American River College is a public community college granting certificates and associate degrees. Although the college serves people from a variety of geographical areas, it primarily serves the adult residents of the five-county Greater Sacramento region who are capable of benefiting from community college instruction.

ARC exists to ensure students identify their educational goals and needs and successfully accomplish student learning in the following broad educational areas: developmental education to achieve basic foundation skills in reading, writing, mathematics, English as a Second Language, and learning and study skills which are necessary; career and technical education to achieve employment or enhanced career skills for job advancement; and general education to achieve knowledge, skills and attitudes for post-secondary education success, personal enrichment, self-development, and a purposeful and meaningful life as a member of a global community.

Lower division post-secondary education to achieve transfer to and success in obtaining a degree at a four-year post-secondary education institution.