American River College (ARC) is a public community college in unincorporated Sacramento, California. It is part of the California Community Colleges System.^[3]

The college was opened in 1955 as American River Junior College, on the site of the old Grant Technical College. It moved to its current location in 1958, occupying eight newly built office complexes and the original Cameron ranch house. In 1965 the college became a part of the Los Rios Community College District and became American River College. Today, along with Cosumnes River College, Folsom Lake College and Sacramento City College, ARC is directed by a seven-member board of trustees elected by voters residing in the district.

The climactic police showdown of the 1986 Emilio Estevez and Demi Moore film Wisdom was filmed on the American River campus, including in and around Beaver Stadium.

During the period of 2004–2013, the college opened a variety of new facilities, including buildings for Health Education, Theater & Music, Kinesiology, and Life Science and Fine Arts. In addition, the college also expanded its bookstore and library and opened a new Student Center and parking garage. In 2014 the college opened the 19,000 square foot Evangelisti Culinary Arts Center, which houses the college's hospitality management program and student-run Oak Cafe restaurant and bakery. In 2021 the college opened the 57,000 square foot Diane Bryant STEM Innovation Center, which houses a variety of academic programs.

In 2008, the student government supported California Proposition 8 which sought to restrict marriage to opposite-sex couples.^[4] In 2010 the Board of Trustees lost a lawsuit^{[clarification needed]} against the student government.^[5][6]

The college occupies a 155-acre (63 ha) site on the old Cameron Ranch in northern Sacramento County.

The college enrolls about 35,000 full-time and part-time students, making it one of the largest community colleges in California. ARC has published its own literary journal since 1984, the American River Review, which has won numerous national awards and recognitions, including the National Pacemaker Award from the Associated Collegiate Press and Gold Crowns from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association.

It transfers more students to UC Davis and CSU Sacramento than any other community college. Non-transfer students may enroll for certification in technical/vocational programs, continuing education credit, or personal enrichment. The college also offers three different types of online learning: online, hybrid, and web-enhanced.

The campus has its own newspaper, the American River Current, and its own English as a Second Language newsletter, The Parrot.

This section needs additional citations for verification. (February 2009)

• Lloyd Connelly – California Superior Court judge and former California State Assembly member
• Ward Connerly – Former UC Regent and political activist
• Wally Herger – Member, United States House of Representatives (California, 2nd Congressional District)
• Ewa Klamt – German politician and Member of the European Parliament for Lower Saxony
• Adrian Lamo – Former grey-hat computer hacker, key figure in Chelsea Manning case, journalist
• Joan Lunden – TV host/personality
• Brian Posehn – Comedian, co-star of The Sarah Silverman Program
• Anthony Padilla – Co-founder of Smosh
• Ian Hecox – Co-founder of Smosh
• Anthony Swofford – Author of Jarhead
• Richard Trenton Chase – Serial killer