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San Francisco , CA
The Academy of Art University, located in San Francisco, California, is a private art school that offers undergraduate and graduate programs in various creative fields. Established in 1929, it has grown to become one of the largest privately-owned art and design universities in the United States. With a rich history and vibrant student body, the university aims to provide students with the necessary tools and skills to pursue successful careers in art, design, and other related industries.
At the Academy of Art University, students have the opportunity to choose from a wide range of creative disciplines, including fashion, graphic design, fine arts, photography, architecture, and more. The university focuses on providing hands-on training, allowing students to develop their artistic abilities through practical projects and collaborations with industry professionals. With a faculty comprising working artists and designers, students benefit from the knowledge and expertise of experienced professionals who are actively engaged in their respective fields.
Located in the heart of San Francisco, the university offers an inspiring and dynamic environment for students. The diverse and inclusive community encourages students to explore their own unique creativity, collaborate with peers from different backgrounds, and gain exposure to the vibrant art and design scene of the city. Additionally, the Academy of Art University provides various resources such as dedicated studios, gallery spaces, and modern facilities to enhance the learning experience and help students realize their artistic visions.
Academy of Art University is a private comprehensive higher education institution located in San Francisco, CA and set in an urban environment. This institution follows a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 100%. The freshman retention rate at Academy of Art University is 75% and the six-year graduation rate is 40%.
Learn more about what Academy of Art University has to offer based on the most recent data this institution has reported.
Quick Facts
3,644
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
$31,224
Tuition
15:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
40%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
Learning as much as possible about the institution's criteria for admission improves your chances of getting admitted. Learn some important facts about admission policy and requirements at Academy of Art University.
In 2025, the school accepted 1,629 new students. As far as admission difficulty is considered, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is relatively noncompetitive.
Retention Rate
The percentage of freshmen at a college or university who stay on for their second year is known as the freshman retention rate. Why is that metric important? Because it tells you if the majority of freshmen enjoyed their first year at a school enough to come back.
The freshman retention rate for Academy of Art University was 75% in 2025, reflecting the superb quality of the educational programs at this institution.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. This rate shows how many students complete their degrees in a certain number of years. At this school, the rate of students graduating within six years is 40%.
Student Body
It is never easy to figure out which school is the right match for you. You can have a better understanding of the school's culture and way of life by learning more about the student body.
Main Student Body
In 2025, the school had an enrollment of 5,564 students.
That year, the school had 59% of students coming from another state. There was a total of 3,644 students working towards bachelor's degrees, including 413 international students. The number of transfer students at this school was 334.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 1,283 male and 1,511 female full-time students in 2025. 447 full-time graduate men and 704 full-time graduate women attended this school.
Student Population Diversity
Higer Education is committed to expanding the diversity of its student body and improving students' sense of inclusion and belonging. A heterogeneous student body brings together individuals from different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Discover more about the many ethnic communities that go to this school.
This school had 260 Asian students and 483 Afro-American students in 2025. 753 undergrads at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 243 identified with more than one race. The school also had 18 students who identified as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and 20 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 394 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
The financial aspect is one of the most important things to think about before applying to any college or university. The latest information on the expenses that most students at this school incur are detailed below.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some numbers that can help you better understand the estimated tuition fees for this university.
In 2025, tuition amounted to $31,224 for all full-time domestic students. Since Academy of Art University is a private institution, tuition is the same for all the accepted students. Full-time students in 2025 had to pay additional fees in the amount of $160.
Books and Supplies
When you try to estimate the cost of attendance for a college or university, you need to take into account the cost of books and supplies you're going to need. Most students have to set aside about $1,090 for books and supplies during their time at Academy of Art University.
Boarding
The cost of dorm rooms and meals in the school's cafeteria is for sure something to take into consideration. What do schools typically charge for accommodation and meals?
In 2025, the price of room and board at Academy of Art University was $37,196 per academic year. The cost of a dorm room only at this school in 2025 was $27,286 for one academic year. The estimated expense of room-only (on campus) for commuters not living at home was $15,219.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 31,224 |
| Room and Board | $ 37,196 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,090 |
| Total Expense | $ 69,510 |
Financial Aid
Obtaining some financial aid in forms of grants, loans, scholarships or work-study programs can be crucial for completing your studies. Check out some recent data to get the information about need-based and non-need-based aid at Academy of Art University.
According to the most recent data, 122 freshmen were awarded financial aid. The average financial aid package awarded to students totaled $17,881.
Need-based
Need-based financial aid is exactly what it sounds like — it’s awarded based on the determined financial need.
978 students were awarded some form of need-based financial aid. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at Academy of Art University is available to international students. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was estimated to be 1,222. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution totaled $8,410,559, and state $1,542,845. The students of Academy of Art University received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $1,454,053, and external in the amount of $10,738,633.
$3,192
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Any financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid is considered non-need-based aid. The most popular forms of non-need-based financial aid for students are loans and grants, like Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
Institutional non-need-based scholarships or grants were given to 179 students overall (including freshmen) at Academy of Art University in 2025. Institutional help in the form of non-need-based scholarships or grants was given to 17 full-time freshmen. The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants was $540,222. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. $6,719,642 was the amount that the students at this institution got from external sources (like Kiwanis and National Merit).
Majors
Faculty
15:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty ratio can tell you a lot about the teaching resources a school provides for its students.
According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at Academy of Art University was 15:1: that means 15 students per one teacher. The faculty of this school consists of 602 members, according to the most recent data reported. Out of that number, there were 359 men and 243 women.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Not everything at Academy of Art University is about learning and grades: campus life is an essential part of your educational experience. Check out some info about campus life at Academy of Art University.
Student Organizations
A student organization is run by students at a university or a college institution, whose membership typically consists only of current students and/or alumni.
The student organization that has the biggest membership is ArtU Game Club, followed by Visionaries Concept Art Club and Legends of Visual Effects. Other popular student organizations at this school are Women in Animation and Tea Time Animation.
If you have an interest in acting, there's a drama club you can be a part of. For students interested in media and communication, Academy of Art University publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
At Academy of Art University, there are many amenities required for a comfortable and safe life on campus.
There are emergency phone and alarm devices available around the clock. There are electronically operated dormitory entrances. The transport/escort service operates during late hours.
In addition, other services like Veteran's Affairs are available to the students of Academy of Art University.
All in all, campus life at Academy of Art University is rich and vibrant and provides all you need for a comfortable stay.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Academy of Art University.
Career Counselling
At Academy of Art University, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There is a job bank. The school has campus employer recruitment for all the students.
FAQ
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Academy of Art University is located in San Francisco, CA.
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Academy of Art University offers need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
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According to the latest information, the tuition for Academy of Art University is 31,224 USD a year.
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According to the latest information, the acceptance rate for Academy of Art University is 100%.
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The most recent reported freshman retention rate for Academy of Art University is 75%.
Contact Information
Academy of Art University
79 New Montgomery Street
San Francisco , CA
94105
800 274-2222
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.