master's)
- Adult and Continuing Education and Teaching (Postgrad Certificate, Master's)
- Higher Education/Higher Education Administration (Postgrad Certificate, Master's)
- Online Educator/Online Teaching (Postgrad Certificate)
- Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language (Postgrad Certificate, Doctorate)
- Education, General (Bachelor's)
- Biology, Chemistry, English, History, Mathematics, Science, and Social Science Teacher Education (Master's)
- Educational Administration, Other (Postgrad Certificate, Master's)
Business & Leadership
- Organizational Leadership (Postgrad Certificate, Bachelor's, Master's)
- Business Administration and Management (Master's)
Health Professions & Nursing
- Registered Nursing (Bachelor's, Master's) — CCNE-accredited
- Nursing Science (Bachelor's, Master's)
- Nursing Education (Postgrad Certificate, Doctorate)
- Nursing Administration (Postgrad Certificate)
- Health/Healthcare Administration and Management (Postgrad Certificate, Bachelor's, Master's)
- Public Health Education and Promotion (Postgrad Certificate, Doctorate)
- Public Health, General (Postgrad Certificate)
- Medical Informatics (Master's)
Computer & Information Sciences
- Information Science/Studies (Postgrad Certificate)
Liberal Arts
- General Studies (Bachelor's)
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
- Data Analytics, General (Postgrad Certificate)
- Intercultural/Multicultural and Diversity Studies (Postgrad Certificate)
- Sustainability Studies (Master's)
All programmes are offered entirely via distance education. A total of 6,062 awards were conferred in 2023–2024, making ACE one of the highest-volume online education institutions in the country. Programme availability may change — verify current offerings directly with ACE.
Student Services Available to Online Students
- Academic and career counselling
- Disability support services — learn more
Military & Veteran Support
| Military Credit | Credit awarded for military training |
| Veteran Support | Dedicated point of contact for veterans, servicemembers, and families |
| Veteran Tuition Policies | View grants, scholarships, and veteran tuition policies |
Important Links
| Admissions | ace.edu/tuition-and-admissions/admission-requirements |
| Apply Online | apply.ace.edu |
| Financial Aid / Tuition | ace.edu/tuition-and-admissions/tuition-details |
| Grants & Scholarships | ace.edu/tuition-and-admissions/grants-scholarships |
| Disability Services | ace.edu/college-policies/disability-support-services |
| Mission & History | www.ace.edu/about/history-mission |
About American College of Education
American College of Education (ACE) is a large, private, for-profit institution based in Indianapolis, Indiana, that operates entirely online. It is one of the largest fully online colleges in the United States, with over 14,000 students — the vast majority of whom are graduate students pursuing education-related degrees and certificates. ACE is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), one of the major regional accreditors, and its nursing programmes hold additional programmatic accreditation from CCNE. The institution is best known for its extremely affordable education degrees: at around $6,200–$6,600 per year for tuition and fees, it is significantly less expensive than most comparable graduate education programmes. ACE primarily serves working education professionals — teachers, administrators, and school leaders — seeking master's degrees, doctoral degrees, and postgraduate certificates to advance their careers. The student body is overwhelmingly adult (91% aged 25+) and predominantly female (81%), consistent with the demographics of the K-12 education workforce it serves.
Community Discussion
Have you attended the American College of Education or are you considering it? Share your experience or ask questions in our Course & Program Reviews forum.
Information on this page is sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) College Navigator database and the institution's official website. Data reflects the most recently available reporting year. Details may have changed — always verify directly with the American College of Education before making enrolment or financial decisions. Last updated: April 2026.