Academy of Art University
San Francisco, California · Private, for-profit · 3,587 undergraduates
Of 24 programs with reported earnings, 20 leave graduates out-earning a typical California high-school graduate (about $36,976/yr) and 4 fall short. Another 39 programs did not have enough data to judge.
What families actually pay
| Family income | Net price per year |
|---|---|
| Under $30k | $37,668 |
| $30k to $48k | $36,340 |
| $48k to $75k | $43,874 |
| $75k to $110k | $43,953 |
| $110k and up | $44,082 |
| All families (average) | $40,613 |
Net price is the yearly cost after grants and scholarships, by family income (College Scorecard). Credit: TuitionTracker.
Program earnings vs a high-school graduate
| Program | Credential | Median earnings | vs HS grad | Verdict | Median debt | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Software and Media Applications | Master's Degree | $87,998 | +$51,022 | clears the bar | $71,352 | 1.4 yrs |
| Computer Software and Media Applications | Bachelor's Degree | $73,398 | +$36,422 | clears the bar | $36,750 | 1 yr |
| Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians | Master's Degree | $71,613 | +$34,637 | clears the bar | $84,794 | 2.4 yrs |
| Graphic Communications | Bachelor's Degree | $50,833 | +$13,857 | clears the bar | $31,125 | 2.2 yrs |
| Graphic Communications | Master's Degree | $64,026 | +$27,050 | clears the bar | $83,224 | 3.1 yrs |
| Design and Applied Arts | Master's Degree | $57,636 | +$20,660 | clears the bar | $93,267 | 4.5 yrs |
| Design and Applied Arts | Bachelor's Degree | $38,583 | +$1,607 | clears the bar | $31,500 | 19.6 yrs |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | Bachelor's Degree | $46,726 | +$9,750 | clears the bar | $33,812 | 3.5 yrs |
| Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians | Bachelor's Degree | $66,783 | +$29,807 | clears the bar | $40,171 | 1.3 yrs |
| Fine and Studio Arts | Master's Degree | $46,730 | +$9,754 | clears the bar | $91,156 | 9.3 yrs |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | Master's Degree | $58,879 | +$21,903 | clears the bar | $113,213 | 5.2 yrs |
| Apparel and Textiles | Bachelor's Degree | $41,565 | +$4,589 | clears the bar | $25,500 | 5.6 yrs |
| Visual and Performing Arts, General | Bachelor's Degree | $43,084 | +$6,108 | clears the bar | $31,000 | 5.1 yrs |
| Visual and Performing Arts, General | Master's Degree | $51,874 | +$14,898 | clears the bar | n/a | n/a |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | Bachelor's Degree | $35,870 | -$1,106 | falls short | $30,666 | n/a |
Showing the 15 largest programs by graduates. See all 24 on the full profile.
Access and outcomes: 41% of students receive Pell grants · 34% complete their program.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (release 2026-06-10). Earnings are median earnings of graduates measured up to four years after completing, compared to the state high-school-graduate earnings threshold. Figures describe past graduates and are never a promise. Method: methodology. Something look wrong? Report it.