The Academy of Art University

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

Skip the outrageous tuition and attitudes and teach yourself art. Do tutorials from books, videos and internships. Travel. Read as much as you can about your field. Make things as much as you can even if you think they suck. If you have good examples of your work you can get hired at a job. Do freelance work. Don't let educational vultures with a slick title put you in crushing debt for little return. You don't need their "degree" and titles to be successful. Save your money, time and soul.

Alumnus Male -- Class 2000

This school is a piece of shit. I was a fashion styling major, and if you're going for styling just DONT. Its a waste of your time and money. The school is just out to get your money and really does not care about anything else. The dorms are absolutely disgusting and the food is horrible. The fashion styling program is horrible. You only take ONE class that is relevent to your major. So basically you're waisting so much money on other classes where you will NEVER use the content. Just save yourself.

1st Year Female -- Class 2019