Graphic Design is a Certificate program offered by Academy of Art University in San Francisco, CA. The program takes 4 years to complete, with a total tuition of $163,920.
Program Overview
The four year certificate program provides students with a disciplined approach to the study of Graphic Design. Student portfolios will demonstrate the variety of skills and creativity developed. Graduates enter the field prepared for professional opportunities in Graphic Design. Students take electives and art history courses to round out their experience. Unlike the BFA program, students pursuing the Certificate program do not take liberal arts coursework.
You’ll build a foundation in typography, layout, and visual communication, then expand into branding, packaging, digital, and motion. Training in UI/UX and AI tools will keep your work current and competitive. Professors bring their own professional experience into the classroom, connecting coursework to real-world expectations. Student collaborations add another layer, giving you the chance to test ideas, work as part of a team, and develop projects that often grow into award-winning work.
What sets this Program apart
The School of Graphic Design prepares you for careers at top studios, agencies, and global brands. Communication Arts, GDUSA, and Graphis have recognized our students. Our professors and alumni have won Emmys, Clios, and D&AD Pencils while working at Apple, Google, Meta, IDEO, Williams Sonoma, and Tolleson Design. From branding and packaging to UI/UX and AI-driven design, you will graduate with both the skills and the portfolio to step directly into professional practice.
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 120-unit program’s tuition is $163,920 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 $550, student activity fees $360, estimated course fees $3,689–$9,466, for an estimated $168,664–$174,441 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: 0%; 2024: 0%.
- The percentage of graduates in 2023/2024 who took out federal student loans to pay for this program: 2023: 0%; 2024: 0%.
- 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
This program is available on campus.
Unit Requirements.
- Core: 24 units
- Sophomore Portfolio: 3 units
- Senior Portfolio: 3 units
- Major: 48 units
- Art History: 6 units
- Art by Advisement: 24 units
- Electives: 12 units
- Total: 120 units
Graphic Design Certificate Requirements.
- Minimum 2.0 GPA
Program Learning Outcomes.
Undergraduate students will meet the following student performance criteria:
Critical & Creative Thinking
- Identify appropriate audiences for defined problems
- Demonstrate the resourcefulness and flexibility necessary to conceive appropriate design solutions
Conceptual Skills
- Develop and prototype potential design solutions for specific problems
- Create visual communications that are audience appropriate
- Develop design solutions that function within a defined context recognizing physical, cognitive, cultural and social human factors
Formal Skills
- Create visual communications demonstrating competent formal design skills based in design principles: composition, balance, hierarchy, harmony, and contrast
- Create visual communications demonstrating competent formal design skills based in aesthetics: appropriate typography, composition and construction of meaningful imagery
- Utilize the appropriate media, materials, tools, technology, platforms, and techniques to create visual communications
Professional Readiness
- Effectively present and communicate ideas
- Demonstrate the skills necessary for chosen career path through the presentation of a satisfactory body of work
Required Courses
| Subject # | Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
Career Outcomes
Alumni hold roles as Creative Directors, Senior Designers, and Founders shaping culture worldwide. Alumni Johnny Selman launched his New York studio after a Clio Award, while alumni Manuela Santos, now Design Lead at IDEO, has been featured in Communication Arts. These individual successes add to a collective record of Emmys, Clios, D&AD Pencils, Graphis Golds, and consistent student wins in Comm Arts, GDUSA, Graphis, and Spring Show. With graduates leading in UI/UX, product design, and AI strategy, the program equips you to thrive in professional practice and help shape what comes next.
- Graphic Designer
- Art Director
- Creative Director
- Brand Designer
- User Experience (UX) Designer
- User Interface (UI) Designer
- Web Designer
- Motion Graphics Designer
- Visual Designer
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: 0% (0 of 0 students available for graduation); 2024: 0% (0 of 0 students available for graduation).
- Placement Rate % Employed in the Field: 2023: 0% (0 of 0 graduates available for employment); 2024: 0% (0 of 0 graduates available for employment).
- License Examination Passage Rates: Not Applicable.
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%.
What to expect as a Academy of Art University student
Your courses run like a working studio, with critiques, work sessions, and clear deliverables that mirror professional timelines. Professors share process, case studies, and practical feedback drawn from active practice. Guest talks from studios, agencies, and tech companies happen live and on Zoom, focused on workflow, pitching, and career paths. In addition to individual projects, student collaborations create opportunities to connect across classes and produce portfolio pieces that often grow into award-winning work.
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.
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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