When senior Abigail Countess arrived on the Abilene Christian University campus four years ago, she didn’t yet know where to find her classrooms or how to navigate college life. But she did know one thing: she wanted community.
She found it in the Honors College, surrounded by classmates who shared her curiosity, drive and faith — and that sense of connection, she says, made all the difference.
“Being in the Honors College gave me an immediate sense of community because it made campus seem much smaller and more personal,” Countess said. “From the beginning, I felt welcomed and supported, and that helped me adjust to college life so much more easily.”
Stories like Countess’s are part of the reason ACU was once again recognized among the nation’s best universities for programs that help students succeed.
In the 2026 U.S. News & World Report rankings released this fall, ACU earned national distinction in four categories — No. 11 in Learning Communities, No. 11 in Service Learning, No. 13 in First-Year Experiences and No. 36 in Study Abroad.
It marks the seventh consecutive year ACU has been honored in the U.S. News list of “Programs That Enhance Student Experience,” which highlights colleges and universities that foster engagement beyond the classroom.
“A national research university that is intentional about spiritual formation, impactful co-curricular experiences and forming lifelong relationships is unique in the higher education marketplace,” notes Dr. Phil Schubert, ACU president. “We’re thrilled when others recognize the value of what we see happening every day here at ACU.”
A culture of connection
For ACU, “learning communities” are a core part of the university’s approach to education. In these programs, students live and learn together through shared coursework, residence hall life and faculty mentorship.
The concept has been woven into the fabric of ACU’s mission: to educate students for Christian service and leadership throughout the world. One of the most visible examples is the Honors College Living Learning Communities, launched in 2023.
Honors freshmen participate in the Living Learning Community housed in Wessel, ACU’s newest residence hall, said Dr. Trey Shirley, associate dean of the Honors College and associate professor of art and design.
“Through this experience, students live together, learn together in Honors courses such as Cornerstone, and grow together through shared experiences that extend beyond the classroom,” he said.
The success of that first-year community was immediate. “In our first year of our Freshman Living Learning Community, we really didn’t know what to expect,” he said. “At our first event, and multiple subsequent events, we noticed that we were getting 100% attendance rates. The students were present and engaged, and anxious to join in all of the activities we planned.”
And when students prepared to leave at the end of the year, many expressed sadness at losing daily contact with friends they had come to see as family, he said. That feedback prompted the creation of a sophomore Living Learning Community in Barret Hall the following year.
Faculty in residence and mentorship in action
One of the defining features of ACU’s learning communities is the close relationship between students and faculty who mentor, model faith and participate with students in daily campus life.
In the Honors College, that relationship extends into residence life through a faculty-in-residence program, where professors live alongside students in Wessel Hall. It’s part of a broader philosophy of holistic learning that blends academic rigor, personal growth and spiritual formation.
“Faculty also supervise undergraduate research projects, from nuclear engineering to fine arts performances to high-level biblical scholarship,” Shirley said. “They mentor students applying for national scholarships, guide them through research, and even travel with them to present at conferences.”
Beyond the classroom, faculty help students discern their calling. “In our college we have a mantra that we use as a guiding light to keep us on the right path,” Shirley said. “It is a quote from the 20th-century Christian essayist Frederick Buechner. Buechner writes, ‘The place God calls you to is the place where your deep passion and the world’s deep hunger meet.’
“Working with high-achieving students, we know that they bring many talents to the table. But this quote reminds us that our talents are not to be hoarded for ourselves, but are intended to be shared with the world. So our goal is to partner with our students, to help them find the intersection between that which brings them deep gladness and the world’s deep need,” he said.
A student perspective on community
Countess, a senior kinesiology pre-occupational therapy major, says that sense of shared purpose and mentorship defines her Honors College experience.
“I loved my Honors Cornerstone class,” she said. “That’s where I made some of my very first college friends, and many of those friendships have lasted all four years. It felt like a space where everyone wanted to grow and learn together.”
She credits the smaller class sizes and collaborative learning environment with helping her find her voice as a student and as a leader.
“Within the Honors College, everyone is motivated and genuinely wants to learn – not just to get a grade, but to understand how what we study connects to the world,” she said. “The professors also take a more personal approach and get to know you as a person.”
Through her Honors contracts, Countess has worked one-on-one with professors on specialized projects that align with her interests. Those experiences, she said, have given her confidence and a deeper sense of ownership in her education.
“Being part of the Honors College has inspired me to work harder and strive for excellence,” she said. “It’s taught me balance – how to handle challenging academics while still building relationships and enjoying college life.”
Learning that extends beyond the classroom
In addition to the residential communities, ACU’s Honors College fosters connection through an Honors Commons – a shared space for study sessions, tutoring, Chapel services and social gatherings. The Honors Student Council organizes a variety of events including formals, service projects and field trips.
Shirley says those activities help students integrate “faith, scholarship, and service” into their ACU experience — a reflection of the university’s broader commitment to spiritual formation and leadership.
“The Honors College offers many opportunities for students to engage in ACU’s mission from the start of their freshman year through graduation,” Shirley said. “Through our four Honors tracks — Design Thinking and Innovation, Global Service and Leadership, Social and Environmental Justice, and Research and Scholarship — students learn what it means to be a person of faith seeking to do God’s work in the world.”
As for Countess, she’ll soon leave campus with a degree and a clear sense of direction. But what she’ll remember most, she said, are the people — the friends who became family and the professors who saw her potential before she did.
“The Honors College isn’t just about academics,” she said. “It’s about being part of a supportive, encouraging community. That’s what makes ACU feel like home.”
