Academy of Art University
A good fit for students who prefer a mid-size campus. graduation rate is below 40%; median debt is moderately high. a private for-profit school with 3,587 students.
About This School
Academy of Art University is a private for-profit institution located in San Francisco, California with approximately 3,587 undergraduate students enrolled. The average net price after financial aid is $40,613 per year. The graduation rate is 34%, and the typical graduate earns $47,300 within 10 years of enrollment.
The Academy of Art University, formerly Academy of Art College and Richard Stephens Academy of Art, is a private for-profit art school in San Francisco, California. It was founded as the Academy of Advertising Art by Richard S. Stephens in 1929. The school is one of the largest property owners in San Francisco, with the main campus located on New Montgomery Street in the South of Market district.
The numbers tell a mixed story here: only 40% of students graduate, and the 67% freshman retention rate suggests a lot of students leave before finishing — which is a real red flag worth taking seriously. On the positive side, median debt at graduation is a relatively manageable $11,000, and the San Francisco location offers genuine access to creative industries for students in design, fashion, or visual arts. Worth considering only if you have a clear, specific creative career goal and a solid plan to stay enrolled — this is not a school where you want to figure things out as you go.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
Average annual cost after grants/scholarships, by household income. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Earnings 6 Years After Enrollment, by Gender
Gap: 13% less for female graduates. National avg ~16%.
Will This School Pay Off?
Solid return. Earnings outpace debt, though major choice matters.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (3,587 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Official Links
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University of California-Berkeley
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Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
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