Introduction to The American College of Greece

The American College of Greece (ACG) is a non-profit institution that offers a wide range of academic programs. ACG is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), which includes ACG's operations in Greece.

Academic Programs

ACG offers various undergraduate and graduate programs through its schools, including:

• School of Business and Economics
• Frances Rich School of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
• School of Science and Technology
• Center of Professional and Continuing Education

Undergraduate Programs

The undergraduate programs at ACG include:

• Liberal Education Program
• Business and Economics majors (BA, BSc)
• Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences majors (BA)
• Science and Technology majors (BSc)
• Interdisciplinary minors

Graduate Programs

The graduate programs at ACG include:

• Master's degree programs in fields such as Counseling Psychology, Applied Child and Adolescent Psychology, Organizational Psychology, and more
• Graduate certificates and diplomas in areas like Digital and Social Media, Public Relations, and Psychology

Admissions

ACG has a comprehensive admissions process that includes:

• Admission requirements for undergraduate and graduate programs
• Application procedures for Greek, North American, European Union, and international students
• Financial assistance options, including scholarships, grants, and work-study programs

Admission Requirements

The admission requirements for ACG vary depending on the program and student category. Generally, applicants must submit:

• Official transcripts
• Letters of recommendation
• Personal statements
• English language proficiency test scores (e.g., TOEFL, IELTS)

Financial Assistance

ACG offers various forms of financial assistance to help students fund their education, including:

• Scholarships for entering and continuing students
• College grants
• Work-study programs
• Graduate assistantships

Scholarship Programs

ACG has several scholarship programs, such as:

• The Stavros Niarchos Foundation Scholarship Program
• Education Unites Scholarship Program for Refugees at ACG
• Merit scholarships for graduate students

Research and Academic Enrichment

ACG is committed to academic excellence and offers various research and academic enrichment opportunities, including:

• The American College of Greece Research Center (ACG-RC)
• International Honors Program (IHP)
• Language and Culture Programs (LCP)
• Student Academic Support Services (SASS)

Research Areas

ACG's research areas include:

• Business and Economics
• Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences
• Science and Technology
• Hospitality and Tourism Management

Campus Life

ACG has a vibrant campus life, with various student organizations, clubs, and athletic teams. The college also offers support services, such as:

• Student Success Center
• Career Services
• Counseling Center
• Health and Wellness Center

Student Organizations

ACG has a range of student organizations, including:

• ACG Peer Alumni Network
• ACG Sustainability Leaders
• Deree Ambassadors
• Deree Student Activities Board
• Research Scholars Organization

Outbound Study Abroad Program

ACG has an Outbound Study Abroad Program that allows students to study at partner institutions around the world. The program includes:

• Semester or academic year exchange programs
• Summer programs
• Internship opportunities

Partner Institutions

ACG has partnerships with institutions such as Cornell University's School of Hotel Administration, which offers a study abroad program for ACG students.

Cornell SHA and ACG Study Abroad Program

The Cornell SHA and ACG Study Abroad Program is a collaborative initiative between Cornell University's School of Hotel Administration and ACG. The program allows ACG students to study at Cornell for a semester or academic year.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the program, students must:

• Hold a GPA of at least 3.25/4.00
• Be enrolled in an ACG degree program in hospitality management or a related field
• Have completed second-year coursework, including statistics, financial accounting, and introduction to finance
• Submit a written statement of intent and English language proficiency test scores

Application Process

The application process for the Cornell SHA and ACG Study Abroad Program includes:

• Submission of an online application form
• Official transcript
• CV and biographical note
• Confirmation of course transferability check
• Letter of recommendation from the School of Business
• Interview by a committee composed of ACG faculty and staff

Conclusion

The American College of Greece offers a wide range of academic programs, research opportunities, and campus life experiences. With its strong academic reputation, commitment to excellence, and global partnerships, ACG is an ideal institution for students seeking a high-quality education in a supportive and inclusive environment.

The American College of Greece (ACG) is an independent, non-profit, non-sectarian, co-educational institution founded in 1875 in Smyrna (Izmir), Asia Minor, by missionaries from Boston, Massachusetts. Following the Asia Minor Catastrophe, the college relocated to Athens in 1923 and has operated there ever since. It is the oldest and largest U.S.-accredited, comprehensive educational institution in Europe, with over 150 years of transformative education and a long-standing role in fostering intellectual and cultural ties between Greece and the United States.

ACG is chartered as a U.S. 501(c)(3) tax-exempt entity by the State of Colorado, and is governed by an independent board of trustees. Its motto — Non Ministrari, Sed Ministrare ("Not to be Served, but to Serve") — reflects its foundational commitment to education in service of society.

Three divisions:

ACG operates across three distinct academic divisions, each serving a different stage of education:

• Pierce: a pre-kindergarten through secondary school offering a Gymnasium, Lyceum and an International Baccalaureate Programme, with campuses in Aghia Paraskevi and a Pierce East Campus in Spata
• Deree: the undergraduate and graduate college, with all instruction delivered entirely in English, located on the main 64-acre campus in Aghia Paraskevi.
• Alba Graduate Business School: a specialized postgraduate business school located in downtown Athens, built on ACG's long-standing legacy of academic excellence.

Accreditation

ACG was first accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) in 1981, becoming the first U.S. institution abroad to achieve this distinction. In 2023, The American University of Greece (AUG) — ACG's newly incorporated U.S. affiliate — received full institutional NECHE accreditation, which includes ACG's operations in Greece through a validating agreement. This means Deree graduates hold degrees with the same credentials as graduates of other NECHE institutions, including MIT, Harvard, Brown, Boston College and Amherst.

Deree is also validated by The Open University (UK), providing graduates with an additional internationally recognized award pathway. In 2024, AUG launched a Global Campus offering fully online degree programs rooted in ACG's academic tradition.

Campus

The main campus in Aghia Paraskevi sits on the western slopes of Mount Hymettus, about ten kilometers from central Athens, and was originally designed by the renowned Greek architect Constantine Doxiadis. Its 64 acres include smart classrooms, science and STEM laboratories, fine art studios and exhibition spaces, a Center for the Arts with multiple performance venues including the Pierce Theater, a black box theater and the Irene Bailey Theater, a library, a gym, a swimming pool, tennis courts, a soccer and track complex, a chapel, and student lounges. The campus offers panoramic views of the Athens basin.

Student life

Student life at ACG is active and diverse. Students can join academic societies, a wide range of clubs, and student organizations including the Deree Student Association, the Research Scholars Organization, and the Student Emergency Response Force. Intercollegiate and intramural sports are organized under the Deree Griffins banner. Arts programming is extensive, with music, theater, dance and visual arts performances running throughout the academic year under the Arts at Deree initiative. An International Honors Program is available for high-achieving students, including a Stanford Summer component and a dedicated merit scholarship. Service learning projects connect students to the broader Athens community.

Research and institutes

ACG's research activity spans applied academic research and public policy engagement through four dedicated centers:

• ACG Research Center (ACG-RC): supports interdisciplinary applied research, with active projects including a study on the role of the Greek-American diaspora in bilateral U.S.-Greece relations from 1974 to 2024
• Institute of Global Affairs: hosts research, public events and publications on international policy and geopolitics
• Institute of Public Health: conducts public health research and runs an annual lecture series open to the wider community
• The Demos Center: dedicated to democratic values, civic discourse and public engagement

Sustainability

Sustainability is a core institutional commitment at ACG. The college has been listed among the Princeton Review's most environmentally responsible colleges for seven consecutive years, and is one of only four European institutions to appear on the list for 2025. In 2024, ACG was recognized as a top performer in five categories of the AASHE Sustainable Campus Index — Campus Engagement, Energy, Grounds, Purchasing, and Wellbeing and Work — making it the highest-ranked STARS institution outside the United States and Canada. ACG also received the 2024 EPEAT Purchaser Award for the second consecutive year for sustainable electronics procurement, and was featured in Greece's inaugural Hellenic Impact Report for its integration of sustainability across academics, operations and partnerships. The college currently offers 149 sustainability-focused and sustainability-inclusive courses across undergraduate and graduate levels.

Student support services

• Student Academic Support Services (SASS): learning facilitation, peer tutoring and academic resources
• Career Services: career planning, internship placement, and employer connections including an annual ACG Career Days event
• Student Success Center: holistic advising and student wellbeing support
• Counseling and Health and Wellness Center: mental health services, wellness coaching and medical assistance
• Financial assistance: merit scholarships, grants, work-study, and access to U.S. Federal Loans and Veterans Aid for eligible students
• On-campus and nearby housing for undergraduate and study-abroad students

International reach

1. ACG welcomes study-abroad students from universities worldwide through semester, summer and intensive programs in Athens. Special programs include the Hellenic Studies Summer School, the Heritage Greece program, and a longstanding collaboration with Harvard University's Center for Hellenic Studies. Through its Outbound Study Abroad Programme, Deree students can study at partner institutions in cities including Stanford, New York, Boston, London, Rome, Seoul, Shanghai and Berlin. A parallel studies pathway also allows students enrolled in Greek public universities to earn a Deree degree simultaneously.