The Academy of Art University

It's hard work, first off. Don't expect it to be easy. However, do expect to get every penny sucked out of you. You will be charged for everything. To be blunt, if you're strapped for cash or can't easily pay tuition in full, you will have a nightmare dealing with the financial aid department, registration, and your whole experience with the school. Also, AAU doesn't give aid to international students, so you will be surrounded by international students, many classes having ESL assistants in the classroom. This will get annoying quickly, as it hinders your own learning and aggravates teachers. Not that I'm racist or anything, just an observation. Lastly, you need a lot of patience to deal with any administration here. Your classes may be cancelled, suddenly changed, or dropped the day of class, for no reason. Refunds are a nightmare, too. Putting all the crap aside that comes along with the school, you will learn a lot. Some teachers are much better than others, but overall, the staff is knowledgable and helpful. Just do your work, do it good, and care about it. You're not paying so much money for nothing, so act like it.

2nd Year Male -- Class 2014

Surrounding City: A+, Individual Value: D+

I paid an enormous amount of money to go to AAU for three semesters, six classes online. The degree, Motion Picture and Television Production, costs a total of $120,000.00. The cost is exactly the same for a classroom student and an online student. Regardless of my having to pay $2,720.00 per class, I had to buy a $40 book here, or buy a $120 software program. In fact, they even make students pay $10.00 for an official transcript. Now, keep in mind that I am not taking up any space on campus, I am not sitting in a classroom, I am not engaging an instructor in front of the class, I am not using ANY facilities, I am sitting in front of MY computer using my electricity and my internet, my equipment, and I am on a website. Yet I have to pay the same amount of money as a campus student. On many occasions, I requested that they school tell me where all my money is going. That's a reasonable question to ask. The answer was ALWAYS eight I don't know or run around double speak, never a reasonable and direct answer. So I did a little research and here is what I found. The Academy of Art University is privately owned by the Stevens family who is also one of the largest property owners in San Francisco. San Francisco property values are second only to Manhattan. They own 40 buildings. The school does $300,000,000.00 in revenue every year. The family is worth a reported $800,000,000.00. Now it is becoming clear where all that money is going. I also found out that the university just settled with the City of San Francisco for a staggering $60,000,000.00 for code violations. They are also named in two class action lawsuits, one by former students for overinflated and dishonest after graduation job placement numbers, and a class-action lawsuit by instructors for unpaid overtime and improper compensation. The school will not buy a $40 book, but they will lie to students, and take advantage of instructors, and try to get away with breaking the law.

1st Year Female -- Class 1922

Education Quality: C, Faculty Accessibility: F

The intnl office sucks. the staff is stupid and they make faces when you ask more than one question. its not my problem if they dont get any respect there. there is a man who works there, David. If you want to be insulted and yelled at ,do go there. he will do the needful. I have studied all over the world and i have never been insulted just because i had wanted to transfer. he is an idiot, disrespects women. i pity his wife. he shouted at me , insulted me in front of the whole department. and refused to let me speak. now i am not the kind to make a scene. but boy did he ask for it. i complained to the head. all she did was warn him. nothing else. haha. this school is a looooooser. my friends refuse to go here. sucky place. its GHETTO !!

1st Year Female -- Class 2014