Academy of Art University Acceptance Rate & Tuition (2026)
Academy of Art University is a private for-profit university in San Francisco, California, serving roughly 3,587 students. Academy of Art University awards degrees and certificates tracked in federal College Scorecard and IPEDS reporting. Published tuition for full-time study is about $30,736 per year before aid; net price varies by family income. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $39,008 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $30,736
- 2024 Average Net Price: $40,613 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: N/A Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 3,587 53.1% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 34.32%
- Carnegie Classification: Master's Colleges and Universities: Medium Programs
- First-Generation Students: 40.8%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 4.8% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price increase of 6.7% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 15.6%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 4,946
- Room & Board: $32,766 annual estimate
Academy of Art University: what the data shows
Common questions about Academy of Art University, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Academy of Art University?
Academy of Art University is located in San Francisco, CA (ZIP 94105).
NCES locale classification: City.
Is Academy of Art University public or private?
Academy of Art University is a Private For-profit institution.
How much does Academy of Art University cost?
Published tuition: $30,736.
Average net price after aid: $40,613.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $37,668 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $36,340 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $43,874 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $43,953 |
| $110,001+ | $44,082 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $122,944.
How big is Academy of Art University?
Total enrollment: 3,587 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 4,946 students.
Graduate enrollment: 1,854 students.
About 53% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Academy of Art University?
150%-time completion rate: 34.32%.
First-year retention: 75.4%.
What do graduates of Academy of Art University earn?
Median earnings: $30,452 six years after entry; $39,008 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $31,000.
41.04% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Academy of Art University known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects (167 completions)
- Modeling, Virtual Environments and Simulation (120 completions)
- Drafting and Design Technology/Technician, General (89 completions)
- 05.0041 (85 completions)
- Web Page, Digital/Multimedia and Information Resources Design (77 completions)
- Computer Graphics (75 completions)
- Digital Arts (59 completions)
- Photography (54 completions)
- Architectural Drafting and Architectural CAD/CADD (46 completions)
- Fine Arts and Art Studies, Other (45 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Academy of Art University a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show completion rate 34.32%; median earnings $39,008 at 10 years; net price $40,613. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$30,736
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Academy of Art University was $30,736.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$40,613
2024 Value
In 2024 Academy of Art University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $40,613.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$162,452 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$40,613 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$122,944 4-Year Tuition
$32,766 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$1,062 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$64,564 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$258,256 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for Academy of Art University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
41.04% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
49.49% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Academy of Art University was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Academy of Art University in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $19,130 | $19,130 | $30,100 |
| 2014 | $19,740 | $19,740 | $31,610 |
| 2015 | $20,340 | $20,340 | $32,085 |
| 2016 | $21,252 | $21,252 | $33,114 |
| 2017 | $21,252 | $21,252 | $33,012 |
| 2018 | $22,308 | $22,308 | $32,131 |
| 2019 | $23,412 | $23,412 | $34,145 |
| 2020 | $24,664 | $24,664 | $36,143 |
| 2021 | $25,424 | $25,424 | $32,736 |
| 2022 | $26,728 | $26,728 | $37,263 |
| 2023 | $28,024 | $28,024 | $39,778 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance rate data is not available for this institution.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Academy of Art University reported total enrollment of about 3,587 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 44% male and 56% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (28.0%), Hispanic or Latino (21.0%), and Black or African American (13.5%). About 41.04% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 40.8% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
53.1% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Academy of Art University in 2024 is 3,587 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 4,946 students. Graduate enrollment is about 1,854 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
75.4%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is White at 28.0%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
6.13% 100% Completion Time
34.32% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 6.13% of students graduating from Academy of Art University completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects: 41% male / 59% female
- Modeling, Virtual Environments and Simulation: 64% male / 36% female
- Drafting and Design Technology/Technician, General: 13% male / 87% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: White.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Academy of Art University.
Return on Investment
$31,000 Median Student Debt
$39,008 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
79.47% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
140.12% Return on Investment
7.9 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Academy of Art University.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 37 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects: 167 completions
2. Modeling, Virtual Environments and Simulation: 120 completions
3. Drafting and Design Technology/Technician, General: 89 completions
4. 05.0041: 85 completions
5. Web Page, Digital/Multimedia and Information Resources Design: 77 completions
6. Computer Graphics: 75 completions
7. Digital Arts: 59 completions
8. Photography: 54 completions
9. Architectural Drafting and Architectural CAD/CADD: 46 completions
Most popular programs at Academy of Art University.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Academy of Art University graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for Academy of Art University from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 15.6%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $8,554
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $14,838
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
Academy of Art University is a private for-profit institution located in San Francisco, CA, classified as Master's Colleges and Universities: Medium Programs. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects, Modeling, Virtual Environments and Simulation, Drafting and Design Technology/Technician, General. Enrollment is approximately 3,587 students. Student body composition includes White (28.0%), Hispanic or Latino (21.0%), Black or African American (13.5%). The 150%-time completion rate is 34.32%. Approximately 41.04% of students receive Pell Grants. About 40.8% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Private For-profit
Carnegie Classification: Master's Colleges and Universities: Medium Programs
Location
San Francisco, CA 94105
Region: Far West
Insights and Analysis
Graduation Rate Considerations: The 34.32% graduation rate at Academy of Art University falls below the national average. Prospective students should carefully consider factors such as academic preparation, support services, and career outcomes when evaluating this institution.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Academy of Art University located?
Academy of Art University is located in San Francisco, CA.
How much does Academy of Art University cost?
Reported tuition is $30,736 and average net price is $40,613 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $32,766 annually.
What is the student body demographics at Academy of Art University?
Academy of Art University reports undergraduate enrollment of about 4,946 students, White (28.0%), Hispanic or Latino (21.0%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Academy of Art University?
About 40.8% of students at Academy of Art University are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of Academy of Art University earn?
Median earnings are $30,452 six years after entry and $39,008 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Academy of Art University?
The 150%-time completion rate is 34.3% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Academy of Art University students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $31,000.
Is Academy of Art University public or private?
Academy of Art University is a private for-profit institution located in San Francisco, CA.
Is Academy of Art University an HBCU?
No. Academy of Art University is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Academy of Art University a tribal college?
No. Academy of Art University is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is Academy of Art University a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
Using a 25% Hispanic enrollment threshold on College Scorecard demographics, Academy of Art University does not meet that proxy (reported share 21.0%).
Is Academy of Art University religiously affiliated?
No religious affiliation is reported for Academy of Art University in IPEDS institutional characteristics.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- California college costs
- California colleges by ROI
- San Francisco, California city profile
- Far West regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in California
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.