American College of the Building Arts

ACBA’s curriculum is a unicorn in higher education: a fusion of liberal arts and intensive training in traditional building crafts. Students choose between a Bachelor of Applied Sciences (4-year) or Associate of Applied Sciences (2-year) degree, with coursework spanning:

• Classical architecture (drafting, geometry, architectural history)
• Hands-on trades (stonemasonry, timber framing, forged metalwork, plasterwork)
• Preservation theory (materials science, conservation ethics)

The program’s rigor is legendary—students might analyze Vitruvius in the morning and carve limestone in the afternoon. Small cohorts (just 38 BAS students in a recent graduating class) ensure close mentorship from master artisans.

Life at ACBA is immersive and tactile. With only 93 undergraduates (98% full-time), the campus feels like a tight-knit guild. Students spend as much time in workshops as in classrooms, restoring Charleston’s historic buildings or crafting original pieces. The Instagram feed (@acba_charleston) showcases their work: hand-turned balusters, wrought-iron gates, and lime-mortar repairs. Beyond the studio, the college leverages its Charleston location for field studies in urban design and preservation. There’s no Greek life or D1 sports—just a shared obsession with craft and a 75% freshman retention rate.

ACBA graduates defy the ‘starving artist’ stereotype. The BAS program reports an 83% employment rate (15 of 18 grads working in-field), with many landing jobs at elite preservation firms or launching their own studios. The 2-year AAS program sees a 67% employment rate. While the 4-year graduation rate is modest (50-64%), those who persist enter a niche market hungry for their skills. Earnings data isn’t publicly benchmarked, but alumni often secure apprenticeships with master craftsmen—a career path less about starting salaries and more about long-term mastery.

ACBA offers $250,000+ in annual scholarships, a critical draw for students facing tuition costs typical of private colleges. The net price?Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. calculator helps estimate aid packages, which can include federal loans, state grants, and institutional awards. Outside scholarships (especially those supporting trades) are actively encouraged. While the college doesn’t publish average debt figures, its small size allows for personalized financial aid counseling—key for students balancing the costs of tools, materials, and tuition.

ACBA is the only U.S. college offering a 4-year degree in traditional building arts, making it a mecca for students who geek out over dovetail joints and Corinthian capitals. Its hybrid model—equal parts Socratic seminar and artisan apprenticeship—prepares graduates to think like historians and work like medieval guildsmen. In an era of disposable architecture, ACBA’s mission feels radical: to train stewards who’ll maintain cathedrals, capitol buildings, and Main Streets for centuries to come. If you’ve ever stared at a 19th-century cornice and thought, ‘I could carve that,’ this is your school.