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Compare Academy of Art University vs Los Angeles Film School

San Francisco, CA · Hollywood, CA

Academy of Art UniversityLos Angeles Film School
Cost
Price after aid (average)$40,613/yr$30,980/yr
Price after aid (family income under $30k)$37,668/yr$30,655/yr
Typical loan debt at graduation$31,000$25,250
Price after aid ($30k–$48k income)$36,340/yr$30,952/yr
Price after aid ($48k–$75k income)$43,874/yr$32,250/yr
Price after aid ($75k–$110k income)$43,953/yr$31,598/yr
Price after aid (income over $110k)$44,082/yr$37,462/yr
Typical loan payment after graduation$329/mo$268/mo
Room & board (on campus)$32,766/yrNo data reported
Room & board (off campus)$22,086/yrNo data reported
Borrowers who default0%0%
Books & supplies$1,062/yrNo data reported
Other living costs (on campus)$3,213/yrNo data reported
Sticker price (before aid)$48,036/yr$38,291/yr
Tuition (in-state)$30,736/yrNo data reported
Tuition (out-of-state)$30,736/yrNo data reported
Students with Pell Grants41%63%
Students taking federal loans49%71%
Getting in
SAT/ACT policyOpen admission (everyone qualified gets in)Open admission (everyone qualified gets in)
Graduation & earnings
Students who graduate34%41%
Freshmen who come back75%51%
Typical earnings 10 years in$39,008/yr$31,632/yr
Earnings range 10 years in$17,463–$65,466$11,779–$54,486
Finish within 8 years (anywhere)24%44%
White students graduating29%46%
Black students graduating6.3%35%
Hispanic students graduating31%45%
Asian students graduating50%60%
Typical earnings 6 years in$30,452/yr$24,375/yr
Earn more than a HS grad63%No data reported
Graduate on time6.1%33%
Pell students who graduate23%38%
First-gen students who finish16%50%
Low-income students who finish14%50%
Students who transfer out22%0.5%
Typical earnings 8 years in$35,980/yr$28,434/yr
Majors & programs
Top 3 programsVisual & Performing Arts 36% · Communications Technologies 18% · Computer & Information Sciences 17%Visual & Performing Arts 90% · Communications Technologies 9% · Communication & Journalism 1%
Most popular programVisual & Performing Arts — 36% of degreesVisual & Performing Arts — 90% of degrees
2nd most popular programCommunications Technologies — 18% of degreesCommunications Technologies — 9% of degrees
3rd most popular programComputer & Information Sciences — 17% of degreesCommunication & Journalism — 1% of degrees
4th most popular programEngineering Technologies — 16% of degreesNo data reported
5th most popular programFamily & Consumer Sciences — 7% of degreesNo data reported
Highest-paying major (1 year out)Computer Software and Media Applications — $55,139/yrDesign and Applied Arts — $26,583/yr
Degrees in STEM33%0%
Campus & students
Undergrad enrollment3,5875,472
Students per professor14 : 131 : 1
Graduate students1,854No data reported
Average professor pay$8,554/mo$5,540/mo
Full-time professors16%91%
Fully onlineNoNo
Accredited byWestern Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University CommissionAccrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges
Median family income$22,550$14,580
SettingCity (large)City (large)
LocationSan Francisco, CAHollywood, CA
RegionFar WestFar West
Founded19291999
Public or privateFor-profitFor-profit
Main degree offeredBachelor's degreesBachelor's degrees
Carnegie classificationMaster's Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsSpecial Focus Four-Year: Arts, Music & Design Schools
Main or branch campusMain campusMain campus
International students12%1.6%
Men44%62%
Women56%38%
White students28%28%
Black students13%33%
Hispanic or Latino students21%5.8%
Asian students7.2%2.5%
Two or more races6.8%7.8%
Other / not reported12%21%
Special typeNoneNone
First-generation students41%42%
Part-time students47%0%
Students age 25+44%70%
Spent on teaching per student$14,838/yr$5,920/yr
Campus life
Campus data from20232023
On-campus housingYes — dorms on campusNo — no campus housing
Beds in campus housing1,488No data reported
Required to live on campusNoNo data reported
Room charge (campus housing)$14,124/yrNo data reported
Meal plan charge$9,622/yrNo data reported
Meal plan offeredYesNo
Meals per weekVaries by weekNo data reported
Academic calendarSemesterContinuous
Federal designationNoneNone
Study abroadYesNo
Undergraduate researchNoNo
ROTCYes — ArmyNo
Accepts AP creditYesYes
Accepts dual-enrollment creditYesYes
Credit for life experienceNoNo
Online classesYesYes
Whole degrees onlineYesYes
Weekend & evening classesYesNo
Teacher certificationYesNo
Academic & career counselingYesYes
Job help while you studyYesNo
Job placement for graduatesNoYes
On-campus day careNoNo
Program for students with intellectual disabilitiesNoNo
Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) schoolYesYes
Credit for military trainingYesYes
Student veteran organizationYesNo
Tuition payment planYesYes
Guaranteed (locked) tuitionNoNo
Prepaid tuition planNoNo
Athletics
College sports levelNo intercollegiate athletics reportedNo intercollegiate athletics reported

Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, logo, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.