Since 1929, artists and designers have called Academy of Art University their home. Founded in San Francisco and family owned, it is one of the largest private, accredited art and design schools in the nation.
We are first and foremost a professional school—a specialized place that helps you master your craft as you prepare for professional roles as artists and designers. Our hands-on, no-nonsense curriculum is taught by some of the finest minds working in today’s creative and innovative industries. They will help you develop your talent and acquire skills sought by the creative marketplace.
All are welcome here. Our inclusive admissions policy is rare among art schools. We’ve found that our students’ potential doesn’t depend on their past elsewhere, but on their future with us. Find your place and your purpose at Academy of Art University, as you prepare for your professional career.
Academy of Art University is an absolutely amazing place to be a college student. One of the world’s great creative capitals, San Francisco has been our home since 1929. Our neighbors include giants in everything from advertising, animation, and architecture to communications, game development, and web design.
Our Vision: To be the first choice for students seeking a world-class education in the arts and the first choice for those seeking to employ artists globally. Our Mission: Academy of Art University prepares aspiring professionals in the fields of design, communication, and the arts by delivering excellent undergraduate and graduate degrees and certificate and portfolio programs.
Academy of Art University prepares aspiring professionals in the fields of design, communication and the arts by delivering excellent undergraduate and graduate degrees and certificate and portfolio development programs.
To achieve its mission Academy of Art University:
University learning outcomes state the skills that all students should be able to demonstrate upon graduation, regardless of their major. These institutional-level outcomes are developed with input from Academy of Art University’s academic directors and Board of Directors.
Graduates of Academy of Art University will demonstrate the ability to:
Our Core Values
While a lot has changed since 1929, there are certain foundational values that will never change at Academy of Art. They were there in the beginning, and are a part who we are today.
We Value Inclusion
Our students are from all over the world. They are different in countless ways—in race, religion, political leaning, gender, and more We embrace these differences. Each individual is welcome here. This no-barriers approach makes Academy of Art University one of the most diverse artistic communities in the world The diversity gives students a place to truly be themselves. It gives them the confidence to express themselves, and to go for everything they've ever wanted.
We Value a Faculty of Industry Professionals
We believe the best teachers are professional artists and designers. Our faculty is comprised of art and design professionals who maintain the leading edge of industry standards.
We Value the Benefits of Collaboration
When art and design students from different cultures and backgrounds collaborate—their diverse experiences, ideas, and passions are reflected in the beautiful work they produce. We encourage students to work together because it mimics the collaborative work they'll do in their professional careers.
We Value the Planet
Today's designers want to leave their mark on the art and design world: but only if that mark is made with sustainable practices, using 100% natural materials. We applaud our students for their future-looking, environmentally conscious, zero-waste efforts. They truly are the future of art and design.
We Value our Urban Campus
Informed by our home in San Francisco, we aim to give back to the culture in the spirit of generosity and compassion. We challenge our students to reach their full creative potential in an atmosphere of support and collaboration.
We Value Your Time and Schedule
When it comes to working your education into your schedule, flexibility is key Thats why we offer various modes of learning that allow you to take the courses you want without disconnecting from your work or family Academy of Art students can earn accredited degrees onsite, online, or by taking both online and onsite. Study on your own time. at your own pace.
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The school is nice but if you even step off campus you will find that this once great city is filled with disgarded drug attict needles judt laying in the gutters the dirtiest people you can imagine.. And they think that being queer is just something you should just stick in everybidys face the most duscusting gay peolle everywhere so dirty and gross...then its a sanctuary city so its a magnet for illegal aliens and i mean the worst of the worst criminal dirtbags if you even blink they will steel anything you have...there are homeless incampments everywhere....The local police barely inforce the law...the locals run on oure emotion complete LIBTARDS....IF YOU DONT AGREE WITH THERE LEFTY VIEW ON ANYTHING THEN YOU DONT HAVE THE RIGHT TI SPEAK.. Ive never seen more people that are spposedl educated but none of them can get or hold a job....the school is nice the people are pathetic entitled snowflakes the average person talks about everything they have all the answers for everything under the sun but not one of them has ever done ANYTHING....the people get degrees in things dont apply in the ral world.....San francisco has gone to shit with queers homelessness and drug addicts and dirtbags that come from all over the country because they tolerate illegal criminals and public drug use and himos that are so discusting.......sodom and gomora.. all over again.....HAVE A NICE DAY...
By Mark Hutchinson (Apr, 2018) |
This school is pretty decent, the only thing I think they should really fix is their tutoring online session, because when i was trying to get online tutoring, the online tutoring was not was all over the place and not very organized. If you do decided to apply to this school please make sure you ask the important questions, such as, what is the maximum classes you have to take when taking classes online, How much you are paying for classes every semester, and finally make sure the academic counselor, tell you how long you have until you graduate and all the supplies you need because, I was taking Anaysis and Form FND 110. The councelor only shown me how to purchase my school supplies offline, they had also a tab that is called "General Supplies" I was not told i need a figure and the geometric shapes.
Lastly, I also did not like the way the format of the online student portal was setup. After going through orientation, most teachers expect you to automatically grasp and understand the entire student portal over night, when it is impossible. Another thing i did not like is, every semester, you can only talk with an instructor in online email, and sometimes they take forever to reply. The school do not allow most instructors to talk through skype or by phone. In addition to that, they give you up to four tries to resubmit an assignment per module and once your four tries are up, they do not allow you to resubmit your work anymore. some teachers will just give you a punishing grade even though you put in the effort to get your grade up. When I was taking FND110 Anaysis and Form, my teacher name was Miller Cristen, she gave me a 62% on my first semester assignment for module 1. I was so disappointed and i felt like quitting and going back to my other art school. most teacher use the grading system as an excuse to rip students off considering they put in a lot of money to be there and the effort.
Please really think long and twice and when you get a phone call from them after applying, do not sign up for anything until you get the answers you need. This school they make you take four classes full time which is too much, it feels you are at a university taking online class's. I hope that this message reach out to someone, and that they do not make the mistakes as I have.
Another thing I forgot to mention, and it seems that some instructors have a ha it in doing this which is anot her thing, I dI'd not like about his school. When working on an assignment and just because your artwork is not meeting up to their "high status " standards they grade down on every thing strictly even though you are putting in the effort to do better. Also instead of the instructors telling you in honesty up front, about a few suggestions as to what to work on or what are some things such that could help you get better, they would email the orientation teacher behind your back saying that basically your artwork skills are poor in class and that you need help. One day I spoke to my orientation teacher concerning this issue, she kinda disappointed regarded everything I said and made it see, like tutoring is my only hope in doing quote on quote " doing better" in class ( even though online tutoring was not much help) the online tutoring setup is like a workshop, where they have one tutor tutoring a bunch of students one by one.....which is ridiculoustill and it needs to be more organized. Overall if or for those of you that are currently taking courses online with Academy of Art University just be aware that majority of these instructors do not care rather you pass or fail and they will not tell you honestly of what are some of the main things to improve on and or any suggestions. They will email the orientation instructor about everything which is stupid. When they could have told you what you need to work on considering you paid a lot of money and effort in class. So something to be aware of, also another thing too, even though you are using Pell grant to go to school on, you have to pay 120.00 for registration fee every semester.
By Yokuro Kimino (Apr, 2018) |
My first time here was a pretty good experience. Checked in and then we went in a room with a few other actors to do our scene for the showcase. Afterwards we had a Q+A that was pretty informative. My only complaint is that is echo-y. One of the agents was coughing during some of the scenes and because of the acoustics it made it hard to hear what the actors were saying. Other than that the place is nice and clean. No complaints
By Ronnie Graham (Apr, 2018) |
My experience applying to Academy of Art University as a transfer student was absolutely horrible, almost laughable, really. The day after I submitted my application, I received 5 calls within two hours from the same recruiter. It seems that they outsource recruitment to a call center because when I finally was able to pick up (I was at work) she had to re-route the call to an actual advisor. I told the advisor that I was at work and asked if she could just send me an email with any information she had for me, which she did.
After this, a different advisor named Johann began contacted me persistently. He called 3 times one day and 2 times the next day. When I asked him to email me (again, I was at work) he insisted we must talk on the phone. I went ahead and submitted my FAFSA and had a (scheduled) phone call with Alice, who was kind and professional. I informed her that I needed some time to think about the plan I had received.
Johann continued to contact me and leave voicemails. When I was able to pick up, he ripped into me about me needing to cancel my application because I was not a "serious" enough applicant. In reality, I work full time, run a business, and travel frequently. I do not have time to constantly make phone calls. He rushed me several times to pay the enrollment fee and begin classes - either that or cancel. Keep in mind that it was January and I applied for the fall semester. He seemed annoyed when I said I wasn't quite ready to commit to AAcademy of Art University as I was also in the midst of applying to SCAD which was my first choice, so I was a little more preoccupied with them. I was so fed up at this point that I emailed Johann and told him to please withdraw my application and that I did not feel comfortable speaking with him. Of course, he calls me again to tell me he will not be withdrawing my application because he wants to talk with me about it first. To be honest, I was completely over the whole situation at this point and did not respond.
I continued to receive emails from Academy of Art University, so I emailed the admissions department to ask them to make sure my application was cancelled and that I would receive no more contact. I did not receive a response. Today I received 2 more calls from Johann, telling me he can't withdraw my application until I tell him why. I don't know how I could possibly be more assertive in telling them to cancel my application, but I have sent him one last email.
I encourage you not to apply to this for-profit school. All they care about is getting as many students in as possible and rushing them into paying the enrollment fees ASAP. I definitely learned my lesson. Another thing to note is that their "full time" status is only 12 credits, and when you want to do the e-Learning program you must do a half time semester first. If the school seems like a good fit, I wish you luck! And if you have to deal with Johann, I'm very sorry.
By Jordan Wickman (Feb, 2018) |
I had a wonderful experience I graduated with my MFA and I learned a lot by attending Academy of Art University
. If you are serious about being an artist and want to enhance your skills Academy of Art University
is the place to attend. The majority of my instructors were wonderful and there was some that could have had a better personality. The one thing I don't understand is if you're with them three and a half to 4 years and you reach out to your instructors to write a letter of recommendation you may not hear back from them that's the only downfall other than that I think it's a great School.
By Kendra Price (Feb, 2018) |
I can't complain about my classes, and the teachers have been wonderful to me. I know it's a lot of work in a short amount of time, but it's what I signed up for. What I do have an issue with, is the incompetence that the financial aid department has provided. I have sent every document that is required for financial aid. I've emailed, faxed, and spent $23.79 to have them express shipped. Yet, not one of them can pick up the damn phone and call, or send an email to let me know if we're on the same page. What makes matters worse, is that my financial advisor feels the need to be out of the office for a week, which requires me to wait even longer. It really isn't that hard to do your job in return of me doing my job to get the finance that is needed.
Jan 2018
By Bryan Blasingame (Jan, 2018) |
I currently attend another university looking to transfer in the summer. I've been talking to the same Adviser for almost a year now, she gets promoted and then another Adviser was working with me. The GUY withdrew my application for no reason. The GUY was so rude that it completely made me not want to attend this University anymore. The guy Jermaine NEEDS TO BE FIRED!!!!!!!!!
By Danny Murphy (Jan, 2018) |
Everything about this school just sucks. They just trying to chase money. They never care about students feeling. I have requested my i20 for 30 days but they still couldn’t get ready for that. Is that bad as hell.
By Josh Zhao (Nov, 2017) |
Very bad policy of university. Focing you to buy health insurance without asking your permittion.
By Fei He (Oct, 2017) |
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Academy of Art University in California has ignited my student's passion for learning, with dedicated faculty that inspire growth and creativity at every turn.
By Jung-sik Kim (Mar, 2024) |