Exhibit 23.1

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements listed below of American Campus Communities, Inc. and Subsidiaries and in the related Prospectuses of our reports dated March 1, 2018, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of American Campus Communities, Inc. and Subsidiaries and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting of American Campus Communities, Inc. and Subsidiaries, included in this Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 2017.

Form S-3 No. 333-204364

Form S-3 No. 333-181102

Form S-3 No. 333-157979

Form S-3 No. 333-140426

Form S-3 No. 333-130830

Form S-3 No. 333-129131

Form S-8 No. 333-166882

Form S-8 No. 333-118275

Form S-4 No. 333-150059

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

Austin, Texas

March 1, 2018