Architecture is a Bachelor Degree program offered by Academy of Art University in San Francisco, CA. The program takes 150 units to complete, with a total tuition of $204,900.
Program Overview
Fundamental design, ethical awareness, and liberal arts prepare students for the upper division courses in which students engage with the profession within and beyond the classroom through a rich array of field trips, firm visits, networking events, and internship opportunities. Our rigorous design studio curriculum prepares students to contribute meaningfully to the built environment. Students gain critical thinking and research skills, in addition to design and technical skills, to be prepared for the evolving profession.
The Bachelor of Architecture (B. Arch) program, accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB), offers a path to architectural licensure accepted in all US states. The program adheres to the learning outcomes and unit requirements mandated by NAAB.
There are two pathways for the B. Arch program: B. Arch and B. Arch IPAL (Integrated Path to Architectural Licensure). In Northern California, Academy of Art University is the only Architecture School that offers the IPAL program.
The B. Arch IPAL (Integrated Path to Architectural Licensure) is the shortest path to architectural licensure in the states that accept the IPAL program. Students simultaneously complete requirements for Education, Experience, and Examination by accruing work experience in architecture and taking licensing exams while taking classes. Students are supported in applying for paid internships through coursework and mentorship.
As a student, you’ll explore the future of architecture through forward-looking design work. You’ll collaborate across disciplines, experiment with emerging technologies, and practice sustainable methods in fabrication labs. Our international community gives you a global perspective, preparing you to lead, innovate, and shape a better world.
On campus and online, studio culture challenges and inspires you. By graduation, you will have built a portfolio that proves you are ready for your career.
What sets this Program apart
Imagine yourself working alongside passionate peers under the mentorship of practicing architects in our NAAB-accredited STEM programs. The School of Architecture is a progressive design lab—where conceptual thinking meets hands-on problem-solving.
You’ll balance theory with practice, gaining a strong foundation in architectural design principles while exploring the expansive history and technical depth of the profession. In studio classes, you’ll work one-on-one with distinguished architects, sharpening your critical thinking, artistic vision, and leadership skills.
If you are interested in becoming a licensed architect, our B. Arch and M.Arch programs integrated with IPAL are the shortest path to architectural licensure in the states that accept the IPAL program. You can simultaneously complete requirements for Education, Experience, and Examination by accruing work experience in architecture and taking licensing exams while enrolled.
Admission Requirements and Process
Academy of Art University maintains an inclusive admissions policy for all undergraduate programs. Previous experience with art and design is not required for admission, and students of all skill levels are encouraged to apply. Academy of Art University requires undergraduate applicants to have a high school diploma from an accredited or state-approved high school, or its equivalent. The university does not require or administer an ability-to-benefit examination for admission.
General Requirements
- High school diploma or equivalentAcademy of Art University requires undergraduate applicants to have a high school diploma from an accredited or state-approved high school, or its equivalent.
- Proof of secondary school completionSubmit an official or unofficial high school transcript indicating graduation or GED documentation, a transcript showing a conferred Associate or Bachelor’s degree, a signed Home…
- Application and feeComplete the undergraduate application and pay the $50 non-refundable application fee, which is required to process an application.
- Transcript deadlineTranscripts and/or diplomas must be received by the start of the student’s first semester at Academy of Art University.
- No portfolio requiredPrevious experience with art and design is not required for admission, and students of all skill levels are encouraged to apply.
- Transfer creditTransfer evaluation transcripts must be submitted by the end of the student’s first semester; coursework presented for transfer must be completed with a letter grade of "C" or…
Application Process
- 1Meet with an Admissions SpecialistSchedule a meeting with one of our admissions specialists. They’ll guide you to the school and program that best fits your goals and help you navigate the application process.
- 2Apply for admissionComplete the undergraduate application and pay the $50 non-refundable application fee. Provide your social security number on your admissions application so your financial aid can be processed.
- 3Submit proof of high school completionSend your high school transcript, GED documentation or other accepted proof of secondary school completion; it must be received by the start of your first semester.
- 4File the FAFSAComplete the FAFSA online at studentaid.gov and use Academy of Art University’s Federal School ID Number: 007531.FAFSA Code for San Francisco Campus: 007531
- 5Complete your financial aid planMeet with Student Financial Services to review your financial options, then accept or decline your financial aid awards in the Student Portal.
Program Schedule
Start dates. Spring 2027 semester starts 2/3/2027 (application deadline 1/25/2027); Summer 2027 starts 6/21/2027 (deadline 6/14/2027); Fall 2027 starts 9/8/2027 (deadline 8/30/2027).
Undergraduate students must carry a minimum study load of 12 units per semester to be considered as full-time students. Students are expected to attend summer semesters to meet their scheduled completion date.
On-site classes are offered Monday through Saturday in time blocks of 8am-11am, 11am-2pm, 2pm-5pm and 5pm-8pm, with Saturday classes from 9:30am-12:30pm and 1pm-4:30pm.
- February 03rd, 2027
- June 21st, 2027
- September 08th, 2027
Cost of Attendance and Financial Aid Information
Tuition. Undergraduate tuition for Fall 2026–Summer 2027 is $1,366 per unit for domestic students ($1,682 per unit for international students); tuition is the same for both on-campus and online classes. This 150-unit program’s tuition is $204,900 for domestic students.
Fees.
- Application Fee: $50 (one-time, nonrefundable)
- Registration Fee: $50 per semester (nonrefundable after the cancellation period)
- Enrollment Fee: $95 for first-term domestic students, charged in lieu of the $50 registration fee ($100 for international students)
- Student Activity Fee: $30 per semester, on-site only; waived for students taking all courses online
- Student Tuition Recovery Fund: $0
- Course fees vary by course; fees may be different for on-campus sections and online sections
- Materials/Supplies: $545 average per semester
Estimated total program cost for a full-time, onsite, domestic student (effective fall semester 2026): application fee $50, enrollment fee $95, registration fees $700, student activity fees $450, estimated course fees $4,612–$11,832, for an estimated $210,807–$218,027 due for the entire program.
Payment options. Academy of Art offers many different ways to help you structure your payments, including interest-free installment plans and pre-payment options. The installment plan enables students to pay their tuition in four separate payments during Fall and Spring and two separate payments for Summer.
Financial aid. Aid available to undergraduates includes Cal Grants for eligible California residents, Pell Grants (eligible undergraduate students, first AA/BA/BS/BFA, and eligible education certificate candidates), FSEOG, Federal Work Study, Direct Stafford Loans and Direct Parent PLUS Loans. Complete the FAFSA using Academy of Art University’s Federal School ID Number: 007531.
Military and veterans. The Academy processes the Post-9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33), the Yellow Ribbon Program, Montgomery GI Bill® (Chapters 30 and 1606), Veteran Readiness & Employment (Chapter 31), DEA (Chapter 35), Military Tuition Assistance and MyCAA.
Net Price Calculator. Estimate your cost with the Academy of Art University Net Price Calculator: https://npc.collegeboard.org/student/app/academyart
Living expenses. The cost of attendance budget includes the costs of tuition and fees, books, supplies, monthly allowances for room and board, transportation to and from school, and personal expenses such as clothes. Estimates of (Monthly) Living Expenses, 2026-2027:
- Food & Housing: $1,393 (student living with parents); $2,729 (student not living with parents); $4,133 (student living on campus, avg.)
- Personal Expenses: $507; $634; $441
- Transportation: $134; $184; $154
Federal student loan debt. From the program’s School Performance Fact Sheet:
- Most recent three year cohort default rate, as reported by the United States Department of Education: 2023: 0%; 2024: 0%.
- The percentage of enrolled students in 2023/2024 receiving federal student loans to pay for this program: 2023: 55%; 2024: 56%.
- The percentage of graduates in 2023/2024 who took out federal student loans to pay for this program: 2023: 59%; 2024: 18%.
- The average amount of federal student loan debt of 2023/2024 graduates who took out federal student loans at this institution: 2023: $14,395; 2024: $14,864.
Curriculum
Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch) Degree – Core Classes.
This program is available online and on campus.
Unit Requirements.
- Core: 18 units
- Sophomore Portfolio: 6 units
- Senior Portfolio: 6 units
- Major: 27 units
- Studio: 36 units
- 5th Year Research Methodologies: 3 units
- Liberal Arts: 42 units
- Elective: 12 units
- Total: 150 units
B.Arch Architecture Degree Requirements.
- Minimum 2.0 GPA
- Minimum grade of C- in all core courses, major courses, and the following Liberal Arts courses:
- LA 219 History of the Built Environment 1: Ancient to Gothic
- LA 249 History of the Built Environment 2: Renaissance to 1900
- LA 255 College Math
- LA 271 College Algebra with Geometry
- LA 292 Programming and Culture
- LA 296 Applied Physics
- LA 319 History of the Built Environment 3: 1900 to Present
- LA 429 Architecture Theory
- LA 485 Tell your Story: Personal Statement, Portfolio, Resume
- And the following general education requirements:
- 3 History of the Built Environment courses
- 1 Architectural Employment Communications & Practices course
- 1 Written Communications: Academic Writing course
- 1 Art & Design Communication course
- 1 Fundamental Math course
- 1 Applied Math course
- 1 Applied Physics course
- 1 Cultural Influences & Human Behavior course
- 1 Historical Awareness course
- 1 Urban Studies course
- B.ARCH ARCHITECTURE CORE COURSES
- ARH 110 Studio 1: Conceptual Design Studio
- ARH 170 Design Communication 1
- ARH 180 Design Communication 2
- ARH 390 Storytelling in 3D
- ARH 399 Building Information Modeling
- FND 113 Sketching for Communication
- B.ARCH ARCHITECTURE SOPHOMORE PORTFOLIO COURSE
- ARH 255 Studio 4: Assembly Building & Context*
- *6 unit course
- B.ARCH ARCHITECTURE SENIOR PORTFOLIO COURSE
- ARH 550 Studio 10: Final Thesis Project*
- *6 unit course
- B.ARCH ARCHITECTURE MAJOR COURSES
- ARH 239 Materials & Methods
- ARH 240 Site Design & Mapping
- ARH 320 Structures: Wood & Steel
- ARH 330 Structures: Concrete, Masonry, & Tensile Systems
- ARH 420 Structures: Systems Investigation
- ARH 430 Sustainable Design
- ARH 440 Design Technology: Environmental Controls
- ARH 441 Tectonics: Code Analysis & Building Envelope Documentation
- ARH 475 Professional Practices for Architects
- B.ARCH ARCHITECTURE STUDIO COURSES
- ARH 150 Studio 2: Spatial Ordering & Form*
- ARH 315 Studio 5: Advocacy in Design*
- ARH 350 Studio 6: Site Conditions & Building Performance*
- ARH 410 Studio 7: Tectonics & Structure*
- ARH 450 Studio 8: Housing and Integrated Design*
- ARH 510 Studio 9: Thesis Preparation and Development*
- *6 unit courses
- B.ARCH 5th YEAR RESEARCH METHODOLOGIES COURSES
- CHOOSE ONE:
- ARH 512 Participatory Design
- ARH 529 From Theory to Practice
- After above general education requirements are met, take Liberal Arts electives as needed to fulfill the Liberal Arts unit requirement.
Program Learning Outcomes.
Undergraduate students will meet the following student performance criteria:
Design Process & Critical Thinking
- Use an iterative design process to incorporate feedback and refine proposals
- Articulate and extend conceptual thinking through diagrams
- Develop criteria to generate and evaluate organizing principles
- Communicate critical analyses of precedent buildings and built environments
- Determine appropriate research and documentation methods to support an architectural thesis
Architectural Design
- Develop architectural proposals appropriate for site context in scale and program
- Organize efficient floor plans to meet user and program requirements
- Produce accurate orthographic, isometric, and perspective drawings to convey design intent
- Develop fluency in using digital and analog tools in combination for ideation and iteration
- Construct drawings and models with a high level of craft and attention to detail
Presentation
- Explain and defend design decisions in verbal and written presentations
- Create visual presentations with logical sequencing, layout composition, and hierarchy of information
Leadership & Community
- Develop cultural competency by valuing different lived experiences
- Protect life safety and provide equitable access in built environments
Environmental Stewardship
- Analyze site climate data to determine passive heating and cooling strategies
- Compare environmental impacts of design options using energy analysis tools
Integrated Design
- Develop structural systems using clearly stated design and performance criteria
Required Courses
| Subject # | Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
Career Outcomes
Graduate with the design skills, technical knowledge, and professional insight to step directly into the field. You will be prepared to shape the built environment and move confidently toward licensure or related career paths.
- City and Urban Planner
- Construction Manager
- Design Consultant
- Project Architect
- Self-employed Architect
- Sustainable Design Consultant
Program performance. From the program’s School Performance Fact Sheet filed with the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (calendar years 2023 & 2024, revised November 25, 2025):
- On-Time Completion Rate: 2023: 5% (7 of 152 students available for graduation); 2024: 2% (3 of 150 students available for graduation).
- Placement Rate % Employed in the Field: 2023: 11% (2 of 19 graduates available for employment); 2024: 20% (2 of 10 graduates available for employment).
- License Examination Passage Rates: Not Applicable.
- Annual salary and wages reported for 2023 graduates employed in the field (2): $50,001 - $55,000: 1; No Salary Information Reported: 1.
- Annual salary and wages reported for 2024 graduates employed in the field (2): $80,001 - $85,000: 1; $85,001 - $90,000: 1.
Graduation and retention rates (university-wide).
- 2026 Graduation Rates: Of the 437 students who entered the University during the fall 2019 semester as first-time, full-time freshmen in either the Bachelor, Associate, or Certificate programs, 146 or 33% completed the entire program within 150% of the normal time.
- Retention Rates – 2024 Cohort: All full-time first-time undergraduate students (134) in Fall 2024 re-enrolled in Fall 2025: 56%.
Professional licensure.
Our Bachelor of Architecture and Master of Architecture are professional degree programs accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) and meet the educational prerequisites for initial licensure for the following jurisdictions: Alabama, Alaska (Alaska applicants must either have a degree from a NAAB-accredited program or obtain an EESA evaluation to meet any deficiencies), Arkansas, Connecticut (Connecticut applicants should contact the Board directly for more information.), Washington DC, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming. Other jurisdictions do not require a professional degree from NAAB-accredited programs for licensure.
As eligibility for licensure is often based on both education and experience, we encourage all prospective and enrolled students to contact the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (https://www.ncarb.org/) for complete and current information on licensure requirements specific to the state or territory where they plan to work.
What to expect as a Academy of Art University student
Guest Speakers
On campus or online, you’ll hear directly from architects and leaders around the world. Guest speakers show how architecture addresses today’s biggest challenges. They’ll answer your questions about the field, careers, and the paths into practice.
Real-World Impact
Here in San Francisco, in our B-LAB studio class, you’ll have the chance to volunteer your skills on active projects. It’s real work with real impact—strengthening your portfolio while giving you the satisfaction of shaping a better world, even before graduation.
Campus Address
Why Accreditation Is Important
Academy of Art University is institutionally accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), currently on warning; its accredited status continues during the Warning period.
This program is accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB).
Approved to operate by the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE).
- A reliable indicator of quality
- Approved program of study
- Qualified instructors
- Recognition by employers nationwide
Accreditations
Student Demographics
These are demographics for all students at the San Francisco Campus (IPEDS, 2024).
Percentages are of total fall enrollment. 910 students whose race or ethnicity was not reported are included in that total but shown as no category, so the figures above come to 83.4% rather than 100%.
Testimonials
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