Admissions

Military & Veterans Education

Military and Veterans Education at Academy of Art University San Francisco California

Veterans, Active Duty Military, and Your Families: Welcome.

The connection is undeniable.
Soldiers and artists share the same core values: discipline, focus, vision, and determination.

Our “No Barriers” policy means no portfolio required.
If you’ve got the drive to create, there’s a place for you here.

We know the mission doesn’t end with school.
That’s why you’ll have dedicated military advisors to help you navigate finances, benefits, and life at the Academy. Whether you’re transitioning from service or balancing creativity with duty—we’ve got your six.

Ready to begin?
Call us or schedule a meeting. Let’s build what’s next.

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Military Friendly®

Academy of Art University is recognized as one of the 2025-2026 Military Friendly® Schools. The Military Friendly® School list is created each year to provide the best opportunities for veterans and their spouses by setting the standard for higher education institutions. Institutions earning the Military Friendly® School designation were evaluated using both public data sources and responses from a proprietary survey completed by the school. Academy of Art University is one of 830 schools (out of more than 1,800 schools that participated in the 2025-2026 survey) that earned special awards for going above the standard.

Military Friendly (R)

Veterans Resource Center

Your next mission starts here.

At the Academy, we back your next mission—creativity. We honor your service with exclusive access to the Veterans Resource Center (VRC)—a space built for focus, connection, and momentum.

Whether you’re studying, sketching, or just unwinding, you’ll find community here—and a team that gets you.

Address: 79 New Montgomery St., Room 316, San Francisco, CA 94105
Hours: Monday through Friday 9:00am-6:00pm PT
Email: VRC@academyart.edu

At the VRC, you can create, study, and relax with a community of individuals who share your background. Some of the resources we offer are:

  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Computers
  • Pool table
  • Ping-pong table
  • Study areas
  • Conference room for studying

Learn Online

At the Academy, online learning is just as immersive, hands-on, and career-focused as the on-campus experience. No matter where you are in the world, your creative journey starts here. We are proud to offer classes to those of you serving in active and reserve duty units.

For over twenty-five years, our fully accredited online programs have been taught by the same industry pros who teach on campus. Each class is crafted to give you the skills, critiques, and community you need to succeed.

Whether you’re at your kitchen table, on a ship at sea, or in a unit across the globe, you’ll gain professional skills without having to hit pause on your life.

Find Out More
Tuition Assistance procedures.

ESO Information

If you are an Education Service Officer and would like to learn more about Academy of Art University events—or schedule an event on your base—please contact one of our representatives.

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“As a veteran, I wanted the best of the best, and I found it at the Academy. The resources, the equipment, and the people gave me everything I needed to turn my ideas into reality.”

Rachelle Steele
BFA and MA Photography, Navy