Private for-profit · Mostly bachelor's degrees · Large city
Academy of Art University
San Francisco, California. 3,587 undergraduates.
33%Graduation rate21 pts below the national median for similar colleges (54%)
$41,747Average net price per year110% above the national median for similar colleges ($19,899)
$44,567Median earnings 10 years after starting24% below the national median for similar colleges ($58,912)
$31,000Median debt at graduation43% above the national median for similar colleges ($21,609)
Our read
Graduates' median debt ($31,000) equals 70% of former students' median earnings ten years after starting ($44,567). That is a heavy load relative to pay; compare net price and programs carefully.
What families actually pay
Average yearly net price for first-time, full-time students who received federal aid, by family income. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships. Source: College Scorecard.
Compare net price across collegesPublished tuition and fees: $32,224.
Do students finish, and what do they earn?
| Measure | This college | Similar colleges nationally |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 33% | 54% |
| Return for second year | 75% | 76% |
| Median earnings, 6 years after starting | $36,233 | $49,318 |
| Median earnings, 10 years after starting | $44,567 | $58,912 |
| Median debt at graduation | $31,000 | $21,609 |
Graduation rate within 150% of normal time; retention is the share of first-year students who return. Earnings are medians for former students who received federal aid, working and not enrolled. National comparison is the median for colleges of the same type (mostly bachelor's degrees).
Programs and what graduates earn
50 programs reported| Program | Graduates / yr | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Journalism | 0 | — | $100,886 | — |
| Computer Software and Media Applications | 191 | $54,681 | $99,588 | — |
| Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians | 104 | $63,588 | $72,379 | — |
| Design and Applied Arts | 57 | $43,892 | $63,380 | — |
| Graphic Communications | 73 | $51,760 | $60,529 | — |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | 36 | $42,432 | $51,948 | — |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 37 | $40,844 | $50,902 | — |
| Visual and Performing Arts, General | 31 | — | $50,339 | — |
| Landscape Architecture | 3 | — | — | — |
| Architectural Sciences and Technology | 1 | — | — | — |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | 15 | — | — | — |
| Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians | 7 | — | — | — |
| Educational/Instructional Media Design | 4 | — | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 2 | — | — | — |
| Apparel and Textiles | 17 | — | — | — |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | 17 | — | — | — |
| Music | 2 | — | — | — |
| Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations | 10 | — | — | — |
| Program | Graduates / yr | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations | 20 | — | $79,010 | — |
| Computer Software and Media Applications | 86 | $40,073 | $73,469 | $32,528 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | 12 | $30,366 | $69,110 | — |
| Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians | 57 | $59,709 | $65,817 | $49,469 |
| Graphic Communications | 77 | $30,612 | $55,269 | $35,893 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | 44 | $39,840 | $50,693 | $33,000 |
| Apparel and Textiles | 43 | $33,523 | $49,780 | $35,250 |
| Design and Applied Arts | 54 | $25,475 | $45,772 | $35,125 |
| Visual and Performing Arts, General | 21 | $29,459 | $45,445 | $36,916 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 24 | — | $42,661 | $31,000 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | 20 | $27,306 | $39,540 | $31,000 |
| Music | 23 | — | $32,571 | — |
| Landscape Architecture | 1 | — | — | — |
| Journalism | 1 | — | — | — |
| Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians | 3 | — | — | — |
| Computer Programming | 1 | — | — | — |
| Educational/Instructional Media Design | 6 | — | — | — |
| Program | Graduates / yr | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Software and Media Applications | 14 | — | $56,119 | $24,602 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | 12 | — | $42,048 | — |
| Design and Applied Arts | 16 | — | $40,560 | $31,708 |
| Apparel and Textiles | 12 | — | $27,419 | — |
| Landscape Architecture | 1 | — | — | — |
| Journalism | 1 | — | — | — |
| Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians | 1 | — | — | — |
| Graphic Communications | 17 | — | — | — |
| Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians | 9 | — | — | — |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | 1 | — | — | — |
| Visual and Performing Arts, General | 7 | — | — | — |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 1 | — | — | — |
| Music | 4 | — | — | — |
| Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations | 3 | — | — | — |
| Program | Graduates / yr | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 1 | — | — | — |
Program-level medians for graduates who received federal aid. A dash means the Department of Education suppressed the figure to protect privacy, usually because the program is small. At four-year colleges, certificate graduates often earned a bachelor's at the same time, so their earnings can reflect the degree. Source: College Scorecard, field of study data.
Similar colleges in California
Los Angeles College of MusicPasadena · net price $42,853 · grad rate 47%Woodbury UniversityBurbank · net price $44,337 · grad rate 45%California Aeronautical UniversityBakersfield · net price $46,310 · grad rate 41%New York Film AcademyBurbank · net price $38,975 · grad rate 51%California College of the ArtsSan Francisco · net price $41,109 · grad rate 64%West Coast University-Anaheim-Orange CountyAnaheim · net price $36,240 · grad rate 25%
Quick answers
- How much does Academy of Art University cost per year?
- The average net price at Academy of Art University, what students pay after grants and scholarships, is $41,747 per year. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
- How much do Academy of Art University graduates earn?
- Former Academy of Art University students earn a median of $44,567 a year ten years after starting college. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
- What is the graduation rate at Academy of Art University?
- 33% of Academy of Art University students graduate within 150% of normal time. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
- How much student debt do Academy of Art University graduates have?
- The median federal student debt at graduation from Academy of Art University is $31,000. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
