Allen County Community College

Five ACCC Programs for Graphic Design Careers

Allen County Community College appears in our ranking of the 20 Most Affordable Associates in Web Design and Development Online.

In Barclay Hall, the Fine Arts Division grants a 64-credit AA in Graphic Design advised by Prof. Michael Ruberto for Allen County Community College undergrads to practice visual expression in studio-based courses like Introduction to Photoshop and Typography in Iola or online. Chaired by Prof. Tera Reed, the AA in Art plots a broader 64-credit, HLC-accredited plan for creative expertise across mediums with one 45-hour internship, such as the Mulvane Art Museum and Hellmuth Obata Kassabaum. The AA in Communication builds a 64-credit, four-term track under Prof. Tony Piazza in Iola or Burlingame with hands-on media experience making graphics for The Inferno and Allen Flame newspaper. With 58 percent retention and also available online, the 64-credit AS in Production Media headed by Prof. Bruce Symes nurtures digital design proficiency for 2+2 transfer options at Emporia State, Washburn, Wichita State, and Kansas State.

Entirely online via Blackboard, the Web Design Certificate has a brief 24-credit, one-year sequence under Prof. Sharon Lawless with in-demand classes like Dreamweaver and Commercial Graphics for median pay of $48,700.

About Allen County Community College

Allen County Community College originated in August 1923 when the Board of Education District 10 opened Iola Junior College for an inaugural class of 93 right at the high school. In 1965, the State Superintendent of Public Instruction sought to separate the growing college. In 1966, Kansas allocated $1.5 million to build Allen County Community Junior College. On August 25, 1969, Horton Hall became the first permanent building on its own 90-acre Neosho River Valley campus. In 1980, its name was formally shortened to Allen County Community College. Three years later, it started the first 56-bed dorm for hospitable living arrangements. In 1991, ACCC broke ground on a 7,500-square-foot Burlingame Center extension closer to Topeka, Forbes’ 150th best city. In 1998, Interactive Television was introduced to reach more students digitally. By 2017, Allen County won the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Culture of Health Prize. In 2018, ACCC was ranked fifth for value by AffordableCollegesOnline.org.

Worth $25.73 million, Allen County Community College now serves 2,852 Red Devils at a 22:1 ratio online and face-to-face with 30+ clubs like Phi Theta Kappa. On WalletHub, ACCC has America’s 231st best career outcomes and 458th top education.

Allen County Community College Accreditation Details

On January 28, 2019, the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) Institutional Actions Council sent mailed an official reaffirmation letter to Allen County Community College to extend the Level I Open Pathway accreditation through 2028-29 with interim monitoring led by President John A. Masterson, who received a National Institute for Staff & Organizational Development Excellence Award. Located 610 miles northeast via Route 36 in Chicago, this giant 19-state Great Plains Region accreditor is authorized by the U.S. Department of Education to continually review ACCC’s 42 associate and 16 certificate offerings. Further, Allen is approved by the Kansas Board of Regents and State Higher Education Department for AA/AS transfer articulation.

Allen County Community College Application Requirements

Attending Allen County Community College is classified “least selective” by the U.S. News & World Report since 100 percent of the 751 Fall 2013 entrants were openly admitted. First-year Red Devils seeking the AA in Graphic Design must still exhibit readiness for postsecondary education though. Verification of a high school diploma or GED score of 520 or better is asked. Minimum grades aren’t listed, but core courses should be graded at least “D.” Maintaining 2.0 GPAs is required to avoid probation warnings. Freshmen take placement testing to determine course selections. For example, the ASSET test needs a 33 Numeric Skills and 35 Reading score or higher. Compass takers strive for a 50 Algebra or 55 Reading & Writing mark. On the Accuplacer, the minimums are 60 for Math and 69 for English. These exams are waived for undergrads meeting the 18 ACT or 940 SAT benchmark. Transfers are welcome with up to 45 credits, including MAT 105 and COL 101, from regionally accredited institutions. International I-20 students prove language proficiency with a 68 Web or 520 Paper TOEFL score.

Allen County Community College conveniently keeps its admission process rolling year-round. Only priority dates of April 1st for Fall and December 1st for Spring are printed for U.S. residents. Non-U.S. residents must submit required materials by July 1st, December 1st, or May 1st. Accordingly, click the Apply Online 2.0 link to complete the free online Allen application. Submit official high school or college transcripts to 1801 North Cottonwood Street in Iola, KS 66749. Select ACT code 1424 or SAT/TOEFL code 6305 for certified result results. Other steps to enroll include the Accuplacer test or equivalent, financial aid form, advisement meeting, school counselor report, transfer evaluation, immigration documents, and vaccine record. Please pose further questions to (620) 365-5116 ext. 6268 or admissions@allencc.edu.

Tuition and Financial Aid

For 2019-20, Allen County Community College billed flat-rate tuition of $60 per credit. Associate majors added a $25 student fee, $20 technology fee, and $14 textbook rental fee per credit. This brings per credit costs to only $119 for Kansas and non-resident students. Studying full-time would total $3,570 each year or $7,140 total for tuition alone. International learners must add a $900 health insurance fee each term. Online learning assesses a maximum $75 technology fee each term. Living at the Iola campus’ dorms like Horton Hall incurs $5,070 for annual rent. Standard 18-meal plans for Red Devil Dining Center are $2,187 extra. ACCC budgets $3,600 for personal expenses each year. Annual associate attendance averages $15,026 on-site and $7,856 if commuting.

According to the NCES College Navigator, the Financial Aid Office in Main Hall Suite A-3 disburses $3.48 million combined yearly for 50 percent of ACCC Red Devils to snag median assistance of $2,944 each. Institutional funds include the Minnie B. Allen Memorial Scholarship, Robert & Norma Barclay Scholarship, Gerald Chester Memorial Scholarship, Great Southern Bank Scholarship, Griffin Athletic Scholarship, Taylor Hill Memorial Art Scholarship, Dan & Linda Johnson Fine Arts Scholarship, Harry & Joyce Lee Scholarship, Marsh Fern Fine Arts Scholarship, Neosho Valley Quail Limited Scholarship, and Terry T. Reynolds Scholarship. The Presidential Academic Scholarship covers full tuition of $3,570 for freshmen with minimum 3.75 GPAs. Merit Academic Scholarship recipients with 3.0-3.49 GPAs earn $500 by term. The Early Start Scholarship has a May 31st deadline for first-time students in developmental courses. In-state AAS majors apply for the $1,500 Kansas Career Technical Workforce Grant. Other local programs like the Kansas Ethnic Minority Scholarship and Kansas Military Service Scholarship help. Use Allen FAFSA code 001901 to pursue the Federal Pell Grant, SEOG Grant, and Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loan too.

Find more about Allen County Community College at the Graphic Design Program page.