American College of Education (ACE) is a private for-profit online college based in Indianapolis, Indiana, established in 2005. It is mainly a graduate school for teachers, school leaders, nurses and healthcare workers: of its 14,263 students in fall 2024, only 359 were undergraduates. Its pros are Higher Learning Commission accreditation, CAEP-accredited education programs, a lower-cost positioning and a fully online format; its cons are that it does not accept federal financial aid, it is for-profit, and independent federal outcome data is limited.
Below are the pros and cons in detail, using the federal College Navigator database and published information about the college, so you can judge whether ACE is legit and a good fit.
American College of Education at a Glance
- Type: private for-profit online college.
- Base: Indianapolis, Indiana; all students study online.
- Founded: incorporated in Illinois on February 25, 2005, after buying the academic programming of Barat College; the Higher Learning Commission approved continuing that accreditation under ACE’s name in March 2006.
- Programs: bachelor’s completion, master’s, education specialist and doctoral degrees plus graduate certificates in education, business, healthcare and nursing.
- Enrollment (fall 2024): 14,263 total, 359 undergraduate.
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 9 to 1.
Pros: What American College of Education Does Well
- Built for working educators. Education programs cover curriculum and instruction, early childhood, instructional technology, literacy, STEM, English learners, special education and educational leadership, with graduate certificates in ESL, bilingual education and content-area instruction.
- Properly accredited. ACE is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, its education programs are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), and its BSN and MSN programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
- Lower tuition. ACE does not participate in federal aid and says this reduces its costs; U.S. News & World Report has profiled it among lower-cost online colleges.
- Nursing pathways. An RN to MSN program lets registered nurses complete both a BSN and an MSN in a three-year span, alongside RN to BSN and BSN to MSN options.
- Small student-to-faculty ratio. College Navigator lists a 9 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio.
- Partner discounts. Members of partner organisations, such as the Association of School Business Officials, can receive tuition reduction grants for master’s and doctoral programs.
Cons: What to Weigh Before You Enroll at American College of Education
- No federal financial aid. ACE is eligible for Title IV aid but does not participate, so students cannot use federal loans or Pell Grants and must pay from savings, employer support, payment plans or private sources.
- For-profit ownership. ACE is a for-profit company. It had been a Certified B Corporation since 2016 but no longer held that status as of 2026.
- Limited independent outcome data. Because it does not take federal aid and has few undergraduates, College Navigator shows no net price or federal graduation rate for ACE. The college’s own 2026 Student Right to Know report puts its graduation rate at about 83.9 percent, a self-reported figure.
- Few undergraduate options. Bachelor’s programs are degree-completion programs, so ACE is not a place to start college from scratch.
- Online only. There is no campus or in-person community.
What American College of Education Costs
College Navigator does not publish tuition or net price for ACE, because the college does not participate in federal student aid. Ask the college for the full program cost, including fees, and ask your school district or employer whether it offers tuition reimbursement or a partner discount.
When you compare, total the cost of the whole program rather than the per-credit price, and check whether your state or district will recognise the degree for licensure or salary advancement.
Is American College of Education a Good School? What the Numbers Say
For a working teacher, school leader or nurse who wants an accredited online graduate degree without taking on federal loans, ACE is a legitimate option with the accreditations that matter in those fields: HLC institutionally, CAEP for education and CCNE for nursing.
The limits are the lack of federal aid and the lack of independent outcome data. Before enrolling, confirm the total price, confirm that your state licensing body accepts the program, and compare it with public universities’ online education and nursing degrees.
Who Accredits American College of Education?
ACE is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission; College Navigator lists its next review for 2035. Its education programs hold CAEP accreditation and its BSN and MSN programs hold CCNE accreditation.
Who ACE Suits, and Who Should Look Elsewhere
A good fit for: practising teachers seeking a master’s, specialist or doctorate for career advancement, registered nurses pursuing a BSN or MSN, and healthcare workers seeking an online graduate degree.
Worth comparing alternatives if: you need federal financial aid, you are starting college for the first time, or you want a campus-based program.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is American College of Education accredited? Yes, by the Higher Learning Commission.
- Does American College of Education accept FAFSA? No. It does not participate in federal Title IV aid.
- Is American College of Education for-profit? Yes.
- Is ACE good for teachers? It specialises in education degrees, and its education programs are CAEP-accredited.