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Academy of Art University

Academy of Art University

San Francisco, CA · City · 3,587 students
4
Year
Private For-profit
City
Medium (3k–10k)
Accredited by Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
About

Located in the heart of San Francisco, Academy of Art University is best known for its career-focused creative education taught almost exclusively by working industry professionals. The university boasts renowned programs in Animation & Visual Effects, Game Development, Industrial Design, and Fashion, with a curriculum heavily centered on professional portfolio development. Rather than a traditional self-contained campus, student life is integrated into the city itself, with facilities and residence halls spread across San Francisco and connected by a dedicated university shuttle system. Distinctively, it is one of the largest private art schools in the nation to maintain an open-admissions policy, offering accessible, industry-level training to aspiring artists regardless of prior portfolio experience.


Wikipedia:The Academy of Art University formerly Academy of Art College and Richard Stephens Academy of Art, is a private for-profit art school in San Francisco, California. It was founded as the Academy of Advertising Art by Richard S. Stephens in 1929. The school is one of the largest property owners in San Francisco, with the main campus located on New Montgomery Street in the South of Market district.

Location
San Francisco, CA, 94105 · City campus
Nearest airport from college
OAK · Oakland
11 mi away
Cost
Cost of attendance
$66,937
Avg net price
$40,613
Room & board
$32,766
Tuition
$30,736
Books & supplies
$1,062/yr
Average net price by family income
$0–30k
$37,668
$30–48k
$36,340
$48–75k
$43,874
$75–110k
$43,953
$110k+
$44,082
Admissions

No admissions data available for this college.

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Essay Requirements

This school does not appear to use the Common Application. Check the school's admissions website directly for essay requirements and application instructions.

See the current Common App essay prompts for the personal statement options.

Outcomes
Graduation rate
38%
4-yr on-time completion
6%
1st-yr retention
75%
Transfer-out rate
20%
8-year outcomes
Graduated
44%
Transferred
20%
Still enrolled
1%
Dropped out / unknown
35%
Median earnings (6yr)
$30,452
Median earnings (10yr)
$39,008
Median debt
$31,000
Monthly loan payment
$329
Debt range (25th–75th)
$5,500$31,000
Debt (90th percentile)
$48,687
Student Body
Men 44%Women 56%
14
:
1
Student : Faculty ratio
Students   Faculty
Pell grant recipients
41%
First-generation
41%
Median family income
$22,550
Independent students
52%
Veterans
1%
Avg age at entry
25.0
Part-time students
47%
Race & ethnicity
White
28%
Hispanic
21%
Black
13%
Asian
7%
Two or more
7%
Non-resident
12%
AI/AN
1%
Unknown
11%
Programs & Earnings
Bachelor's degrees by annual completions · 4yr national median earnings
Median earnings for graduates across all programs
6 years after entry
$30,452
10 years after entry
$39,008
Computer Software and Media Applications112
Graphic Communications74
Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians73
Design and Applied Arts63
Film/Video and Photographic Arts56
Apparel and Textiles49
Visual and Performing Arts, General23
Fine and Studio Arts23
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication20
Music14
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft12
Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations12
Educational/Instructional Media Design11
Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians7
Landscape Architecture3
Journalism3
Type your major above to highlight and detail relevant programs.
Institutional
Classification
Master's (Large)
Undergraduate profile
Four-year, mostly part-time
Full-time faculty
16%
Avg faculty salary
$8,554/mo
Instructional spend/student
$14,838
Federal loan rate
49%

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