It’s hard to believe, but another year is almost over! At American Career College, 2025 was a year filled with moments worth celebrating, from national recognition as an outstanding career college to graduation milestones for our newest alumni.
Before we jump headfirst into a new year, we want to take some time to pause and reflect on all the highlights from this past year at ACC.
Awards and Honors in 2025
In 2025, we were honored to receive recognition for all three ACC campuses in Los Angeles, Anaheim, and Ontario.
All schools were once again named a certified Great Place to Work in 2025, a designation that reflects the positive, welcoming culture we work hard to create.
We also reached a new milestone on the national stage: Both our Los Angeles and Anaheim campuses were recognized as five-star schools in USA TODAY’s first-ever ranking of “America’s Top Vocational Schools.” These rankings were based on five metrics:
- Graduation rate
- Graduates’ salary
- Years to pay off the cost of school
- Social mobility
- Diversity
This national acknowledgment reflects the excellence of our students, alumni, faculty, and staff. It’s a testament to the hard work and dedication we see every day in our classrooms, campus labs, and clinical settings.
Other noteworthy achievements from the past year include these honors and awards:
Los Angeles
- Best Career College: LA Daily News Readers Choice Awards
- Best Nursing School: LA Daily News Readers Choice Awards
- Best Workplace: LA Daily News Readers Choice Awards
Anaheim
- Favorite Career College: San Gabriel Valley Tribune Readers Choice Awards
- Favorite Nursing School: San Gabriel Valley Tribune Readers Choice Awards
- Best Nursing School: OC Register Readers Choice Awards
Ontario
- Best Nursing School: Inland Valley Daily Bulletin Readers Choice Awards
- Best College: Inland Valley Daily Bulletin Readers Choice Awards
- Favorite Workplace: Inland Valley Daily Bulletin Readers Choice Awards
- Favorite Online School: San Bernardino Sun Readers Choice Awards
- Favorite Career College: Press Enterprise Readers Choice Awards
A Year of Community Outreach
At ACC, we believe in giving back and serving others. This year, we had several opportunities to make an impact in our communities:
- Healthy Kids Day: In April, ACC-Ontario vocational nursing students volunteered their time and service at Healthy Kids Day, hosted by the Corona YMCA. Students spent time with hundreds of children and their families, offering screening and education to support community health.
- American Heart Association Heart Walk: ACC students, alumni, and associates participated in the annual Heart Walk at Angel Stadium in Anaheim this spring. The event works to raise awareness about the importance of heart health. In 2025, it raised over $30,000 for the American Heart Association.
- California wildfires support: In response to the devastating wildfires in Southern California earlier this year, ACC compiled a list of resources to help all those affected by the disaster.
Student Journeys That Inspired Us
Every student at ACC has a unique story, and some were generous enough to share theirs publicly. These are a few of the students who inspired us in 2025:
Ashley’s Story: Growth Starts With Support
During her time at ACC, Ashley M. has learned that growth rarely happens without the support of others. She credits a large part of her success in the ACC-Los Angeles Medical Assistant program to the support she received from dedicated faculty, who pushed her to work hard and believe in herself.
“It wasn’t the easiest, but this time I told myself: I’m going to give it my all and ask for help,” Ashley shared. “My instructor was the best — hard on me, but because she wanted me to be better.”
Thankful for the support she received, Ashley decided to pay it forward and serve in a mentorship role as a student ambassador for new students.
Read more about Ashley’s story here.
Richard’s Experience: A Commitment to the Future
The road to graduation isn’t always smooth. That’s something Richard G. knows all too well.
During his time in the ACC-Los Angeles Optical Technician program, Richard had to overcome some obstacles to his education, including an hours-long commute from Ventura County in a car without a working air conditioner.
On graduation day, however, Richard knew all those challenges had been worth it. In sharing his story, he encouraged all students to make their education a priority, no matter what: “If you’re hesitant, just do it. Tomorrow’s not promised,” he said. “It’s totally worth it.”
Read more about Richard’s experience here.
Rudy’s Journey: Finding Purpose Through a Tragic Loss
ACC students often have personal reasons for pursuing careers in healthcare. Rudy S. decided to enroll in the Medical Assistant program at ACC-Ontario because his parents encouraged him to help people.
But other life experiences, including a personal tragedy, made Rudy even more determined to make an impact. After the death of a classmate, he knew he wanted to train for a career focused on care and service.
“That experience really helped me focus on what I wanted to do and the kind of person I wanted to be in this field,” Rudy said.
Read more about Rudy’s journey here.
A New Chapter for Our Graduates
Every year, we’re proud to celebrate a new class of graduates and recognize all they’ve achieved during their time at ACC.
In June, we congratulated the largest graduating class in ACC’s history as over 1,400 graduates received their diplomas at the Toyota Center in Ontario. Graduates represented all of ACC's academic programs, including medical assisting, nursing, and more.
All in all, more than 3,500 ACC graduates completed their programs this year. While it’s bittersweet to say goodbye, we can’t wait to see what our newest alumni achieve in their next chapters.
Looking Ahead to 2026: What’s in Your Future?
As we look back on 2025, we’re reminded of how much is possible with hard work and dedication. This year, ACC students made huge progress toward their goals. Some graduated and started new careers in the healthcare field. Others served their communities and gave back to those in need. We can’t wait to see what ACC students, faculty, and alumni will achieve in 2026!
If you’ve been thinking about your future, the new year offers the perfect opportunity to take the first step. ACC has healthcare programs that begin throughout the year, and if you start in January, you may be able to finish in the fall for some programs.
Ready to make a change in the new year? Reach out to request more information and start planning your future!
