What is Full Sail University known for?
Full Sail University is an innovative and enterprising private university known for their specialization in entertainment media and emerging technologies. Their modern approach extends beyond their diverse program offerings in up-and-coming, relevant fields, boasting personalized and accelerated programs that meet students at their skill levels, emphasizing career readiness through an experience-centric environment.
Full Sail University has a student body vested in influencing pop culture, with over 200 alumni credited on The Game Awards’ top games in 2022 alone. Described by Rolling Stone as having “one of the five best music programs in the country,” the school’s cutting-edge approach to a rigorous career-focused education has given way to many award-winning alumni.
Is it Legit?
Full Sail University is accredited to award Associate’s, Bachelor’s, and Master’s degrees, certificates, and diplomas by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges. Full Sail University has partnerships with leading figures in television and media, including their Dan Patrick School of Sportscasting, founded in collaboration with sportscaster and radio personality Dan Patrick. Full Sail University additionally boasts classes with prominent figures in their respective fields; for example, Dave Arneson, co-developer of the tabletop role-playing game Dungeons and Dragons, taught a series of game design classes for nearly a decade.
Is Full Sail University worth it?
Ranked one of the top 100 universities for design in America by US News and credited as an Apple-distinguished school, Full Sail University offers students a novel education emphasizing industry experience and preparedness. Over 120 Full Sail alumni were credited on nominated and winning projects at the 2023 Academy Awards, having worked on blockbuster movies such as Avatar, Top Gun, and The Batman. Over 20 show production graduates worked on some of the highest-grossing world tours of 2022, working backstage for artists such as Guns N’ Roses, Paul McCartney, and Stevie Nicks, among others.
Full Sail University vs. COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Full Sail University offers a vast array of career-focused programs in specialized areas of entertainment media and emerging technologies, a much broader selection of pre-professional degrees than most community colleges offer. Additionally, Full Sail University offers Associate’s, Bachelor’s, and Master’s degrees in addition to single courses and course ‘stacks’ (series of relevant courses not tied to any specific degree obligation). In contrast, most community colleges primarily offer Associate’s degrees. Full Sail University emphasizes real-world, industry-experience-centric learning styles with an innovative online platform that provides courses and degrees at an accelerated pace (half the time of a traditional Bachelor’s program), enabling students to gain experience in and familiarize themselves with a fast-paced and intensive environment. The school’s programs are uniquely structured in that students take scheduled courses in the same order, eliminating any stress from course registration and enabling students to complete their degrees without scrambling to meet last-minute requirements.
Full Sail University Acceptance Rate
Full Sail University has an acceptance rate of 100%.
Full Sail University Cost Per Year
Tuition at Full Sail University is calculated based on credit hours. The total cost of undergraduate programs ranges from $70,000 to $95,000, as courses range from $600 to $800 per credit hour, and Bachelor’s programs require students to complete 120 credit hours. Full Sail Bachelor’s degree students graduate, on average, after 2.25 years, so the annual cost of tuition ranges from $31,000 to $42,000.
On average, the total cost of graduate programs at Full Sail University is $37,000. Graduate students must complete between 41.5 and 58 credit hours, depending on the program, and the cost of credit hours ranges from $600 to $920. At Full Sail University’s accelerated pace, most students are predicted to complete their graduate program after 1 year.
The school’s certificate programs’ tuition ranges from $5,000 to $10,000.
Full Sail University accepts federal financial aid, and they additionally provide work-study opportunities for students that enable them to supplement their financial aid while gaining industry experience in a relevant work environment. The institution also offers various academic scholarships to all students, including international and online students, and even provides scholarship opportunities for alumni seeking to further their education.
School Catalog
A copy of the school catalog can be found here.
School Hours
Full Sail University’s campus and amenities are open from 8:30 AM to 8 PM, Monday through Friday. Though specific student resource offices, such as the Career Support Office and the Financial Aid office, follow campus hours, additional resources, such as Career Modules in students’ coursework, are available around the clock. Students’ online programs are also generally available 24/7.
Programs & Courses
Business
- Marketing
- Entrepreneurship
Communications
- Communication
Graphics, Design, & Art
- Film
- Graphic Design
- Digital Art
- Computer Animation
- Game Design
- Mobile App Development
- Music
- Software Development
- Web Design
Campus Locations
Winter Park, FL 3300 University Blvd., Winter Park, FL 32792
Financial Aid Services
Various forms of financial aid are available, such as grants and loans. Full Sail University provides both general scholarships and ones based on specific trades. Also, the work-study program gives people jobs to earn money for their degrees. Students receiving aid must remain in good academic standing.
Student Services
Full Sail University factors textbooks into tuition to keep the costs from adding up. Additionally, the collaborative curriculum centers around gaining real-world experience to make the transition to the workforce smoother.
To feed students’ creativity and drive to learn, there are a number of organizations on campus as well. Getting involved is as simple as joining the Cosplay Club or one of the other volunteer-oriented programs.
Career Services
The diverse community of alumni offer support to those attending Full Sail. Events, like Hall of Fame Week, bring successful grads back to the school to connect with current students. Finally, the career development department puts together frequent networking fairs, not only on campus, but at select major cities where recent graduates can get a leg up on the job market.
Reviews
Based on local Google reviews, Full Sail University has a mixed reputation, with strong praise for its hands-on education and creative environment, but also significant and recurring criticisms related to high costs, debt, and administrative issues.
Overall Score: 3.7/5 Stars
Common Praises
Hands-on, Fast-Paced Curriculum: Reviewers who thrive in the school’s unique environment commend its project-based, real-world assignments and month-long classes. They appreciate the focused, accelerated approach that immerses them in their field.
Industry-Relevant Education: Students feel the curriculum and equipment are high-tech and directly applicable to the entertainment industry. Some graduates report that the knowledge gained is valuable and applicable to their careers.
Supportive Faculty: Many positive reviews mention that instructors are dedicated, passionate, and knowledgeable industry professionals who genuinely care about student success and maintain relationships with them after graduation.
Inspiring Environment: Campus tours and the overall atmosphere are described as “inspiring” and “high-tech,” giving prospective students a sense of the industry.
Common Criticisms
High Cost and Debt: This is a major point of frustration for many students. Several reviews mention accumulating over $100,000 in debt from their bachelor’s degree with no job to show for it. There is also a complaint from a family member who was charged a significant fee for dropping out of a class after a “deadline.”
Lack of Job Placement: Despite the school’s reputation and marketing, numerous graduates express that they could not find a job in their field, and their degree provided little help with job placement.
Issues with Financial Aid and Veterans’ Benefits: Some reviewers, particularly veterans, report a “horrible experience” with the financial aid department. They claim the process is disorganized, and staff do not follow through with promised assistance.
Unprofessional Administration: Several reviewers describe administrative teams as being “stifling” and unhelpful. There are also complaints about aggressive recruiting tactics, with staff contacting prospective students immediately after they request information, which some found intrusive.
Credit Transferability: While a few reviews mention this, Full Sail has been placed on warning by its accrediting body, the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC), in the past. The school’s accreditation information states that the transferability of credits is always at the discretion of the receiving institution, which may cause issues for students who wish to transfer.
Momentum
The reviews show a consistent pattern over time, where students love the creative, hands-on, and fast-paced nature of the school but are deeply concerned about the financial consequences. Recent positive reviews are often from those who had a good tour experience or are happy with a specific instructor. However, the most severe, recurring complaints from recent graduates and their families center on the high cost, significant debt, and the school’s perceived failure to deliver on promises of job placement. The owner is highly active in responding to both positive and negative feedback, often providing contact information to address specific issues.