What Is It Known For?
Richard S. Stephens worked as Art Director at Sunset Magazine when he noticed a gap in creative education. He and his wife, Clara, decided to fill that void by opening the Academy of Advertising Art in 1929 with 45 students. Their timing proved perfect as the advertising industry was expanding rapidly.
Nearly a century later, that small San Francisco startup has become the Academy of Art University, now serving over 6,300 students annually. The school has evolved from its advertising roots to cover design, communication, and visual arts across multiple degree levels.
Degrees & Certifications
The university provides 129 different creative programs that range from short certificates to advanced master’s degrees. You can pursue studies in:
- Associate of Arts (AA)
- Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch)
- Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT)
- Communications & Media Technologies
- Motion Pictures & Television
- And Many More!
How long you study depends on which level you select. Associate programs take about two years to complete. Bachelor’s degrees require four years of full-time study. Master’s programs vary from one to three years based on your chosen specialization.
Class Schedules
You have flexibility in how you structure your education. Classes run during days, evenings, and weekends to accommodate working students. Online options let you complete your entire degree remotely or mix virtual classes with campus-based learning. The university also offers intersession courses between regular semesters.
Rather than formal externships, you’ll gain real-world experience through internships and industry projects that the university facilitates through its professional connections.
Is It a Good School?
Yes. The Academy of Art University holds institutional accreditation from the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). The school also maintains additional specialized accreditations for specific programs that you can review on its website.
Acceptance Rate
The Academy of Art University has a 100% acceptance rate. This means that they follow an open admission policy.
How Much Does Tuition Cost?
The school charges per unit rather than flat semester fees according to their 2025-26 catalog. Domestic students pay $1,301 per undergraduate unit and $1,477 per graduate unit starting fall 2025. International students pay more at $1,682 per undergraduate unit and $1,857 per graduate unit.
Tuition rates can change during your time at the Academy of Art University. Their net price calculator helps you estimate total program costs based on your degree requirements and financial circumstances.
Programs & Courses
Business
- Advertising
- Communications & Media Technologies
Professional Services
- Art Education
- Graphic Design
- Interior Architecture & Design
- Music Production & Sound Design for Visual Media
Skilled Trades
- Landscape Architecture
Campus Locations
San Francisco 79 New Montgomery St. San Francisco, CA 94105
Reviews
Based on local Google reviews, Academy of Art University (AAU) is viewed as a highly polarized institution. It offers instruction by active industry professionals, which some graduates leverage for successful careers. However, it is heavily criticized for its extremely high cost, predatory financial practices, poor administrative support, and very low graduation rates.
Overall Score: 3.5/5 Stars
Common Praises
Industry-Active Instructors: The most consistent praise is that many instructors are “active industry” professionals who provide relevant, real-world experience, making it “easy to make connections leading to employment.“
Portfolio Building: The school is considered a good option for those “serious about being an artist” who want to “build [their] portfolio” and enhance their skills.
Positive Outcomes (for some): Some graduates report securing industry jobs even before graduation, and others who “do not listen to the negative reviews” praise the immersive online experience and supportive teachers.
Accredited Programs: Some specific programs, such as Architecture and Interior Architecture & Design, are professionally accredited, giving them external industry validation.
Common Criticisms
Extreme Cost and Debt: The overwhelming complaint is the high tuition (around $1,301 per unit for undergraduate domestic students, leading to an estimated annual cost of over $35,000), which results in many graduates feeling “conned” and “over $100,000 in debt.”
Predatory Financial/Administrative Practices: Reviewers accuse the administration and financial aid office of being “disorganized,” “unethical,” and focusing only on the money. Specific complaints include constant aggressive recruiting calls, being rushed into signing up for the next semester, and being charged for dropping classes despite advisor instructions.
Low Quality of Instruction and Workload: Many critics state that the coursework teaches only “the basics” easily found on platforms like YouTube or Udemy. They complain about a huge workload, a lack of lessons, and professors who are “horrible” or only “show up for a paycheck.”
Job Placement Concerns: Despite some success stories, a graduate review warns that the school stopped posting job placement information and that a degree from AAU may not be recognized by employers, leading to difficulties getting a job.
Momentum
The momentum for AAU is financially stable but structurally challenged, facing direct scrutiny from its regional accreditor. While the school has a high reported overall employment rate, its low six-year graduation rate (officially reported between $27-40\%$) and the recent “Notice of Concern” issued by WSCUC (Western Association of Schools and Colleges) in July 2024 indicate a serious, persistent issue with student outcomes and retention that the institution is mandated to fix. Furthermore, the very low in-field job placement rates for specific, high-cost programs (for example, $11\%$ for Interior Architecture BFA graduates in 2023) suggest the high tuition is not translating into successful career placement for the majority of students. The University is under pressure to improve its administrative and educational value to meet accreditation standards.