
Academy of Art University (AAU or ART U), a private for-profit art school in San Francisco, California, offers a variety of graduate programs. The university has a low graduation rate, with only 37% of students who enrolled in 2010 graduating by 2017. The six-year graduation rate for first-time, full-time students in the class of 2015 was 27%, while the four-year graduation rate was 7%. AAU offers master's degrees in several fields, including Master of Arts (MA), Master of Fine Arts (MFA), and M.Arch. The university also provides online graduate degree programs and a Second Degree program for students who want to pursue a career in art and design. AAU has a large and diverse student body, with a significant number of international students and a range of popular degree concentrations, including animation, interactive technology, and visual and performing arts.
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Academy of Art University has a graduation rate of 27%
Academy of Art University (AAU or ART U), a private for-profit art school in San Francisco, California, has a graduation rate of 27%. This means that only about a quarter of its students are expected to graduate. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, a student is considered to have graduated "on time" if they complete their degree within six years. This is the timeframe within which the official graduation rate of 27% for Academy of Art University is calculated.
The university offers challenging and rigorous post-secondary educational degrees in a number of fields. Students can pursue associate, bachelor's, and master's degrees in about twenty-two subjects. The most common bachelor's degree concentrations at Academy of Art University are Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects; Modeling, Virtual Environments, and Simulation; and Digital Arts. The university also offers master's degrees, including Master of Arts (MA) and Master of Fine Arts (MFA) programs.
The graduation rate of 27% at Academy of Art University is notably low. In 2016, the school's accreditor expressed concern over the low graduation rates. The six-year graduation rate for first-time, full-time students in the class of 2015 was only 7%, significantly lower than the national average. Additionally, the university had a freshmen retention rate of 70%, slightly lower than the national average of 70.57%.
Several factors may contribute to the low graduation rate at Academy of Art University. One factor could be the diverse student body, with 54.04% of students coming from out of state and 24.06% from outside the country. The university also has a relatively low percentage of traditional college-age students, with only 21.69% between the ages of 18 and 21, compared to the national average of 60%.
Despite the low graduation rate, Academy of Art University has a large student population, with 6,320 students as of fall 2024. The university also has a high acceptance rate of 100%, indicating that many students are given the opportunity to pursue their education at the school. However, the low graduation rate suggests that a significant number of students may not be completing their degrees.
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The school offers master's degrees in art and fine art
The Academy of Art University (AAU), a private for-profit art school in San Francisco, California, offers graduate degree programs in a variety of fields, including art and fine art. The school had 6,320 students in the fall of 2024, making it the largest privately owned art and design school in the United States. AAU offers both Master of Arts (MA) and Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degrees.
The MA in Fine Art can be completed with an emphasis in drawing and painting. This degree program provides students with the creative and technical skills needed to succeed in today's art world. Students will graduate with professional-level portfolios and a solid understanding of the business of art. The MFA in Fine Art provides a framework for advanced study in drawing, painting, printmaking, and sculpture. Students in this program focus on technical and conceptual development in figurative, abstract, or landscape work.
Both the MA and MFA degrees at AAU are built around hands-on, project-based curricula taught by working industry professionals. Students will build professional-quality portfolios while solving real-world creative problems alongside collaborators from prestigious companies. The programs aim to prepare students for the global marketplace for art and design and encourage engagement beyond the classroom through internships, study abroad programs, athletics, student clubs, and collaborative projects.
While graduation rate data specifically for graduate students at AAU is not readily available, the school's overall graduation rates are lower than the national average. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, AAU's six-year graduation rate for first-time, full-time students is 27%, while the national average is 62.3%. AAU's four-year graduation rate for first-time, full-time students in the class of 2015 was 7%, significantly lower than the national average of 54%.
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AAU has a freshmen retention rate of 70%
The Academy of Art University (AAU) has a freshmen retention rate of 70%. This means that 70% of students make it past their first year and return for their second. AAU is a private for-profit art school in San Francisco, California, and is one of the largest property owners in the city. AAU offers a range of degrees, including associate, bachelor's, and master's degrees, as well as several non-degree programs. The school has an open admissions policy with a 100% acceptance rate.
The freshmen retention rate of 70% is similar to the national average of 70.57%. However, AAU's graduation rates have been a cause for concern. The National Center for Education Statistics considers a student to have graduated 'on time' if they complete their degree within six years. By this metric, AAU's graduation rate is 27%. The average time it takes for an AAU undergraduate to complete their bachelor's degree is 5.08 years. AAU's four-year graduation rate is 7%, and its six-year graduation rate is 8%, both of which are lower than the national averages.
AAU offers a variety of challenging and rigorous post-secondary educational degrees across numerous fields. The school has approximately 6,320 students, with 54.04% coming from out of state and 24.06% from outside the country. AAU's students represent 45 states and 114 countries, with the majority of international students coming from China, Taiwan, and South Korea. The school has 121 full-time teachers and 485 part-time teaching staff.
AAU provides a range of resources and services to support its students, including career services, language support for non-native English speakers, and networking opportunities. The school also runs an annual spring show, highlighting student work from its 75 disciplines.
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AAU is a private for-profit art school in San Francisco
The Academy of Art University (AAU) is a private, for-profit art school in San Francisco, California. It was founded in 1929 by Richard S. Stephens, a painter and editor for Sunset Magazine, as the Academy of Advertising Art. The school has grown significantly since its founding and now claims to be the largest privately owned art and design school in the United States. AAU has a diverse range of programs, offering associate, bachelor's, and master's degrees in about twenty-two subjects, including art, design, architecture, and STEM. AAU also has a strong focus on athletics, with the school's teams, the Urban Knights, competing in NCAA Division II.
Located in the heart of San Francisco's South of Market district, AAU's main campus is situated on New Montgomery Street. The school is known for its diverse and vibrant community, with students pursuing a wide range of artistic disciplines. In fall 2024, AAU had 121 full-time teachers, 485 part-time teaching staff, and 6,320 students. AAU also has a high acceptance rate of 100%, making it accessible to a large number of students.
AAU offers a range of graduate programs for students wishing to pursue advanced studies in their chosen field. Graduate students at AAU must submit official college transcripts, a portfolio of work in their chosen field, a statement of intent, and a resume. The school offers both in-person and online graduate degree programs, providing flexibility for students. AAU's graduate programs are designed to enhance students' knowledge and skills, allowing them to master their discipline or take their mastery to the next level with a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree.
The graduation rates at AAU have been a subject of concern, with the school's accreditor expressing worry over low rates in 2016. The graduation rate for "full-time, first-time" students was 45% in 2019, and the six-year graduation rate for the class of 2015 was 27%. However, AAU has a freshmen retention rate of 70%, which is similar to the national average. The school has faced some challenges, including lawsuits related to land-use violations and compensation for admission officers. Despite these issues, AAU remains a prominent art school in San Francisco, attracting students from various backgrounds and offering a wide range of educational opportunities.
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AAU offers degrees in Animation, Interactive Technology, and Visual & Performing Arts
The Academy of Art University (AAU) 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. AAU offers associate, bachelor's, and master's degrees in about twenty-two subjects. The university owns and operates the Academy of Art University Automobile Museum, which has a collection of 200 vintage cars dating back to the 1990s. AAU also participates in the NY Fashion Week event bi-annually and hosts a spring show that highlights student work from its 75 disciplines.
The Interactive Technology degree at AAU likely falls under the university's offerings in the field of media arts. AAU's Media Arts programs focus on emerging media technologies and prepare students for careers in media design and development. The university's Media and Immersive eXperience Center (MIX) further expands the curriculum by offering diverse courses in this area.
AAU's Visual & Performing Arts degree likely aligns with the university's Fine Art programs. AAU offers a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree, which allows students to enhance their artistic skills and pursue their chosen discipline. The university's fine arts foundation includes traditional hand-drawn, digital 2D and 3D production pipelines, stop-motion animation, and special effects.
While the exact number of graduate students at AAU is unclear, the university had a total of 6,320 students as of Fall 2024. AAU has a graduation rate of 27%, with a four-year graduation rate of 7% for first-time, full-time students in the class of 2015. The university's freshmen retention rate is 70%, which is similar to the national average of 70.57%.
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Frequently asked questions
As of 2023, there are 1,378 graduate students at the Academy of Art University.
Graduate students make up 15.4% of the total student population of 8,928.
The Academy of Art University offers 22 different degree subjects, with associate, bachelor's, and master's degrees available.
According to data from the National Center for Education Statistics in 2019, the graduation rate for "full-time, first-time" students was 45%.











































