Academy of Art University
San Francisco, CA · Private for-profit · offers Graduate degrees
—Acceptance rate
$40,613Average net price / year
34%Graduation rate
$39,008Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$31,000Median debt at graduation
3,587Undergraduates
Cost
- In-state tuition & fees
- $30,736
- Total cost of attendance
- $48,036
- Room & board
- $32,766
- Books & supplies
- $1,062
- Average net price
- $40,613
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
- Acceptance rate
- —
Outcomes
- Graduation rate
- 34%
- First-year retention
- 75%
- Median earnings (6 yrs)
- $30,452
- Median earnings (10 yrs)
- $39,008
- Median debt (graduates)
- $31,000
- 3-year loan default rate
- 0.0%
- Students with Pell grants
- 41%
- Students with federal loans
- 49%
Programs: what graduates earn
27 of 63 programs have published earnings or debt data. Earnings are median salaries of graduates one year after completing the program (or the latest available year).
Associate's degree
| Program | Graduates | Earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Software and Media Applications | 16 | $30,273 | $31,211 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | 15 | $30,178 | $32,187 |
| Design and Applied Arts | 15 | $26,478 | $31,937 |
| Apparel and Textiles | 6 | $29,584 | $18,828 |
Bachelor's degree
| Program | Graduates | Earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians | 73 | $48,978 | $40,171 |
| Computer Software and Media Applications | 112 | $45,387 | $36,750 |
| Visual and Performing Arts, General | 23 | $28,494 | $31,000 |
| Apparel and Textiles | 49 | $27,630 | $25,500 |
| Graphic Communications | 74 | $27,481 | $31,125 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | 20 | $25,425 | $23,473 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | 56 | $23,354 | $33,812 |
| Design and Applied Arts | 63 | $20,829 | $31,500 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | 12 | $20,798 | $30,666 |
| Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations | 12 | $60,284 | — |
| Music | 14 | $29,124 | $29,910 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 23 | $33,830 | $39,570 |
| Communication and Media Studies | 0 | $40,098 | — |
Master's degree
| Program | Graduates | Earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Software and Media Applications | 182 | $55,139 | $71,352 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 47 | $50,953 | $91,156 |
| Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians | 97 | $44,643 | $84,794 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | 52 | $41,911 | $113,213 |
| Design and Applied Arts | 51 | $38,358 | $93,267 |
| Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations | 14 | $37,909 | — |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | 14 | $36,635 | $104,875 |
| Graphic Communications | 69 | $42,284 | $83,224 |
| Visual and Performing Arts, General | 29 | $51,874 | — |
| Music | 13 | $35,817 | — |
Students
- Undergraduates
- 3,587
- Graduate students
- 2,447
- Part-time
- 47%
- Women / men
- 56% / 44%
- White
- 28%
- Hispanic
- 21%
- Black
- 13%
- Asian
- 7%
- International
- 12%
Faculty & school
- Student–faculty ratio
- 14:1
- Avg faculty salary
- $76,986 / year
- Full-time faculty
- 16%
- Accreditor
- Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
- Website
- www.academyart.edu
- Also known as
- NA
Most popular fields
- Architecture – 0% of degrees
- Communication & Journalism – 4% of degrees
- Communications Technologies – 18% of degrees
- Computer & Information Sciences – 17% of degrees
- Education – 0% of degrees
- Engineering Technologies – 16% of degrees
Frequently asked questions
How much does Academy of Art University cost?
The average net price after grants is $40,613 per year; in-state tuition and fees are $30,736 and the full cost of attendance is $48,036.
How much do Academy of Art University graduates earn?
Students who enrolled earn a median of $39,008 ten years later. See the program table above for salaries by major.
What is the graduation rate?
34% of first-time, full-time students graduate within 150% of normal time.
Other colleges in San Francisco
| College | Net price | Acceptance | Graduation | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco State University San Francisco, CA · Public · 18,639 students |
$12,278 | 96% | 50% | $68,077 |
| City College of San Francisco San Francisco, CA · Public · 17,348 students |
$6,906 | — | 40% | $45,805 |
| University of San Francisco San Francisco, CA · Private nonprofit · 5,287 students |
$41,431 | 62% | 70% | $89,812 |
| California College of the Arts San Francisco, CA · Private nonprofit · 990 students |
$53,909 | 91% | 61% | $49,414 |
| Minerva University San Francisco, CA · Private nonprofit · 637 students |
— | 3% | — | — |
| Golden Gate University San Francisco, CA · Private nonprofit · 259 students |
— | — | — | $87,434 |
| San Francisco Conservatory of Music San Francisco, CA · Private nonprofit · 226 students |
$42,607 | 55% | 74% | — |
| Bay Area Medical Academy San Francisco, CA · Private for-profit · 209 students |
$27,042 | — | 52% | — |
| EDvance College San Francisco, CA · Private nonprofit · 201 students |
— | 100% | — | — |
| San Francisco Institute of Esthetics & Cosmetology Inc San Francisco, CA · Private for-profit · 167 students |
$18,333 | — | 87% | $32,926 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, June 2026 release.