Need-based aid friendly
Significant share of students receive Pell Grants.
This school41%
National avg32%
Source: IPEDS 2024
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Academy of Art University
San Francisco, CA
Academy of Art University at a glance
Academy of Art University is a private university in San Francisco, California with 5,498 students (IPEDS, fall 2024 enrollment). It has an open admission policy (IPEDS, admission policy reported in the 2024-25 IC collection). Its published tuition is $30,736 (IPEDS, charges for academic year 2024-25); students who received federal aid paid an average net price of $40,613 a year after grants (College Scorecard, a prior cohort). 34% of students finish within the federal tracking window (IPEDS, Graduation Rates 2024 collection: 4-year cohort 2018, 2-year cohort 2021); 49% of students take federal loans, and borrowers leave with a median $31,000 (College Scorecard). By program, the highest graduate earnings four years after finishing are in Computer Software and Media Applications, master's ($87,998) and Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians, master's ($71,613) (College Scorecard, 2017-19 graduates).
Tuition
$30,736
2024-25
Acceptance
Open admission
2024-25
Students
5,498
Fall 2024
Type
University
Setting
Urban
Cost & Financial Aid
In-State Tuition
$30,736
Out-of-State Tuition
$30,736
Avg On-Campus Living
$32,766
Avg Off-Campus Living
$22,086
Financial Aid & Outcomes
College Scorecard
What will it actually cost?
Sticker price: $63,502
Net price (after aid): $40,613
Most students pay the net price after financial aid, not the sticker price.
Net price by family income
$0 – $30k: $37,668 (above the federal borrowing ceiling)
$30k – $48k: $36,340 (above the federal borrowing ceiling)
$48k – $75k: $43,874 (above the federal borrowing ceiling)
$75k – $110k: $43,953 (above the federal borrowing ceiling)
$110k+: $44,082 (above the federal borrowing ceiling)
Can federal loans cover it? (2026 limits)
For families earning $0 – $30k, $30k – $48k, $48k – $75k, $75k – $110k, $110k+, the average net price here is above the $25,500 a first-year dependent student and their parents can borrow federally from 1 July 2026, by up to $18,582. That part has to come from savings, income, work, or private loans.
The ceiling is $5,500 in the student’s own Direct Loan plus up to $20,000 in Parent PLUS, which requires that the parent has no adverse credit history. Net prices are averages for a prior cohort of aid recipients, not a quote. Source: Federal Student Aid loan limits. Where this gap is largest.
After graduation
Median earnings (10yr): $39,008
Median debt at graduation: $31,000
Est. monthly loan payment: $329
Earnings-to-debt ratio
Weak · 1.3×Graduates earn about 1.3× their median debt every year.
Financial access
Students on Pell Grants: 41%
Pell Grants are federal aid for students from low-income families.
Students with federal loans: 49%
Share of students who borrowed to pay for school.
Some fields may not be reported by this institution. Verify final details with the school directly.
How does cost line up with outcomes across colleges? See our analysis of college cost vs. graduation and earnings, an association shaped by selectivity and sector, not proof a pricier college pays off.
FAFSA earnings check
: Not flaggedAcademy of Art University does not trigger the FAFSA's "lower earnings" notice. Its graduates' median earnings four years after completing were $52,998, above the $34,635 median for high school graduates aged 25 to 34 nationally. The Department uses the national figure for a college that mostly enrolls out-of-state students or operates in several states.
This is one figure for the whole institution, not for any program: earnings differ by credential and field. It covers graduates who completed in 2017-18 and 2018-19, received federal aid, and were working and not enrolled when earnings were measured in 2022 and 2023, in January 2026 dollars. The Department says the notice is informational only: it does not change aid eligibility. Source: U.S. Department of Education, FSA Data Center, March 2026 release. Which colleges are flagged, and what changed.
Student Outcomes
Graduation Rate
34%
Freshman Retention
75%
Source: IPEDS, charges for academic year 2024-25 (provisional release)
Final aid offers, scholarships, and net price vary per family. Always verify with the school's financial aid office.
Scholarships available
Decision support · Cost & value
Quick Decision Highlights
The strongest cost, aid, and value reasons to consider this school.
Scholarships available
Aid signal
Open-access admissions
Most qualified applicants are admitted.
Affordability snapshot
Tuition
$30.7k
Net price
$40.6k
Pell
41%
above avg
Median debt
$31k
Earnings (10y)
$39k
“Avg” comparisons reference national IPEDS / College Scorecard averages (~2022–23); figures are directional and vary by school and year.
Admissions
Acceptance rate
Open admission
SAT range
Institution does not report this
Institution does not report this
ACT range
Institution does not report this
Institution does not report this
Source: IPEDS, open-admission policy reported for 2024-25 (final (revised) release)
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Location
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UniversitiesCommunity Colleges1 school
Institution does not report this
San Francisco, CA 94105
Academics
Studying online: most students study entirely online
In Fall 2023, 3,420 of Academy of Art University's 6,320 students (54%) were enrolled entirely at a distance. A further 2,216 (35%) took at least one distance course alongside in-person study.
Distance-education figures count STUDENTS enrolled in Fall 2023, not programs on offer. "Exclusively at a distance" means a student took only distance courses that term. A college with few or no such students may still run online courses or an online degree, so a low figure is not evidence that online study is unavailable, and a high one is not a judgement of quality either way.
U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS Fall Enrollment (distance education status), Fall 2023
Fields of study
Academy of Art University reported conferring credentials in 20 different fields to the federal government. See which ones, and at what credential level.
Campus & Student Life
Area Safety Rating
Decision support
Similar schools
Worth a closer look if Academy of Art University caught your interest.
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Tuition $22,506 Open admissionSame state. Lower-cost option. Similar acceptance.Thomas Aquinas College
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Tuition $30,200 83% acceptSame state. Similar tuition. Same school type.San Diego Christian College
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Tuition $28,012 31% acceptSame state. Similar tuition. Same school type.Design Institute of San Diego
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Tuition $29,300 Open admissionSame state. Similar tuition. Similar acceptance.FIDM-Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising
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Tuition $34,325 42% acceptSame state. Similar tuition. Same school type.John Paul the Great Catholic University
Escondido, CA
Tuition $30,265 80% acceptSame state. Similar tuition. Same school type.
Graduate earnings by program
What Academy of Art University graduates earn, by program
Academy of Art University's master's graduates in Computer Software and Media Applications earned a median $87,998 four years after graduating, 27% below the $120,083 national median for the same program (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). One year after graduating, a later class (2018-20 graduates, measured 2020-21) earned a median $55,139; the two figures describe different graduates, not one class's growth. Graduates who borrowed took out a median $71,352 in federal loans at this college (about $812 a month on a 10-year plan).
25 programs at Academy of Art University have federal earnings or debt figures, largest graduating classes first. Earnings: graduates of 2017-18 and 2018-19, earnings measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars. Debt: graduates of 2018-19 and 2019-20. The national median is the same measure for every program in that field and credential in the U.S.
| Program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after | National median | Federal debt borrowed at this college (median) | Payment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Software and Media Applications, Master's | $87,998 | $120,083, −27% | $71,352 | $812/mo |
| Computer Software and Media Applications, Bachelor's | $73,398 | $58,894, +25% | $36,750 | $390/mo |
| Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians, Master's | $71,613 | $72,860, about the same | $84,794 | $965/mo |
| Graphic Communications, Bachelor's | $50,833 | $43,283, +17% | $31,125 | $330/mo |
| Graphic Communications, Master's | $64,026 | $57,810, +11% | $83,224 | $947/mo |
| Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians, Bachelor's | $66,783 | $71,753, −7% | $40,171 | $426/mo |
| Design and Applied Arts, Bachelor's | $38,583 | $51,490, −25% | $31,500 | $334/mo |
| Design and Applied Arts, Master's | $57,636 | $70,073, −18% | $93,267 | $1,061/mo |
| Film and Photography, Bachelor's | $46,726 | $43,765, +7% | $33,812 | $358/mo |
| Film and Photography, Master's | $58,879 | $51,486, +14% | $113,213 | $1,288/mo |
| Fine and Studio Arts, Master's | $46,730 | $49,079, −5% | $91,156 | $1,037/mo |
| Apparel and Textiles, Bachelor's | $41,565 | $57,640, −28% | $25,500 | $270/mo |
Show 13 more programs
| Program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after | National median | Federal debt borrowed at this college (median) | Payment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visual and Performing Arts, Master's | $51,874 | $59,460, −13% | — | — |
| Visual and Performing Arts, Bachelor's | $43,084 | $41,688, +3% | $31,000 | $329/mo |
| Fine and Studio Arts, Bachelor's | — | $41,367 | $39,570 | $420/mo |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication, Bachelor's | $54,087 | $50,497, +7% | $23,473 | $249/mo |
| Theatre, Bachelor's | $35,870 | $39,775, −10% | $30,666 | $325/mo |
| Theatre, Master's | — | $49,978 | $104,875 | $1,193/mo |
| Computer Software and Media Applications, Associate's | $60,731 | $41,737, +46% | $31,211 | $331/mo |
| Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations, Master's | $62,856 | $120,246, −48% | — | — |
| Music, Bachelor's | $33,151 | $42,892, −23% | $29,910 | $317/mo |
| Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations, Bachelor's | $60,284 | $59,631, about the same | — | — |
| Design and Applied Arts, Associate's | $40,595 | $38,127, +6% | $31,937 | $339/mo |
| Film and Photography, Associate's | $42,221 | $33,186, +27% | $32,187 | $341/mo |
| Apparel and Textiles, Associate's | $29,584 | $45,422, −35% | $18,828 | $200/mo |
Median earnings of graduates who received federal student aid, worked, and were not enrolled in school; debt is the median federal loans borrowed at this college by graduates who borrowed (Direct Subsidized, Unsubsidized and Grad PLUS; not Parent PLUS, private loans or interest). Programs with too few graduates are suppressed by the Department of Education. Monthly payment assumes a standard 10-year plan. Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, field-of-study data, 10 June 2026. Download every program (CSV). Same degree, different paycheck: what the national data show. Over the Cap: graduate programs where typical debt exceeds the federal loan limits in force since July 2026.
Frequently asked questions
About Academy of Art University
Built from CampusPin profile data. Always verify final admissions, cost, financial aid, and program details with the institution before applying. See our data methodology and data dictionary.
- Where is Academy of Art University located?
- Academy of Art University is located in San Francisco, CA, in the United States.
- What type of institution is Academy of Art University?
- Academy of Art University is a private university based in CA. CampusPin classifies institutions as either four-year universities or two-year community colleges, with control labeled public or private.
- Is Academy of Art University open admission?
- Yes. Academy of Art University reports an open admission policy to the federal IPEDS survey (IPEDS, admission policy reported in the 2024-25 IC collection), which IPEDS defines as accepting any student who applies. Individual programs, often nursing and other health programs, can still set their own entry requirements, so check the program you want with the college.
- What is the tuition at Academy of Art University?
- Academy of Art University's published in-state tuition is approximately $30,736 per year (IPEDS, charges for academic year 2024-25). This is the published price before financial aid; the net price most students actually pay is typically lower. Verify the current academic-year tuition with the institution before applying.
- How many students attend Academy of Art University?
- Academy of Art University reports total enrollment of approximately 5,498 students (undergraduate plus graduate) (IPEDS, fall 2024 enrollment). Total enrollment is a useful sizing signal, see the institutional profile for additional breakdowns when available.
- How much does Academy of Art University actually cost after financial aid?
- The average net price at Academy of Art University is approximately $40,613 per year. Net price is the total cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships that never have to be repaid, so it is what students actually paid rather than the published sticker price. What families pay varies with income: students from families earning under $30,000 paid about $37,668 on average, and those from families earning $110,000 or more about $44,082. These are averages for students who received federal aid in a prior cohort, not a quote for any individual family. Run the institution's own Net Price Calculator for a figure specific to you.
- What is the graduation rate at Academy of Art University?
- Academy of Art University reports a graduation rate of approximately 34% (IPEDS, Graduation Rates 2024 collection: 4-year cohort 2018, 2-year cohort 2021). This measures the share of a prior entering cohort who completed their degree within the federal tracking window. It reflects who enrolls as much as what the institution does, so it is not on its own a measure of teaching quality, and it is not comparable across institutions serving very different students.
- How much student debt do graduates of Academy of Art University have?
- Students who borrowed at Academy of Art University left with a median of approximately $31,000 in federal loans, and about 49% of students took federal loans at all. Both numbers matter: a median describes only the students who borrowed, so it reads very differently at a school where most students borrow than at one where few do. Federal loans only, so private and parent borrowing are not included.
- How much do graduates of Academy of Art University earn?
- Median earnings approximately ten years after entry are $39,008 for students who received federal financial aid at Academy of Art University. This reflects the mix of programs the institution offers and the students who enroll, not the effect of attending, and it covers aid recipients rather than all graduates.
- How should I verify final details about Academy of Art University?
- CampusPin compiles institutional data from public datasets like IPEDS and the College Scorecard, plus institutional websites and editorial review. Before applying, paying a deposit, or making a final decision, confirm admissions requirements, current tuition, financial aid, deadlines, and program details directly with Academy of Art University.
- How much do Computer Software and Media Applications graduates from Academy of Art University earn?
- Academy of Art University's master's graduates in Computer Software and Media Applications earned a median $87,998 four years after graduating, 27% below the $120,083 national median for the same program (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). One year after graduating, a later class (2018-20 graduates, measured 2020-21) earned a median $55,139; the two figures describe different graduates, not one class's growth. Graduates who borrowed took out a median $71,352 in federal loans at this college (about $812 a month on a 10-year plan).
- How much do Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians graduates from Academy of Art University earn?
- Academy of Art University's master's graduates in Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians earned a median $71,613 four years after graduating, about the same as the $72,860 national median for the same program (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). One year after graduating, a later class (2018-20 graduates, measured 2020-21) earned a median $44,643; the two figures describe different graduates, not one class's growth. Graduates who borrowed took out a median $84,794 in federal loans at this college (about $965 a month on a 10-year plan).
- Which programs at Academy of Art University have the highest graduate earnings?
- Among the 18 programs at Academy of Art University with a federal earnings figure from at least 30 graduates, the highest medians four years after graduating were Computer Software and Media Applications, master's ($87,998); Computer Software and Media Applications, bachelor's ($73,398); and Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians, master's ($71,613) (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). That order is one federal measure, not a ranking of program quality: earnings reflect the field and where graduates go to work as well as the program.
- Does Academy of Art University get a "lower earnings" warning on the FAFSA?
- No. In the Department of Education's March 2026 data, which the FAFSA uses now, Academy of Art University's graduates' median earnings four years after completing were $52,998, above the $34,635 median for high school graduates aged 25 to 34 nationally, so first-year students who list it do not see the lower-earnings notice. The figure describes the whole institution, not any one program.
Fields this college awarded credentials in
The 14 largest of 20 fields Academy of Art University reported, by credentials conferred in 2024-25, using the federal classification of each field. The level is the highest credential actually awarded, which is not always the one a field is best known for.
| Field | Awarded | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Software and Media Applications | 248 | Graduate (159 graduate · 74 bachelor's · 15 associate) |
| Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians | 186 | Graduate (100 graduate · 71 bachelor's · 15 associate) |
| Graphic Communications | 172 | Graduate (72 graduate · 90 bachelor's · 10 associate) |
| Design and Applied Arts | 129 | Graduate (58 graduate · 57 bachelor's · 14 associate) |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | 93 | Graduate (36 graduate · 48 bachelor's · 9 associate) |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 72 | Graduate (52 graduate · 16 bachelor's · 4 associate) |
| Visual and Performing Arts, General | 60 | Graduate (34 graduate · 22 bachelor's · 4 associate) |
| Apparel and Textiles | 51 | Graduate (12 graduate · 29 bachelor's · 10 associate) |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | 30 | Graduate (23 graduate · 5 bachelor's · 2 associate) |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | 25 | Graduate (5 graduate · 20 bachelor's) |
| Music | 22 | Graduate (8 graduate · 14 bachelor's) |
| Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations | 19 | Graduate (9 graduate · 7 bachelor's · 3 associate) |
| Landscape Architecture | 6 | Graduate (4 graduate · 1 bachelor's · 1 associate) |
| Architectural Sciences and Technology | 5 | Graduate |
Fields are as classified in the federal IPEDS completions collection, which records credentials already conferred. A field listed here was awarded in the reporting year; it does not confirm the program is currently admitting students, and a field CampusPin has no guide for is still shown under its official federal title. Confirm current offerings with the institution.
Explore more
Compare colleges side by side. Other colleges in San Francisco, CA. All colleges in California. California college costs by family income. Student debt at California colleges. Computer science in California. Business in California. Nursing in California. Psychology in California. Engineering in California.
Always verify final admissions, cost, financial aid, and program details with Academy of Art University before applying.
Data sources & methodology
Reporting period: 2024. Last verified: June 10, 2026.
Facts on this profile of Academy of Art University are compiled from federal datasets and the institution's own published information.
Sources used across this page
Not every source informs every figure. Each data point draws on the source appropriate to it see the relevant section and the data dictionary for field-level provenance.
IPEDS / NCES College Navigator
Federal enrollment, admissions, tuition, retention, and program data. Released annually with a 1–2 year lag.
U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard
Net price by income band, post-graduation earnings, and federal aid context.
Clery Act campus security reports
Annual campus security and fire-safety disclosures required of U.S. institutions.
Institutional websites
Each school's official admissions, registrar, and financial-aid pages are the authoritative source for current details.
Where a value is unavailable it is shown as unavailable, never as 0, free, or a negative judgment. Always confirm final details with the institution before applying.
Suggested citation
CampusPin. (2024). Academy of Art University, college profile. Retrieved from https://campuspin.com/schools/academy-of-art-university
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