Academy of Art University
Among the weakest of its kind. Look at alternatives before enrolling. It ranks 1,741 of 1,755 four-year colleges on student outcomes, with an overall score of 11.2 out of 100.
These three answers are rules of thumb from the numbers below, not advice for any one student or major.
Student reviews are coming soon
We are rebuilding how students share their experiences, so for now this page shows only the federal numbers and our written summaries. Check back soon.
Why it is good
Nothing stands out as clearly better than similar colleges.
Why it is bad
- Only 25% of students graduate. 95% of four-year colleges do better.
- It falls short of expectations: it graduates 29 points fewer students than is typical for a college enrolling the same share of low-income students (25% against an expected 54%; the estimate is rough, with a typical error of about 16 points).
- Low pay: typical earnings ten years after starting are $44,567, lower than 86% of four-year colleges.
- Debt is heavy for the pay: graduates owe a typical $31,000 in federal loans against earnings of $44,567.
- Expensive: the average student pays about $41,747 a year after grants, more than at 96% of four-year colleges.
The numbers
What these figures measure
Graduation rate: share of all students, full-time or part-time, who finish within 8 years. Return for year 2: share of first-time, full-time students who come back for a second year. Earnings: median pay about 10 years after starting, for students who received federal aid. Debt: median federal loan debt among those who finish. Net price: average yearly cost after grants and scholarships. All from the U.S. Education Department College Scorecard, institution file dated November 2, 2026.
Programs and early earnings
Bachelor's degrees: largest programs
| Field | Graduates a year | Earnings, 2 yrs after | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Software and Media Applications | 112 | $48,432 | $31,000 |
| Graphic Communications | 74 | $32,498 | $33,101 |
| Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians | 73 | n/a | $43,500 |
| Design and Applied Arts | 63 | $33,809 | $31,306 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | 56 | $27,203 | $32,000 |
| Apparel and Textiles | 49 | n/a | $32,000 |
| Visual and Performing Arts, General | 23 | $26,896 | $31,688 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 23 | $13,702 | $30,875 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | 20 | n/a | n/a |
| Music | 14 | n/a | n/a |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | 12 | $21,781 | n/a |
| Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations | 12 | n/a | n/a |
Associate degrees: largest programs
| Field | Graduates a year | Earnings, 2 yrs after | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Software and Media Applications | 16 | n/a | n/a |
| Design and Applied Arts | 15 | $31,236 | $33,500 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | 15 | $24,562 | n/a |
| Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians | 9 | n/a | n/a |
| Graphic Communications | 8 | $28,019 | n/a |
| Visual and Performing Arts, General | 7 | n/a | n/a |
Earnings are the median pay two years after completing, for graduates who were working and not enrolled again. The federal government hides figures for small programs, shown as n/a. Fields are broad groups, so a college may offer several majors inside one.
Students and reviews
Numbers cannot tell you about teaching, dorms or campus life. Student reviews and questions are coming soon to this site. In the meantime, other sources:
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The grade reflects outcomes for the average student compared with other four-year colleges. Individual majors can be much better or worse.