American River College
American River College is a public community college in Sacramento, part of the Los Rios Community College District, serving approximately 30,000+ students with 80+ associate degree and certificate programs across four campus locations in California.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1955
- HeadquartersSacramento, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What American River College does
American River College is a public community college founded in 1955, operating as one of four colleges within the Los Rios Community College District in Sacramento, California. It serves approximately 30,000+ students across a main campus (4700 College Oak Drive) and three satellite centers (Mather, McClellan, and Natomas), offering 80+ associate degree and certificate programs across eight thematic HomeBases (Arts, Business, Health and Education, Language & Communication, Manufacturing/Construction/Transportation, People/Culture/Society, Public Service, and STEM). Core delivery runs on Canvas (Instructure) LMS for online and hybrid courses, Los Rios eServices and Okta-based identity for student records and enrollment, and Starfish for student-engagement tracking. The academic platform is supplemented by Degree Planner for AA-T/AS-T transfer mapping, the Beacon Supplemental Instruction peer tutoring program, and a portfolio of student-facing services including the Career Center (Handshake integration, AI resume/interview coaching), Student Health and Wellness Center (BetterMynd online therapy), and the Beaver Cares basic-needs center. Dual enrollment partnerships with K-12 districts enable high school concurrent credit, while Regional Public Safety Training Center operations at the McClellan Center support law-enforcement and public-safety workforce pipelines.
ARC's revenue is generated primarily through California state community-college apportionment based on Full-Time Equivalent Students (FTES), local property taxes via the Los Rios district, per-unit student tuition (~$46/unit for California residents), federal and state financial aid (Pell, Cal Grant, Federal Work-Study), and private donations through the Los Rios Colleges Foundation. Pricing is centrally set by the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office, with a Promise program offering free tuition for first-time qualifying students. The go-to-market model is open-enrollment direct-to-consumer: prospective students apply via the statewide CCCApply system, enroll through eServices, and access courses in person, online, or hybrid. Marketing runs through institutional website, social channels (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, YouTube), campus tours, and dual-enrollment K-12 partnerships, all leveraged within the Los Rios shared-marketing infrastructure. Customer segments span prospective college students (primary), high-school dual-enrollment students, regional employers seeking workforce pipelines, and community members seeking ESL, basic-needs, and lifelong-learning services.
American River College firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- American River College
- Legal name
- American River College
- Website
- https://arc.losrios.edu
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1955
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- American River College is a public community college in Sacramento, part of the Los Rios Community College District, serving approximately 30,000+ students with 80+ associate degree and certificate programs across four campus locations in California.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
American River College industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community College Education
- NAICS
- Junior Colleges (61121), Junior Colleges (611210)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public Community Colleges (EDAHADAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Dual Enrollment / Early College Programs (via Community Colleges) (EDAHADAH)
Keywords
Where American River College is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sacramento
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
American River College business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- State Funding and Property Taxes: Primary revenue source from California state community college funding formula based on FTES (Full-Time Equivalent Students) enrollment and local property tax revenue through Los Rios Community College District.
- Student Tuition and Fees: Per-unit enrollment fees for California residents ($46/unit typically) plus additional fees for non-residents. Financial aid and grants offset costs for eligible students.
- Federal and State Grants: Pell Grants, Cal Grants, Federal Work-Study, and other financial aid programs channeled through the institution for student support.
- Los Rios Foundation Donations: Private donations through Los Rios Colleges Foundation supporting scholarships, programs, and capital improvements.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | In-State Tuition (California Residents) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Non-Resident Tuition |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels9 records
American River College product offering
Product offeringCore offering
American River College is a public community college that delivers higher-education instruction through associate degrees, certificates, transfer pathways, and career technical education across 80+ programs. It serves traditional and dual-enrollment high school students, degree-seeking learners, and adult re-entry students, with instruction offered on multiple campuses and via online learning. The college also operates workforce development and continuing education programs in partnership with local industry and K-12 districts.
Product overview
American River College operates as a community college within the Los Rios Community College District, offering a comprehensive suite of educational products and student services. The institution's core educational platform centers on the Canvas Learning Management System for online and hybrid course delivery, organized through an innovative HomeBases structure that groups programs into eight thematic divisions (Arts, Business, Health and Education, Language and Communication, Manufacturing/Construction/Transportation, People/Culture/Society, Public Service, and STEM). The college provides academic program products including over 70 degree and certificate programs across disciplines such as Accounting, Administration of Justice, Computer Information Science, Nursing, and Welding Technology. Supporting the academic offerings are student service products including eServices for administrative functions, Degree Planner for transfer degree planning, the Career Center with job/internship search via Handshake, Student Health and Wellness Center with mental health services (including AI coaching for resumes), Beaver Cares Basic Needs Center, Veterans Resource Center, Beacon Supplemental Instruction tutoring, and Library Services. The institution serves approximately 30,000+ students across its main campus in Sacramento, Mather Center, McClellan Center, and Natomas Center locations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Associate Degree Programs
Quantifiable outcome
- Graduates earn Associate Degrees for Transfer (AA-T/AS-T) qualifying for priority admission to CSU system with junior status
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use American River College
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
American River College technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration8 records
Feature3 records
American River College partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.
- Los Rios Community College DistrictcoreAmerican River College is one of four colleges governed by the Los Rios Community College District. The district provides unified administrative services including HR, finance, IT infrastructure, student information systems, and strategic planning. ARC operates autonomously for academic matters while sharing district-wide resources and brand identity.
- California State Universities (CSU System)flagshipARC offers Associate Degrees for Transfer (ADT) that guarantee admission with junior status to CSU campuses. Students completing ADT pathways receive priority admission consideration. Partnerships include guaranteed transfer agreements for specific majors.
- University of California SystemcoreMany ARC transfer degrees are designed to satisfy UC lower-division requirements. Articulation agreements ensure coursework transfers as major preparation. UC-transferable courses carry CSU/UC designation.
- Instructure (Canvas LMS)coreCanvas is the official learning management system for Los Rios colleges, hosting all online and hybrid courses. The college integrates Canvas deeply with student login systems, grade reporting, and course content delivery.
- K-12 School Districts (Dual Enrollment)corePartnerships with regional high schools enable dual enrollment, allowing qualified high school students to take college courses. Includes Accelerated College Education (ACE) program offering structured pathways.
- Regional Employers (Workforce Development)coreCareer education programs align with Sacramento region employer needs. Work experience courses connect students with internships and jobs. Industry advisory committees guide curriculum development.
- Los Rios Colleges Foundationcore501(c)(3) foundation supporting all four Los Rios colleges through scholarships, program funding, and capital campaigns. Manages Beaver Scholars program and other donor-supported initiatives at ARC.
- Los Rios Police DepartmentcoreDistrict-wide police department provides campus safety and security services. Handles Clery Act compliance, emergency response, and law enforcement training programs at McClellan Center.
- Los Rios Study Abroad ConsortiumminorStudy abroad programs in Florence, Dublin, London, Paris, and Japan allow students to earn transferable credit while experiencing international education. Programs include faculty-led short-term trips and semester exchanges.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
American River College competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Sacramento City College: Sister college in the same Los Rios Community College District. Direct peer with shared governance, shared student information systems, and direct competition for the same Sacramento-region student population across associate degrees, transfer pathways, and career-technical programs.
- Cosumnes River College: Another sister college within Los Rios CCD. Direct peer competing for Sacramento-area enrollment, sharing the same district-wide funding, branding, and student services infrastructure (eServices, Canvas, Handshake).
- Sierra College: Adjacent California community college district serving the foothills region just northeast of Sacramento. Direct peer with similar associate degree, transfer, and career-technical program mix, competing for students in the broader Sacramento metropolitan catchment area.
- Folsom Lake College: Fourth sister college in Los Rios CCD. Direct peer serving the greater Sacramento region with overlapping AA-T/AS-T transfer programs, dual enrollment, and workforce development offerings.
Broad incumbents
- De Anza College: Large California community college in the Foothill-De Anza CCD. Offers a similar menu of transfer, CTE, and workforce programs at greater scale, and competes for online enrollment across California rather than only within a single metro.
- Mt. San Antonio College: One of the largest single-campus community colleges in California, located in the Los Angeles area. Comparable in scale of program offerings (80+ majors) and in its reliance on California community college FTES funding, though geographically distant.
- Pasadena City College: Large California community college in the LA area with extensive transfer, dual enrollment, and CTE programs. Comparable institution with similar revenue model and student support services, though in a different metropolitan context than Sacramento.
Regional players
- San Joaquin Delta College: Public community college serving Stockton and the Central Valley. Comparable public community college with similar transfer, CTE, and workforce programs, though it operates in a different subregion of California and is not in the same district as ARC.
- Moorpark College: California community college in Ventura County. Similar public community college profile with transfer, CTE, and adult learner programs, though serving a different geographic market.
- Santa Rosa Junior College: Public California community college serving Sonoma County with comparable transfer, CTE, and dual enrollment programs. Operates in a different region but is structurally similar in mission, governance, and funding.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
American River College social profiles
Digital presenceAmerican River College financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
American River College leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
American River College subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
American River College funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
American River College M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about American River College
What does American River College do?
American River College is a public community college that delivers higher-education instruction through associate degrees, certificates, transfer pathways, and career technical education across 80+ programs. It serves traditional and dual-enrollment high school students, degree-seeking learners, and adult re-entry students, with instruction offered on multiple campuses and via online learning. The college also operates workforce development and continuing education programs in partnership with local industry and K-12 districts.
Is American River College a public or private company?
American River College is a public company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was American River College founded?
American River College was founded in 1955.
Where is American River College based?
American River College is headquartered in Sacramento, United States, in the North America region.
How does American River College make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. State Funding and Property Taxes are the primary driver. The others are student Tuition and Fees, federal and State Grants and los Rios Foundation Donations.
Who are American River College's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Sacramento City College, Cosumnes River College, Sierra College and Folsom Lake College. Broad incumbents are De Anza College, Mt. San Antonio College and Pasadena City College. Regional players are San Joaquin Delta College, Moorpark College and Santa Rosa Junior College.
Does American River College have an API?
No public API is recorded for American River College.
What industry is American River College in?
American River College's product category is Community College Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHADAA, Public Community Colleges, with a secondary code of EDAHADAH, Dual Enrollment / Early College Programs (via Community Colleges). Its NAICS code is 61121 and its SIC code is 8200.