ACU has a ranking among the 1000 best universities in the world.
Australian Catholic University is ranked #674 in the world, based on a composite of QS, Times, ARWU, and Webometrics rankings. In Australia, ACU is ranked #28 out of 42 universities.
Australian Catholic University (ACU) is a national public university formed in 1991 through the merger of Catholic education institutions. ACU offers most kinds of university degrees and is open to everyone.
Website: acu.edu.au | Campuses: Sydney (Blacktown, North Sydney, Strathfield) [NSW], Melbourne, Ballarat [VIC], Brisbane [QLD], Canberra [ACT], Adelaide [SA], Rome [Italy]
ACU World Ranking
Global Ranking: 674
Australian Catholic University is ranked #674 in the world. Its highest placement is in Times Higher Education, where it ranks 351-400.
QS ranking: 925
Times Higher Education: 375
ARWU: 650
Webometrics: 744
Australia Ranking
Australia Rank: 28
ACU is the 28th-ranked university in Australia, behind the University of Canberra and Edith Cowan University. It's ahead of CQUniversity and USQ.
Above: Murdoch University (25), ECU (26), University of Canberra (27)
Below: USQ (29), CQUniversity (30), Charles Darwin University (31)
Is ACU a Good University?
The Australian Catholic University (ACU) offers a value-based education across cities on eastern mainland Australia. Students have a choice between urban settings and quieter, more relaxed environments.
Campuses across Australia
Community engagement
Mission and values
ACU stands out for its community engagement activities. Programs encourage students to apply what they learn by participating in projects that benefit the broader public. Fields like healthcare, education, and business provide opportunities for students to contribute beyond the classroom.
Satisfaction: 77%
ACU reviews are generally positive, aligning with the average for Australian universities. Satisfaction of recent graduates is 76% for bachelor degrees and 78% for postgraduate students. Uni Reviews shows individual ratings and comments.
How Many Students?
Students: 32,281
ACU had a total of 32,281 students in 2023, making it the 21st largest university in Australia.
- International students: 4,118 (13%)
- Postgraduate students: 6,147 (19%)
- Gender ratio: 74% Female : 26% Male
- On-campus students: 30,551 (95%)
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance Rate: 82%
The Australian Catholic University acceptance rate is 82%. Among students with an ATAR that qualifies for university, 18% are unable to be admitted into their preferred degree.
Required ATAR: 59
It is easy to get into ACU, with a minimum ATAR of 59 on average. At the time of publishing, the ATAR threshold was 59 for Arts, Bachelor of Business, and STEM-related degrees.
Can You Do ACU Online?
The ability to study online with ACU is limited. Just 5% of students at ACU are classified as external. While ACU Online course options appear quite broad, the vast majority of online learners are postgraduate and studying education and teaching. ACU is a campus-orientated university.