Majors Home

Top Art School

The Academy of Art University, founded in 1929 in San Francisco, California, is the largest private school of art and design in the United States. With nearly 16,000 top ranking art school students from all over America and around the world, our vibrant urban community offers a supportive and challenging environment to help hone your creative talent and define your career path.

Pursue Your Passion

The Academy of Art University boasts an exciting curriculum with 15 areas of art and design from Illustration and Fashion to Photography and Motion Pictures. For a complete course listing, click here. Our San Francisco campus offers incredible facilities, the best art school supplies, and the latest, cutting-edge technology resources.

Where Artists Teach Artists

With a faculty of career artists, designers and scholars, our students benefit from the best art school instruction to be found anywhere, as well as our faculty’s ability to translate their experience and wisdom into helping students turn their aspirations into successful career plans.

Make Art Your Career

The Academy of Art University prepares students for the art of pursuing their professional dreams by providing the tools and motivation to help you enrich the world with your artistic talent. Our curriculum offers coursework for all levels, from high school art and online courses to professional and graduate art school programs.

In Diverse San Francisco

When you study at the Academy of Art University, you become a student at one of the major educational institutions and premier art schools in San Francisco, itself a melting pot of emerging artists and creative expression. The Academy of Art University has 27 locations in the city, including academic buildings, campus housing facilities and galleries.

To find out more about student work and see photos of the university’s top art and design facilities, request an information packet, which includes “Our World, Your World,” a colorful portfolio illustrating life at the Academy of Art University, a course catalogue, and a DVD highlighting outstanding student work.