Cost & Financial Aid

Cost of Attendance

Cost of Attending Academy of Art University

The cost of attendance at Academy of Art University for full-time undergraduate domestic and international students is estimated below. Also included are tuition payment options.

Fall 2025-Summer 2026 Tuition Rates

Undergraduate Tuition (Domestic Students):

  • $1,301 per unit – three units per class

Undergraduate Tuition (International Students):

  • $1,682 per unit – three units per class

Graduate & Art Teaching Credential (Domestic Students):

  • $1,477 per unit – three units per class

Graduate & Art Teaching Credential (International Students):

  • $1,857 per unit – three units per class

 

 

2025-2026 Academic Year Estimate (Undergraduate – Domestic Students)

Fee Cost
Application Fee $50/one-time fee (nonrefundable)
Registration Fee $50/semester (nonrefundable after cancellation period)
Enrollment Fee* $95, first-term domestic students only (nonrefundable after cancellation period)
Student Activity Fee $30/semester, on-site only (nonrefundable after cancellation period)
Student Tuition Recovery Fund $0/average one-time fee for students who are California residents or on-site (nonrefundable)
Course Fees $1,500/average per semester (on-site students), varies by program (See catalog addendum 1)
Materials/Supplies $545/average per semester
Tuition $31,224 for 24 units/four classes per semester
Total $35,569/estimated undergraduate expenses for a full-time student for the current academic year

 

2025-2026 Academic Year Estimate (Undergraduate – International Students)

Fee Cost
Application Fee $50/one-time fee (nonrefundable)
Registration Fee $50/semester (nonrefundable after cancellation period)
Enrollment Fee $100 – new applicants only (nonrefundable after cancellation period)
International Student Services Fee $300 – on-site only (nonrefundable after cancellation period)
Student Activity Fee $30/semester, on-site only (nonrefundable after cancellation period)
Student Tuition Recovery Fund $0/average one-time fee for students who are California residents or on-site (nonrefundable)
Tuition Deposit** $2,500 – will go towards tuition upon enrollment
Course Fees $1,500/average per semester (on-site students), varies by program (See catalog addendum 1)
Materials/Supplies $545/average per semester
Tuition $40,368 for 24 units/four classes per semester
Total $45,018/estimated undergraduate expenses for a full-time student for the current academic year

 

2025-2026 Academic Year Estimate (Graduate – Domestic Students)

Fee Cost
Application Fee $50/one-time fee (nonrefundable)
Registration Fee $50/semester after first semester (nonrefundable after cancellation period)
Enrollment Fee* $95, first-term domestic students only (nonrefundable after cancellation period)
Student Activity Fee $30/semester, on-site only (nonrefundable after cancellation period)
Student Tuition Recovery Fund $0/average one-time fee for students who are California residents or on-site (nonrefundable)
Course Fees $900/average per semester (on-site students), varies by program (See catalog addendum 1)
Materials/Supplies $545/average per semester
Tuition $26,586 for 18 units/three classes per semester
Total $29,731/estimated graduate expenses for a full-time student for the current academic year

 

2025-2026 Academic Year Estimate (Graduate – International Students)

Fee Cost
Application Fee $50/one-time fee (nonrefundable)
Registration Fee $50/semester after first semester (nonrefundable after cancellation period)
Enrollment Fee $100 – new applicants only (nonrefundable after cancellation period)
International Student Services Fee $300 – on-site only (nonrefundable after cancellation period)
Student Activity Fee $30/semester, on-site only (nonrefundable after cancellation period)
Student Tuition Recovery Fund $0/average one-time fee for students who are California residents or on-site (nonrefundable)
Tuition Deposit** $2,500 – will go towards tuition upon enrollment
Course Fees $900/average per semester (on-site students), varies by program (See catalog addendum 1)
Materials/Supplies $545/average per semester
Tuition $33,426 for 18 units/three classes per semester
Total $36,876/estimated graduate expenses for a full-time student for the current academic year

*Enrollment fee is charged in lieu of $50 registration fee for domestic students in their first semester
**Refundable and will be returned within 45 days of our receipt of a formal notice that you will not attend Academy of Art University
Note: You will receive Student Self-Service login information as part of your student welcome kit if you are admitted to the University.

The cost of attendance budget includes the costs of tuition and fees, books, supplies, monthly allowances for food and housing, transportation to and from school, and personal expenses such as clothes. While your tuition and fee costs are fixed, the amount you spend on living costs will depend largely on your own actions as well as your individual circumstances. In order to estimate what these expenses might be, we have prepared the following chart created by the California Student Aid Commission’s research on a modest, but adequate standard of living under various conditions. (To these figures we add the cost of tuition, fees, books, and supplies for the program in which you intend to enroll.)

Estimates of (Monthly) Living Expenses:

Student Living With Parents Student Not Living With Parents
Food and Housing $1,315 $2,528
Personal Expenses $460 $563
Transportation $202 $221
  • Note: Food and Housing may be updated based on your housing selection if you choose to live on campus. On campus Food and Housing amounts can be found in this Housing Cost section of the ArtU website.
  • If you have any unusual costs such as expenses for childcare or for a disability, we may be able to adjust your budget for these circumstances.
  • Academy of Art University Cost Update: April 1, 2025

Tuition Payment Options

Academy of Art offers many different ways to help you structure your payments, including interest-free installment plans and pre-payment options. Our Student Financial Specialists can walk you and your family through all your options for financial assistance and payments.

If you have any tuition payment questions or would like to make a payment in person, please contact 1-415-618-6190.

  • If you are paying by Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, or JCB, you can pay online by logging in to Student Self Service. Payments can be made 24 hours a day.

    Follow this path once you are logged into Self Service: My Educational Profile > Finances > Make a Payment/Installment Plan.

    Payments must be received on or before the required due dates or your account may be subject to late fees and your classes being administratively dropped.

    If you have any account related questions, please contact 1-415-618-6190.

  • To pay by check, please:

    1. Make the check payable to: Academy of Art University
    2. Write the student ID# on the check’s ‘Memo’ field for identification
    3. Mail the check to: P.O. Box 742864, Los Angeles, CA 90074-2864

  • Our installment plan enables students to pay their tuition in four or five separate payments during the Fall and Spring semesters, and two separate payments during the Summer semesters. Students may also use the installment plan to pay for any portion of their tuition not covered by their awarded financial aid. Students will receive email notifications inviting them to sign up for their payment plan from the payment portal, Flywire.

    To enroll in an installment plan, visit the Student Self Service portal, navigate to “My Educational Profile,” and click on the “Finances” link to apply for the installment plan. A nonrefundable administrative fee based on the amount financed is added to your monthly payments.

    Payments must be received on or before the required due dates or your account may be subject to late fees or cancellation of the installment plan. Late payments may also result in your classes being administratively dropped.

    Installment plan agreement contracts and information regarding the Academy’s installment plan may be obtained from the Student Financial Services Office. Our team may assist students with the completion of the required contract and answer any questions.

    If you have any account related questions, please contact our Student Financial Services Office at 1.415.618.6190  or by email at SFS@academyart.edu .

    Fall 2025 Payment Due Dates (4-month plan)

    • 1st Installment Due: September 1, 2025
    • 2nd Installment Due: October 1, 2025
    • 3rd Installment Due: November 1, 2025
    • 4th Installment Due: December 1, 2025

    *1st installment due date for students utilizing the 5-month plan is August 1, 2025

  • Our Prepayment option allows students and parents to pay in advance for a future term’s tuition and fees. This money management method allows both students and parents to budget and finance their educational costs in advance and lessen the financial burden as each semester begins.

    If you are choosing to utilize an installment plan in addition to making prepayments, please advise your Student Financial Specialist at 415-618-6190.

  • Academy of Art University accepts all international payments via Flywire. It’s a secure and streamlined payment process that makes it easy to pay from accounts in your home country. With Flywire, you can pay online from countries around the world, typically in your home currency. https://vimeo.com/189693395

    Why Use Flywire?

    With Flywire, you can pay from accounts in your home country, outside of the U.S. For most countries and territories, you pay in your home currency and Flywire will send funds in $USD directly to Academy of Art University. Flywire offers payment methods like bank transfer, credit cards, e-wallets, and more for most countries and territories. Using Flywire can help you avoid unnecessary bank fees and receive favorable foreign exchange rates. You can track the progress of your payment online at any time and receive email and text alerts each step of the way, including when it reaches Academy of Art University. Flywire offers multilingual customer support via phone, chat, and email.

    How to Make a Payment Online

    1. Go directly to academyart.flywire.com.
    2. Enter amount to pay and select your home country.
    3. Select a payment option. Options can include bank transfer, credit cards, or other local payment options depending on the country selected.
    4. Enter the required information for Academy of Art to initiate the payment.
    5. Make payment to Flywire as instructed. Flywire will process and send your payment to Academy of Art with your information.
    6. Track your payment via email/text or via web. You will also be notified of when Academy of Art receives your payment.

    Flywire Customer Support