Academy of Art University is a private for-profit institution offering graduate degrees based in San Francisco, California. It enrolls 3,587 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorWestern Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Open / Online). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Fair
52/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Open / Online
Outcomes55
Value5
Affordability28
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
Admissions data is not yet reported for Academy of Art University.
Acceptance Rate
—
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Academy of Art University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $40,613 per year. That's above the typical net price for private for-profit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$40,613
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
41%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
49%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$30,736
Room & Board (on-campus)
$32,766
Room & Board (off-campus)
$22,086
Books & Supplies
$1,062
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,213
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,968
Total Cost of Attendance
$48,036
Application fee: $50 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$37,668
$30,001 – $48,000
$36,340
$48,001 – $75,000
$43,874
$75,001 – $110,000
$43,953
Over $110,000
$44,082
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$3,50010%percentile
$5,50025%percentile
$31,000Medianpercentile
$31,00075%percentile
$48,68790%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $11,500
↓ $19,500
No Pell $9,500
↓ $21,500
Dependent students $10,751
↓ $20,249
Independent students $11,651
↓ $19,349
Female students $11,000
↓ $20,000
Male students $10,981
↓ $20,019
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $9,500, less than completers ($31,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
19% of full-time students who enrolled at Academy of Art University graduate within six years, and 71% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
19%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
71%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Academy of Art University earn a median of $39,008 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$39,008
Earning > $25K
61%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$42,700
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$51,700
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$44,800
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$48,500
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$49,500
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $9,000, about 17% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
17.6 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Moderate. Only 67% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Academy of Art University is home to 3,587 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 41% are first-generation college students, 47% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
3,587
Part-Time
47%
First-Generation
41%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 28.0%1,003
Hispanic 21.0%753
Black 13.5%483
International 11.5%413
Other 7.8%281
Asian 7.3%260
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Academy of Art University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large CitySan Francisco, California
Housing
Mostly residential1,488 beds on campus
Adult Learners
44%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Academy of Art University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
50 distinct programs across
10 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Academy of Art University is 15:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
15:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Avg Faculty Salary
$73,778
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
121 instructional faculty across 1 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
No Rank
121
100%
$73,778
Pros & Cons of Academy of Art University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Academy of Art University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Reasonable class sizes
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
High net price compared to most US colleges
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
Modest first-year retention
Earnings outcomes are on the lower side
Higher than typical student debt at graduation
Best for:
Based on the data, Academy of Art University is a fit for
working adults or students needing part-time study options.
Frequently Asked Questions about Academy of Art University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Academy of Art University.
How much does Academy of Art University cost?
The average net price after aid at Academy of Art University is $40,613 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Academy of Art University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $39,008 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $40,613 per year. That's roughly 1.0x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Academy of Art University known for?
Academy of Art University is best known for its programs in Computer Software & Media, Computer Software & Media, Drafting/Design Engineering Tech. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Academy of Art University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Academy of Art University are $39,008, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Academy of Art University accredited?
Yes. Academy of Art University is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission.
How many students attend Academy of Art University?
Academy of Art University enrolls 3,587 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Academy of Art University?
Academy of Art University graduates 19% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Academy of Art University a public or private college?
Academy of Art University is a Private For-Profit institution.
Where is Academy of Art University located?
Academy of Art University is located in San Francisco, California.
What programs does Academy of Art University offer?
Academy of Art University offers 50 distinct programs. The most popular include Computer Software & Media, Computer Software & Media, Drafting/Design Engineering Tech.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Academy of Art University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Academy of Art University is 15:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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