About Academy of Art University
Type
Private
For-Profit
4 Years
Student Population
10,616
Website
www.academyart.eduAccreditation
WASC
Religious Affiliation
Not applicable
On Campus Housing
Yes
Academy of Art University was founded in 1929 and is a private for-profit institution located in San Francisco, California. The academy is the largest university for art and design in the nation. The university has been offering online art programs since 2002. The online courses offered at the university are a benchmark in education.
Many famous photographers, artists, and architects are the alumni of this university and hold respectable positions in the world of art.
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For reducing the heavy financial burden, students are provided financial assistance through many forms.
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The student-faculty ratio is 14:1.
- The graduation rate of the university is 40%.
Online Education at Academy of Art University
It has been over 16 years since the Academy began online educational programs. The university has created their own online tools for the students.
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The online programs are similar to the on-campus courses. Students are given the same benefits as the traditional students. Online students have the liberty to study at their own time.
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Educational resources that are offered to the students are made by experts exclusively for the university. These resources include lecture contents in the forms of videos, written content, audio and slideshows that are interactive and include practical work.
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Students are provided with online facilities such as the online library, communities, career development, online music library, online learning class discussion tutorials, and other academic support for the students.
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Online Student Academic Support (OSAS) is an online branch that provides educational resources to online students specifically.
For more info on Tuition and Fees
Reviews
The rankings and reviews of the university are as follows
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The students are given real opportunity in the world of art.
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The instructors are helpful and excellent.
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The Art Career Project ranked the university No.3 among the "Best Online Programs' in the nation for art.
Rankings
To tackle the tough decision of choosing the right university, the ranking of a particular university helps the student in clearing their doubts regarding where they want to apply. It is said that the more information that a prospective student has about a university, the better it is. The ranking of a university helps a student overcome the confusion of which university/college is right for them and also other prospects. Before taking admission, a student can assess the university chosen by them on various grounds like research excellence, the performance of its students after graduation, and their experience, among others. Notably, for the rankings, the two publications, US News and Forbes, are trusted everywhere. However, it should be noted that Academy of Art University does not feature in the list of top colleges, according to the latest ranking of these two publications.
Admissions
Application Deadline
14th Sep
Acceptance Rate
100%
SAT Range
N/A
ACT Range
N/A
Application Fee
$50
SAT/ACT
Neither required nor recommended
High School GPA
Recommended
Accept Common App
No
Admission process
Academy of Art University’s admission process is simple and easy to make sure the students can easily apply for the courses and pursue their education career.
Admission process for Undergraduate Program
The following are the documents to be submitted for proof of high school completion
- Copy of High School Transcript or GED
- High School Diploma with graduation date
- Copy of completed Bachelor’s degree transcript
- California High School Proficiency Exam letter
- Home School Program Certification form which should be signed and along with the transcripts
The application fee for is $50 and the students can make the payment by check or money order which should be payable to “Academy of Art University” or through Visa, Master Card, and Discover credit cards and once application fee is paid the university will not refund the amount.
Candidates to submit the completed application form. Candidates can also have an art portfolio which helps in the admission process. Candidates, if attended any other universities or learning institutions, should have the official transcripts.
Admission process for Graduate Program
The following are the documents to be submitted during the admission process for graduate degrees
- Transcripts from candidate’s undergraduate college/ University which shows completion of degree
- Statement of Intent: Candidate should write a one-page essay which explains candidate’s personal goals for graduate school or an essay related to the topic given by the department
- Resume: Candidates have to demonstrate educational and professional experience
- Portfolio/ Demo reel: Candidate should provide a portfolio describing the discipline chosen by the candidate
The application fee for is $50 and the students can make the payment by check or money order which should be payable to “Academy of Art University” or through Visa, Master Card, and Discover credit cards and once application fee is paid the university will not refund the amount. Candidates to submit the completed application form.
Admission process for Military Personals
The following are the documents to be submitted during the admission process through military
- Copy of High School transcript or GED
- Copy of a Bachelor’s degree transcript which is completed
- Home School Program Certificate form which is signed and along with it transcripts
- California High School Proficiency Exam letter
For the men and women in the military who is serving in the US Armed Forces, can be active duty or as a reservist, then the university has waived the application fee. Candidates should submit the completed application form. Candidates can also have an art portfolio which helps in the admission process. Candidates, if attended any other universities or learning institutions, should have the official transcripts.
Technical Requirements for Online Education
Supported Internet Browsers
Candidates should have any one of the following internet browsers to be able to participate in online classes. Candidate’s computer should either have Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, and Safari along with this the JavaScript should be enabled. Candidates should also click on “Allow Flash” in the browser.
Minimum System requirements
Candidates have to meet the following system requirements to participate in online classes
- Operating System MAC OS X 10.9 or higher with a processor of Intel Core 2 Duo, Core i3, Core i7, or Xeon processor or faster and the memory around 4 GB of RAM minimum, 8 GB or more is recommended.
- Operating System Windows 8 or later with a processor of 1.33 GHz or faster with 64 – bit processor and the memory around 4GB of RAM minimum, 8 GB or more is recommended
- The online course content is available on the mobile device. The University recommends the students to install Academy of Art Classes app. The app is available for both iOS (Apple) and Android. University
- Video Card with Super VGA 1024x768 with 64k color or with 64mb VRAM or higher resolution video adapter and monitor.
Other System Requirements
Candidates should be ready with the following requirements as well to participate in online classes
- Access to the Internet: The Download speed should be at least 1.5MBps or cable internet is highly recommended
- Email Account: Candidates after registration will get a free email account.
- Camera and microphone: External webcams and hands-free microphone are highly recommended for the courses
- Adobe Creative Cloud: After the students have enrolled for the classes, students get a free access to Adobe Creative Cloud and software which includes Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and other programs.
- Anti-Virus Software: In order to download files from the internet and exchanging files, an anti-virus software will protect the computer. Some of the anti-virus software like Symantec, McAfee, Avast, and Malware bytes
- Word processor, Spreadsheet, and presentation software: Few classes require for presentation, the creation of documents so all the enrolled students will get free Microsoft Office 365 software.
Annual Cost to Attend
Net Price
$29,887
Average Annual Cost
$25,424
Books And Supplies
$1,126
Other Fees
$300
Room And Board
$19,486
Budget For Other Expenses
$3,186
Total One Year Cost
$49,222
Full-time undergraduate students at Academy of Art University were charged $21,252 in tuition and fees in the 2018 - 2019 school year, prior to modifications for financial aid. $20,952 was the price of tuition. $300 was the cost of fees.
There continues to be a rise of 3.0% in Academy of Art University tuition and fees for out-of-state students in the past five years. Tuition grew by 3.1% and fees grew by 0.0%. This school year, undergrads can expect to pay $21,898 based on current estimates.
Because of price growth, the total expense of a four-year Academy of Art University degree would be $91,668, and the total price of a two-year degree would be $44,462, which doesn't include extra charges such as books, transportation, and room and board.
Academics
Highest Degree Offered
Master's degree
Student:Faculty Ratio
14:1
Full-Time Retention Rate
78%
Part-Time Retention Rate
40%
Academic Calendar
Semester
Research Funding per Student
N/A
Faculty Overview
Male Professors
Female Professors
Non-traditional Learning
Evening Degree Programs
Teacher Certification
Distance Education
Study Abroad
Majors
Computer Software and Media Applica...
267 Graduates
Design and Applied Arts
244 Graduates
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
204 Graduates
Drafting/Design Engineering Technol...
172 Graduates
Graphic Communications
136 Graduates
Fine and Studio Arts
59 Graduates
Visual and Performing Arts, General
45 Graduates
Music
35 Graduates
Specialized Sales, Merchandising an...
35 Graduates
Radio, Television, and Digital Comm...
32 Graduates
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
28 Graduates
Apparel and Textiles
23 Graduates
Journalism
9 Graduates
Educational/Instructional Media Des...
7 Graduates
Landscape Architecture
6 Graduates
Student Body
Undergraduate Students
7,805
Socio-Economic Diversity
36%
Part-time
42%
Students Gender
Race/Ethnicity
Geographic Density
Geographic Density
High
Unknown Location
Out Of State
In State
Foreign
Economic Diversity
36% percentage of students who recieved an income-based Federal Pell Grant intended for low-income students.
Median Household Income
$74,015 per year
Campus Life
Housing
The students can reside on campus and 36% of Freshman Live On-Campus.
On Campus Housing Available
Yes
Freshmen Required to Live on Campus
No
Freshmen Live on Campus
36%
Undergrads in College Housing
N/A
Averege Housing Cost
$10,996/year
Campus Food
The institution has several dining and meal plan options available to students and the average meal plan cost is around $5,652/year.
Meal Plan Available
Yes
Average Meal Plan Available
$5,652/year
Athletes
Division Sports Nickname
N/A
School Colors
N/A
Varsity Athletics Association
N/A
Varsity Athletics Conference Primary
N/A
Total Male Athletes
N/A
Total Female Athletes
N/A
Intramural Sports
N/A
Sports Club
N/A
Campus Safety
24-Hour Security Patrol
NA
24-Hour Escort Safety rides
NA
The university offers on-campus housing facilities to the students who wish to stay on the campus. At AAU, $17,510 is the normal expense for on-campus housing, which a student will be needed to pay, each year. Academy of Art University has several dining and meal plan options for its students and the average meal plan at AAU costs around $5,652 per year. The university has enrolled around 43% male and 57% female students.
After Graduation
Median Earnings 6 Years After Graduation
$26,900/year
Median Earnings 10 Years After Graduation
$38,600/year
Typical Monthly Loan Payment
$289 - 490
Financial Aid
Students Receiving Gift Aid
Average Aid Per Year
$10,098
Students Receiving Federal Grants
Average Aid Per Year
$5,487
Students Receiving State Aid
Average Aid Per Year
$5,211
Students Receiving Institutional Grants
Average Aid Per Year
$8,286
Average Grant & Scholarship by Family Income
Income
Average Amount
< $30K
$9,896
$30K - $48K
$8,597
$48K - $75K
$5,196
$75K - $110K
$4,049
> $110K
$5,141
To relieve the students from heavy financial burdens, the university provides financial assistance to those students who are eligible.
In order to receive these financial aids, the students must complete their FAFSA form. The Academy of Art University Federal School Code is 007531.
Federal Aid awarded include Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, Federal Work-Study Program, Direct Stafford Loans, Direct Parent PLUS Loans.
The college also provides Institutional Aid such as Summer Portfolio Grant, MFA/MA Summer Scholarship, Spring Forward Scholarship.
Military Aid such as Academy of Art Military Scholarship, Yellow Ribbon Program, GI Bill, Tuition Assistance is awarded.
State Aid includes Califonia Grant.