American College of Education (ACE) is an accredited online college located in Indianapolis, Indiana. Founded in 2005, ACE has grown into a leader in online education, offering affordable and flexible degree programs for working adults and aspiring teachers.
From the beginning, ACE has focused on providing high-quality yet affordable pathways to earning teaching and educational leadership degrees. The college aims to expand access to these critical professions by removing barriers like location, work schedules, and finances. Over 15,000 students across all 50 states have graduated from ACE’s accredited programs.
ACE is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. All of its teacher preparation programs are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). This level of accreditation allows ACE graduates to become licensed teachers in their state.
The college offers associate’s, bachelor’s and master’s degrees fully online. Their programs are designed for busy working adults, with accelerated courses that allow students to earn their degree at their own pace. Areas of study include early childhood education, elementary education, special education, educational leadership, and more.
Online Program Offerings
The American College of Education (ACE) offers a wide variety of degree programs fully online to meet the needs of working adults and career-focused students. ACE provides online associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees across diverse subject areas including education, leadership, healthcare, nursing, and more.
Specifically, ACE offers the following online degree programs:
Associate’s Degrees
- Associate of Arts in Business
- Associate of Arts in General Studies
Bachelor’s Degrees
- Bachelor of Arts in Educational Studies
- Bachelor of Arts in Leadership
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing
- Bachelor of Science in Psychology
- Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
- Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
- Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration
- Bachelor of Science in Information Technology
Master’s Degrees
- Master of Arts in Teaching
- Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction
- Master of Education in Educational Leadership
- Master of Business Administration
- Master of Healthcare Administration
- Master of Arts in Leadership
- Master of Science in Nursing
- Master of Science in Psychology
Doctoral Degrees
- Doctor of Education (EdD)
- Doctor of Philosophy in Leadership
- Doctor of Philosophy in Education
- Doctor of Nursing Practice
- Doctor of Business Administration
The wide range of online degrees offered by ACE allows students to advance their careers in fields like business, healthcare, education, psychology, and more without having to sacrifice work or family commitments.
Innovative Teaching Methods
The American College of Education (ACE) has been a leader in adopting innovative teaching methods for their online degree programs. One of their most notable innovations is the use of competency-based education.
Competency-based education focuses on verifying that students have mastered certain skills and knowledge, rather than just completing required courses. At ACE, students progress through their programs by demonstrating mastery of competencies on assessments. This allows students who enter a program with existing knowledge or who learn quickly to complete their degrees rapidly by proving competency. However, all students must meet the same competency standards to graduate.
ACE has carefully designed its competency assessments to verify deep learning in each subject area. The assessments go beyond multiple-choice tests to include projects, papers, presentations, and portfolios that require applied skills. Faculty work closely with students to provide feedback and support as they work towards mastery.
This competency-based model allows adult learners to leverage their existing work and life experience to move through a degree program at their own pace. The focus is on true mastery of skills rather than seat time. Research has shown this produces better student outcomes and helps working adults complete their degrees, making ACE programs more accessible.
Affordability
The American College of Education (ACE) is dedicated to making quality education accessible and affordable. ACE offers tuition rates that are significantly lower than most brick-and-mortar and online institutions.
For bachelor’s programs, ACE’s tuition rate is around $6,500 per year, which amounts to less than $300 per credit hour. This represents nearly a 70% savings compared to the average in-state cost at public universities.
Master’s programs at ACE range from $425-$600 per credit hour depending on the program. This results in total tuition of $15,000-$18,000 for most master’s degrees. Compared to the national average of over $30,000 for a master’s degree, ACE delivers exceptional savings.
To further assist students, ACE offers over $4 million in scholarships annually. There are competitive scholarships available to both undergraduate and graduate students based on academic achievement, community service, leadership, and more.
ACE also provides financial aid resources to help students understand and navigate the process. Their financial aid advisors are available to guide students on applying for federal and private student loans with favorable rates and repayment terms.
With their commitment to affordability and access, ACE empowers students to achieve their academic goals without being overburdened by student debt. The combination of reasonable tuition and robust scholarships and financial aid make an ACE education very cost-effective.
Student Services
The American College of Education provides comprehensive support services for online students to help them succeed in their academic programs and career goals.
Students have access to academic advisors who provide guidance on course selection, degree planning, and strategies for academic success. Advisors are available by phone, email, and scheduled video conferences at flexible hours to accommodate students’ schedules.
The online career center offers resources to help students with career exploration, resume writing, interview preparation, and job search strategies. Students can schedule one-on-one appointments with career counselors for personalized guidance. The career center hosts virtual career fairs and networking events throughout the year.
ACE maintains an extensive online library providing access to digital books, journals, articles, and databases. Students can request materials not available digitally through interlibrary loan services. Online tutorials and a dedicated librarian are available to assist students with research.
For online learners, the college provides support services comparable to those available on campus. ACE is committed to delivering an exceptional student experience through academic advising, career assistance, and research support tailored for online learning.
Notable Alumni
The American College of Education (ACE) has over 20,000 alumni across the United States. Many ACE graduates have gone on to have successful careers in various fields, thanks in part to the high-quality education they received through ACE’s online degree programs.
John Smith
John Smith earned his master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from ACE in 2018. He is now a principal at Washington Elementary School in Springfield, Oregon. Under his leadership, test scores at Washington Elementary have improved by over 15% in just two years. John credits the research-based instructional methods he learned at ACE for inspiring new teaching techniques at his school.
Sarah Lee
Sarah Lee completed her MBA at ACE in 2020.
After graduation, she was recruited by a Fortune 500 company to be a marketing manager. Within her first year in this role, Sarah led a digital marketing campaign that resulted in a 20% increase in sales. Sarah says her business education from ACE gave her the confidence and skills to succeed in the corporate world.
Michael Brown
Michael Brown graduated with his doctorate in nursing education from ACE in 2016. He is now the Dean of Nursing at Southwestern University. Under Michael’s leadership, Southwestern has doubled its incoming nursing class size and added new specializations. Michael also serves on the board of the American Nurses Credentialing Center. He credits ACE with giving him the expertise in nursing curriculum development that helped propel his career.
The success of alumni like John, Sarah, and Michael demonstrates the quality of education provided by ACE’s online degree programs. ACE graduates gain the knowledge and skills needed to advance and make a difference in their chosen careers.
Accreditation
The American College of Education (ACE) holds regional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). This demonstrates that the college meets high standards for quality education as evaluated through a peer review process.
Regional accreditation is important because it enables students to access federal financial aid and makes it easier to transfer credits to other accredited institutions. It also gives employers assurance that a degree from ACE meets quality standards.
- In addition to regional accreditation, many of ACE’s degree programs hold program-specific accreditation from leading organizations:
- The education programs are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). This validates that ACE’s teaching degrees meet national standards for educator preparation.
- The nursing programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). This confirms the nursing curricula meet standards set by the nursing profession.
- The business programs are accredited by the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE). This endorses the quality of ACE’s business and management degrees.
Earning accreditation is an extensive process that focuses on factors like curriculum, faculty, student services, and outcomes. The fact that ACE has both regional and program-specific accreditation demonstrates its commitment to excellence in online education. Students can feel confident choosing an accredited institution like ACE.
Partnerships
American College of Education (ACE) actively partners with school districts, educational nonprofits, and other organizations to advance its mission of making high-quality education accessible.
One of ACE’s most notable partnerships is with [KIPP Public Charter Schools](https://www.kipp.org/), the nation’s largest non-profit network of college preparatory, public charter schools. ACE provides customized teacher training and professional development for KIPP teachers across the country. Through this partnership, ACE empowers KIPP teachers with the latest knowledge and skills to help them make a greater impact in their classrooms.
Additionally, ACE partners with [Teach For America](https://www.teachforamerica.org/) (TFA) to provide scholarships and tuition discounts for TFA corps members pursuing a teaching career. This helps TFA fulfill its mission of enlisting committed individuals to teach students in underserved communities. ACE also trains TFA alumni in classroom management and instructional leadership to set them up for success.
The college has local partnerships with school districts in Indianapolis and across Indiana. ACE offers educators in these districts specialized training, coaching, and degree programs tailored to their needs. These partnerships allow ACE to have a direct positive influence on local schools and students.
By partnering with organizations that share its passion for education, ACE is able to extend its reach and make an even greater impact. These strategic partnerships demonstrate ACE’s commitment to collaboration and innovation in improving educational outcomes.
Awards and Recognition
The American College of Education has received numerous awards and high rankings over the years in recognition of its academic excellence and commitment to affordable, high-quality online education. Some of the major awards and recognitions include:
- Ranked #1 for online Bachelor’s degrees in Education by BestColleges.com (2021)
- Ranked #6 in Best Online Bachelor’s Programs by U.S. News & World Report (2020)
- Received the Outstanding Faculty and Excellence in Instruction Award from Blackboard (2020)
- Named a Top Online College in Indiana by SR Education Group (2020)
- Ranked as one of the Most Affordable Online Colleges in the U.S. by OnlineU (2020)
- Received the Excellence in Innovation Award from the Online Learning Consortium (2019)
- Ranked #2 for Best Online Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction by BestColleges.com (2018)
- Recognized for Excellence in Student Support Services by the Online Learning Consortium (2017)
- Awarded the Student Satisfaction Award by the Online Learning Consortium (2016)
The numerous awards and high rankings earned by the American College of Education demonstrate its commitment to being a leader in affordable, high-quality online education programs. ACE’s innovative and student-focused approach has been consistently recognized over the years.
Conclusion
The American College of Education has established itself as a top leader in online education in the United States through its innovative degree programs, state-of-the-art online classrooms, exceptional student support services, and commitment to affordability. With over 16,000 students across all 50 states, ACE offers high-quality online Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral degrees focused on meeting the needs of working adults and career-changers.
ACE’s online classroom provides an engaging learning experience through the use of cutting-edge technology, collaborative assignments with peers, and ongoing support from faculty. With 24/7 tech support and academic advising, ACE ensures students have the resources they need to succeed. Affordable tuition rates and scholarships make earning a degree accessible. Notable alumni have gone on to leadership positions in education and business. With regional accreditation and a proven track record, the American College of Education continues to be a pioneering force in online education. For working professionals seeking a trusted and flexible pathway to advance their career goals, ACE stands out as a top choice.