Universities in American Samoa

Higher education in American Samoa, a United States territory in the South Pacific, follows the American college system. Our directory lists one active higher education institution in the territory: American Samoa Community College (ASCC) in Pago Pago, on the island of Tutuila. ASCC describes itself as an open-admissions, US-accredited, land-grant institution that provides access to bachelor's and associate degrees and certificate programmes.

The college is small. It had 843 students in autumn 2024, all undergraduates, according to the US Department of Education's College Navigator, which classifies it as a baccalaureate/associate's college where associate degrees dominate. For most students it is either a route straight into work or a first step towards a four-year university elsewhere in the United States.

How higher education works in American Samoa

ASCC uses US semester credits and offers three levels of qualification:

• Certificate of Proficiency: at least 30 credits, for students preparing for immediate employment or seeking a career upgrade
• Associate of Arts (AA) and Associate of Science (AS): at least 60 credits, in fields such as business administration, Samoan studies, pre-law, nursing, marine science, agriculture, civil engineering technology and cybersecurity
• Bachelor of Education in Elementary Education: at least 120 credits, for future and serving teachers

Every degree includes a general education core, regardless of the major, and the AA and AS degrees include the traditional cultural aspects of Samoa and the Pacific region. The AA prepares students to continue at a four-year college or university; the AS prepares them both for transfer and for employment.

Accreditation follows the US system. ASCC has been accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) since 1976, according to College Navigator. Some programmes also lead to professional licensing: the associate degree in nursing is approved by the American Samoa Health Services Regulatory Board, so graduates can sit the NCLEX exam for registered nurses, and it provides a foundation for an off-island Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

Admission

ASCC has an open admission policy, but applicants must be legal residents of American Samoa. They must also meet at least one condition: be at least 18 years old, be a high school graduate or hold a GED, hold a US military DD214 form, hold a secondary school certificate from a non-US system, or be admitted through the Early Admissions Program.

US citizens and US nationals can enrol as residents. Students who are not US citizens or nationals must provide a current American Samoa Government (ASG) Immigration Board authorisation and valid ASG identification. American Samoa manages its own entry rules, so international students should contact the ASG immigration authorities and the college before making plans.

Costs and funding

According to College Navigator, tuition and fees for a full-time beginning undergraduate in 2024-25 were estimated at US$5,300 for in-state students and US$5,600 for out-of-state students. Books and supplies were estimated at US$4,200 a year. ASCC has no campus housing; the same source estimates off-campus food and housing at US$4,850 a year, or US$1,620 when living with family. Non-US citizens can apply for resident tuition status after living in the territory for five consecutive years.

Eligible students may receive Pell Grants and other US federal aid; applications go through the FAFSA. In 2023-24, 83% of full-time beginning undergraduates received a Pell Grant, according to College Navigator. ASCC also awards its own in-house scholarships, for example for autumn 2025.

How to choose a programme

• Goal: a certificate for a trade, an AS for work or transfer, or an AA as the first half of a bachelor's degree
• Transfer: if you plan to continue at a four-year university, check in advance which ASCC credits it accepts
• Licensing: for nursing or teaching, check whether the programme meets the licensing rules where you want to work
• Residence: confirm that you meet the legal residency requirement before applying
• Housing: there is no campus housing, so arrange accommodation before the semester starts

Frequently asked questions

Is there a university in American Samoa?

Our directory lists one higher education institution there: American Samoa Community College in Pago Pago. It awards certificates, associate degrees and one bachelor's degree, in Elementary Education.

Can international students study at American Samoa Community College?

Applicants must be legal residents of American Samoa. Students who are not US citizens or nationals need a current authorisation from the American Samoa Government Immigration Board and valid ASG identification.

How much does American Samoa Community College cost?

College Navigator estimates tuition and fees for 2024-25 at US$5,300 for in-state and US$5,600 for out-of-state students, plus books, food and housing. Many students receive Pell Grants.

Can I transfer from ASCC to a four-year university?

Yes. The Associate of Arts is designed to prepare students to continue at a four-year college or university, and the nursing associate degree is a foundation for an off-island Bachelor of Science in Nursing.