Payback
EarningsPlus
Economic score
Academy of Art University is a for-profit regional university located in San Francisco, California. Academy of Art University has an open admissions policy.
Return on educational investment at Academy of Art University is in the bottom 5% of all ranked schools. The median student earns $40,185 10 years after enrolling, 96th in California, and in the bottom 25% nationally. When adjusted for earning differences by major, Academy of Art University bachelor students earn 6% more than the national average.
Academy of Art University’s median net annual cost of $36,143 and average years to graduate of 5.3 are reported only at the school level. We assume these same costs and graduation time for all programs.
The top 6 programs at Academy of Art University sorted by number of graduates - Computer software, Graphic Comms, Design Engr. Tech, FIlm, Video & Photography, Design & Applied Arts, Apparel and Textiles - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Annual net cost
$36,143
Average years to graduate
5.3
Specialized Marketing Ops
Rank: #27
Economic score: 9.34
Music
Rank: #128
Economic score: 40.57
Broadcast & Digital Comms
Rank: #101
Economic score: 75.54
Visual & Performing Arts
Rank: #32
Economic score: 93.35
EarningPlus compares the three-year post graduate earnings to the median earnings of the same graduating class, with the same graduate degree. These 2 metrics, debt-to-earnings and EarningsPlus, are combined into an economic score. The lower the economic score the better.
The most popular 6 graduate programs at Academy of Art University - Computer software, Design Engr. Tech, Graphic Comms, Design & Applied Arts, FIlm, Video & Photography, Fine & Studio Arts - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Visual & Performing Arts
Rank: #5
Economic score: 1.93
Journalism
Rank: #25
Economic score: 2.56
Music
Rank: #101
Economic score: 3.28
The average full-time graduate completes their degree in 5.3 years. 51% of all students graduate within 8 years including part-time students. The graduation rate at Academy of Art University is 17% lower than the state average, and 7% below the average for all regional universities in the country.
At Academy of Art University, Pell Grant recipients represent 40% of the measured graduating class, 5% higher than the national average of 35%. The average Pell Grant recipient at Academy of Art University graduates within 5.2 years.
Academy of Art University is in the bottom 50% of schools for graduating Pell recipients.
We calculate this performance by adjusting the graduation rate of Pell students by their percentage of the student body. This adjustment is made to prevent schools with large numbers of Pell students from underperforming in comparison to schools with few Pell students but high graduation rates.
Academy of Art University’s economic mobility score of 1.16 is calculated by adjusting the 19.62 economic score of lower-income students by the 40% pell grant recipients within the student body. Academy of Art University’s EMS of 1.16 ranks in the bottom 5% nationally.false
Economic Mobility
To calculate economic mobility of low-income (household earnings below $30,000) students, we adjust each institution’s economic score by their percentage of Pell Grant students. The logic of this Pell-adjusted calculation is derived from Third Way’s Economic Mobility Index (EMI).
Bottom 5%
The average Title IV recipient at Academy of Art University pays $36,143 a year, $11,031 less than the $47,174 advertised. See below the cost breakdown for students who receive Title IV grants, broken down by income level.
Average net price
The average net price shown by income level for all students that receive Title IV aid. Calculated by deducting the average grant and scholarship aid from tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Limited to first-time, full-time students. Public institution figures are calculated using in-state tuition figures.
Median net price $36,143
Much of the gap between net price and sticker price is filled by institutional and government grants. At Academy of Art University, 80% of students receive some grants and scholarships, compared to the national average of 87% for all colleges and universities. The average amount of federal, state, and institutional grants that students receive is shown on the right.
This leaves a total of $36,143 on average to be covered by the student – be it through loans or out of pocket. In total, 55% of students take out loans, federal or private, at an average amount of $7,026. This is 1% more than the national average.
Federal grants
$5,958
Pell grants
$3,968
State grants
$6,469
Institutional grants
$6,843
Academy of Art University offers 33 online bachelor programs, all of which are held exclusively online. At the master’s level Academy of Art University offers 32 programs, all of which are held exclusively online. We use the IPEDS July '20 — July '21 Distance Education report to determine which programs are online. EarningsPlus data is provided when available.
Online programs
65
Percentage of programs online
97%
Full time
46%
83%
Female
57%
59%
First time
44%
59%
In-state
29%
68%
1st generation
41%
35%
White
16%
52%
Black
7%
14%
Hispanic
12%
15%
Asian
5%
5%
American Indian
N/A
1.6%
Pacific Islander
N/A
0.3%
Other
60%
12%