American River College
Rolling
Acceptance rate
$14,250
Tuition/yr
27,500
Enrollment
About American River College
Large community college in Sacramento, CA. Strong transfer pathways to UC/CSU with diverse student body and affordable tuition.
American River College (ARC) is a public two-year community college founded in 1942, located on a 155-acre campus in unincorporated Sacramento County, California. It is part of the Los Rios Community College District and is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). With approximately 30,975 students enrolled in Fall 2025, it is one of the largest community colleges in California.
ARC offers associate degrees, certificates, and transfer-preparation pathways across a broad range of disciplines including STEM, culinary arts, hospitality, liberal arts, and career technical education. The college opened the Diane Bryant STEM Innovation Center in 2021 and an Evangelisti Culinary Arts Center in 2014, reflecting sustained investment in its facilities. In 2024-2025 the college awarded 2,542 associate degrees and 2,063 certificates, with a course completion rate of 80%.
A central feature of ARC is its transfer pipeline to University of California and California State University campuses. In 2024-2025, 1,183 students transferred to UC and CSU institutions, a 14% increase over the prior year's institutional standard. ARC participates in the UC Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) program, giving eligible students guaranteed admission to UC Davis, UC Irvine, UC Merced, UC Riverside, UC Santa Barbara, and UC Santa Cruz upon meeting defined GPA and coursework requirements.
Campus & Location
CA
Suburban
Optional Practical Training (OPT)
All graduates qualify for 12-month OPT. STEM-designated programs (CS, Engineering, Data Science, Mathematics, Sciences) qualify for 24-month STEM OPT extension — 36 months total work authorisation.
For Nepali students
- For Nepali students planning to transfer to a University of California campus, ARC offers one of the most structured and affordable entry points in the US: non-resident tuition is $475 per unit (approximately $14,250 per academic year at 30 units), a fraction of direct UC tuition, with a clear TAG pathway to six UC campuses including UC Davis.
- F-1 students at ARC are eligible for Curricular Practical Training (CPT) integrated into their program and up to 12 months of Optional Practical Training (OPT) upon completing their degree, providing legal work experience in the US before transitioning to a four-year university or employment.
- Sacramento has a growing South Asian population and the college enrolls several hundred international students, providing a support infrastructure through its dedicated International Student Program office, which assists with I-20 maintenance, F-1 status compliance, and enrollment guidance.
- ARC's low per-unit cost makes it a practical cost-saving strategy: completing two years here before transferring to a UC or CSU can save tens of thousands of dollars compared to enrolling directly in a four-year university as an international student.
Admission requirements — Nepali equivalents
A rough translation of the published minimums for Nepali applicants:
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