Academy of Art University is a large private art and design school in San Francisco, and one of the few accredited universities that offers complete fashion degrees online as well as on campus. Its School of Fashion teaches design, merchandising, styling and product development from associate to graduate level. It has open admission and a high price, and its outcomes in federal data are weaker than its visibility suggests. This profile covers its fashion programs, cost, admissions and outcomes, and who it suits.
Fashion programs
The School of Fashion offers associate and bachelor of fine arts degrees in several fashion fields, plus graduate programs. The ones students ask about most are:
- Fashion Merchandising (AA and BFA). The 60-unit associate covers drawing for fashion, color and fabric fundamentals, an introduction to the industry from concept to consumer, marketing foundations, digital techniques and visual merchandising, with a sophomore portfolio review. Available online and on campus.
- Fashion Design (BFA). 120 units, split into 36 core, 33 major, 9 elective and 42 liberal arts units, with sophomore and senior portfolio reviews. Available online and on campus, which is unusual for a design degree.
- Fashion Communication & Styling (BFA). One of the few styling-focused bachelor’s degrees in the country, covered in the fashion styling schools guide.
Online students take the same courses as campus students, submitting projects for critique; design students complete construction work at home. The flexibility is the main reason students choose the school.
Cost
The university’s published undergraduate tuition for 2025-26 is $1,301 per unit, with most classes worth three units, rising to $1,366 per unit for fall 2026. Federal data lists tuition of $32,224 a year and an average net price after grants of $41,747 a year, which is among the highest net prices of any fashion school we track; the net price includes San Francisco living costs for campus students. At the 2025-26 rate, the 60-unit associate costs about $78,000 in tuition if every unit is paid at the standard price. Online students avoid housing costs but pay the same tuition per unit.
Admissions
Academy of Art has an open admission policy for undergraduate programs: applicants with a high school diploma or equivalent are admitted without a portfolio, which is why federal data shows no admission rate for the school. That makes it accessible to career changers and students without art training. Portfolio reviews happen later, during the program, and determine progress in the major.
Outcomes
This is where students should look hardest. Federal data shows a completion rate of 34%, meaning roughly a third of students who start finish, and a median income of $44,567 ten years after starting, across all of the university’s majors. Open admission explains part of the low completion rate, since many students enroll part time or without a clear plan, but at this price the risk of paying for courses and not finishing is real. Students who do succeed tend to be self-directed and treat the online format as a structured way to build a portfolio.
Online and campus study
The campus is spread across buildings in downtown San Francisco, and campus students use the school’s studios and equipment directly. Online students follow the same course structure on a learning platform, with weekly assignments, recorded demonstrations and instructor feedback on submitted work. Design students in the online program need a sewing machine, a dress form and space to work, and should expect to spend a lot of time on construction projects without someone beside them. The flexibility is genuine, but so is the need for self-discipline, which is part of why completion rates are low.
The university is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission, the regional accreditor for California, so its credits are recognised by other accredited colleges, although how many transfer is always up to the receiving school.
Questions to ask before applying
- What will the whole credential cost at the current per-unit rate, including any course fees, and how much of it will aid cover?
- How many units can you transfer in from previous college work?
- What did graduates of your specific program do in the last two years?
- Would a public online merchandising degree, or a community college fashion program, give you the same result for less?
Who Academy of Art suits
- Working adults and career changers who need a fully online fashion degree, including design.
- Students without a portfolio who want to start fashion study immediately.
- Students who want a styling-specific bachelor’s degree, which few other schools offer.
Who should look elsewhere
- Price-sensitive students: online merchandising bachelor’s degrees at public universities cost far less, as the online fashion degrees guide shows. Arkansas State publishes a total for a full online bachelor’s that is under a quarter of the tuition for a 120-unit BFA here.
- Students who need the structure of a selective cohort program to finish.
- California students who can attend a community college fashion program first, which costs a small fraction as much; see the California fashion schools guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Academy of Art University accredited?
Yes. It is accredited, which is why its students can receive federal financial aid.
Can you study fashion design online at Academy of Art?
Yes. Its fashion design BFA is offered online, with construction work completed at home and reviewed by instructors.
Do you need a portfolio to apply?
No. Undergraduate admission is open; portfolio reviews take place during the program.