Design and Applied Arts bachelor's degree outcomes at Academy of Art University

San Francisco, CA · Private for-profit · Federal field 5004

Data scope

Federal records group outcomes by college, four-digit field and credential level. A record may cover several catalog programs or concentrations.

The short version

Reported earnings trail the same-degree benchmark.

$12,907 below the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure: 86.0% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling: Not reached
10-year scenario: −119% · Negative payoff
Price evidence: College-wide context only

OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.

+178%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$20,829 → $57,948

264Earn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

286Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

393Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median

88Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median

$84,506Awarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential

—Recent awardsIPEDS 2023–24 first-major completions in this field and credential

01 · PRICE CONTEXT$40,613

Institution-wide annual average net price—not this program’s price.

02 · BORROWING$33,187

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$38,583

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$352/mo

Estimated standard 10-year federal payment.

WHAT WILL IT COST?

Published college costs provide the starting point.

Your exact offering, aid, residency and time to finish determine the price you actually pay.

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AVERAGE NET PRICE$40,613Institution-wide annual figure

COST OF ATTENDANCE$48,036Institution-wide annual budget

ADMISSION RATENot availableInstitution context

COMPLETION RATE34.3%Institution-wide completion rate

WHAT DO GRADUATES EARN?

Reported earnings after completion.

Each point may represent a different federal cohort. A missing bar means the figure was unavailable or suppressed.

$20,829Year 1

$38,583Year 4

$57,948Year 5

CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

10.9% of gross monthly earnings

Estimated monthly payment divided by observed gross monthly earnings. This excludes taxes, other debts and income-driven repayment.

Gross monthly earnings$3,215

Estimated loan payment$352

88borrowers represented where reported

HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$38,583 vs. $51,490

$12,907 below the national median for the same field and credential.

Same-field national median

WHAT WORK CAN IT LEAD TO?

Related occupations, wages and outlook.

Official CIP–SOC links show careers the curriculum may prepare students for—not observed jobs held by this school’s graduates. BLS wages describe everyone working in an occupation.

BLS May 2025 wage estimates and 2025–35 employment projections.

Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary$99,410 median wageCA estimate · 9,820 jobs · 25-1121+2.2% projected U.S. growth · 8k openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeGraphic Designers$75,130 median wageCA estimate · 27,390 jobs · 27-1024-1.7% projected U.S. growth · 16k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeCommercial and Industrial Designers$100,770 median wageCA estimate · 5,300 jobs · 27-1021+2.4% projected U.S. growth · 2.8k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeDesigners, All Other$65,420 median wageCA estimate · 3,110 jobs · 27-1029+1.2% projected U.S. growth · 2.1k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeArtists and Related Workers, All Other$60,540 median wageCA estimate · 740 jobs · 27-1019+2.0% projected U.S. growth · 1.1k openings/yrTypical entry: No formal educational credentialWeb and Digital Interface Designers$136,110 median wageCA estimate · 27,090 jobs · 15-1255+6.0% projected U.S. growth · 8.3k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSpecial Effects Artists and Animators$130,540 median wageCA estimate · 7,410 jobs · 27-1014-0.3% projected U.S. growth · 4.2k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSet and Exhibit Designers$105,030 median wageCA estimate · 2,690 jobs · 27-1027+1.4% projected U.S. growth · 2.2k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeArt Directors$137,780 median wageCA estimate · 12,430 jobs · 27-1011+4.2% projected U.S. growth · 12.2k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeArchitecture Teachers, Postsecondary$103,520 median wageCA estimate · 530 jobs · 25-1031+2.6% projected U.S. growth · 0.7k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreePostsecondary Teachers, All Other$100,690 median wageCA estimate · 37,770 jobs · 25-1199+2.0% projected U.S. growth · 12.5k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeFashion Designers$80,960 median wageU.S. estimate · 6,470 jobs · 27-1022+0.1% projected U.S. growth · 2.5k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degree

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