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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 educational institution operates on 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%.
Explore this school's profile to find out all the important things about Academy of Art University.
Quick Facts
3,644
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
$31,224
Tuition
15:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
40%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
In order to increase your chances of getting admitted, you need to know as much as possible about the school's criteria for admission. Here are the most vital data you should know 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 freshman retention rate is defined as the percentage of first-year students who return for their sophomore year at a college or university. When creating your list of possible schools to attend, make sure to consider the freshmen retention rate.
The freshman retention rate for Academy of Art University was 75% in 2025, a clear indication of the excellence and value of the educational experience at this school.
Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. At this academic institution, the proportion of students graduating in six years is 40%.
Student Body
It is always challenging to figure out which school is best for you. You can have a better understanding of the school's culture and way of life by finding out more about the student body.
Main Student Body
In 2025, the school enrolled 5,564 students.
The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 59% for that year. There was a total of 3,644 undergraduate students, including 413 international students. 334 students were admitted as transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
With a coeducational student body, the school had 1,283 male and 1,511 female full-time students in 2025. This school had 447 full-time graduate male and 704 full-time graduate female students at this school.
Student Population Diversity
When it comes to improving a sense of inclusion and belonging among students, there is no denying the importance of student diversity. A heterogeneous student body brings together individuals from diverse 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 undergraduates at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 243 as multirace. The school also had 18 students who declared 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
Financial planning for school is one of the most important things to think about before you apply. The latest information on the expenses that most students at this school incur are detailed below.
Tuition and Fees
Wondering about tuition at Academy of Art University? Here is what you need to know.
Tuition in 2025 was $31,224 for full-time domestic students. As Academy of Art University is a private institution, tuition is the same for all the accepted students. Full-time students in 2025 were mandated to pay additional fees in the amount of $160.
Books and Supplies
Another important financial factor to consider is the estimated price of books and supplies for a college or university. The approximate price of books and supplies for a full-time student of this school is $1,090.
Boarding
When choosing a college, you should factor in the price of a dorm room and meals at the school cafeteria. How much do room and board fees average around at colleges and universities?
At Academy of Art University, the 2025 annual cost of room and board (on campus) was $23,432. The cost of a dorm room only at this school in 2025 reached $13,522 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 | $ 23,432 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,090 |
| Total Expense | $ 55,746 |
Financial Aid
Be it a grant, loan, scholarship, or work-study program, any type of financial support can be a great deal for most students. If you want to find out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at Academy of Art University, here are some recent data you should take into consideration.
According to the most recent data, 122 freshmen were awarded financial aid. The average financial aid package awarded to students amounted to $17,881.
Need-based
If you need help with paying for your studies and you meet some eligibility requirements, you may be eligible for need-based aid.
978 students gained 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 total 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 summed up to $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
Non-need-based aid is any type of financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid. Non-need-based student aid typicaly comes in a form of 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 institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need 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
Knowing more about a school's faculty can help you gauge the caliber of the education it can provide to you.
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. This number included 359 male and 243 female faculty members.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Knowing what to expect out of campus life at a college or university can set you up for success. Find 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 most popular student organization 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 the world of acting appeals to you, there is a drama club you can join. Interested in media and communication? Academy of Art University publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
Academy of Art University has a number of services vital for a pleasant and secure life on campus.
There are phone and alarm devices that can be accessed 24/7 for emergency situations. 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 everything most students need.
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. There is 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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The overall full-time tuition per academic year for Academy of Art University is 31,224 USD, based on the most recent data.
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According to the latest information, the acceptance rate for Academy of Art University is 100%.
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According to the latest information, the 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.
