Graphic Design is a Master Degree program (100% Online) offered by Academy of Art University in San Francisco, CA. The program takes 63 units to complete, with a total tuition of $97,713.
Program Overview
With its focused thesis development process, the School of Graphic Design’s MFA program emphasizes advanced study of the field and encourages students to extend their design skills into content creation, authorship, entrepreneurialism, and social innovation.
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.
Online Graphic Design Program. Design for the Real World — and the One That’s Coming In Academy of Art University’s flexible STEM-designated online Graphic Design program, you’ll train with the same professional instructors and creative toolkit as on-campus students. You’ll master the fundamentals—and sprint into the future. Work with Adobe Creative Cloud, explore AI-powered design workflows, and build digital, print, and UX projects that push the field forward. Inside Future Agency , you’ll collaborate with real-world clients—Adobe, VinFast, Apple—translating bold ideas into live campaigns and getting feedback that counts. This isn’t hypothetical. It’s hands-on, career-shaping, and built to get you in the room. Art. Tech. Strategy. This is where they converge—and where your creative future begins.
Admission Requirements and Process
The Academy requires graduate applicants to demonstrate their ability and intent to complete a Master of Arts (MA), Master of Fine Arts (MFA) or Master of Architecture program (M. Arch.). After submitting the application form and application fee, graduate applicants must submit a statement of intent, a résumé, college transcripts showing completion of at least a Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent, and a portfolio/reel. Upon receiving all application requirements, the department will review and will recommend that the student be accepted, not accepted or allowed to enroll in Graduate Preparatory Coursework.
State authorization for online education.
Online education providers are required to seek authorization by many U.S. states and territories to enroll their residents and those physically located in their jurisdictions. Academy of Art University restricts enrollment for applicants in and from areas where online programs are not approved. Current and prospective students are encouraged to consult the university’s State Authorization for Distance Education Status Table to determine whether the Academy is authorized to offer their degree programs in the state where they will be located while taking online courses.
General Requirements
- Bachelor’s degreeTranscripts must show completion of at least a Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent; you must submit official or unofficial transcripts from the institution from which you graduated.
- Application and feeSubmit the graduate application form and the $50 non-refundable application fee.
- Statement of IntentSubmit an explanation of Graduate School goals and desired outcomes of the graduate degree in a one page, typed essay.
- RésuméSubmit an itemized list of educational and professional experience.
- Portfolio/ReelA body of work representing the chosen discipline is required for class placement in the graduate program; additional materials may be required by the specific departments.
- Department reviewUpon receiving all application requirements, the department will review and will recommend that the student be accepted, not accepted or allowed to enroll in Graduate Preparatory…
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 admissionSubmit the graduate application form and the $50 non-refundable application fee.
- 3Send your supporting documentsSubmit your Statement of Intent, résumé and college transcripts showing completion of at least a Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent.
- 4Submit your portfolio/reelSubmit a body of work representing your chosen discipline; registration for the appropriate classes is based on the skills demonstrated in the portfolio/reel.
- 5Department reviewThe department reviews your application and recommends that you be accepted, not accepted or allowed to enroll in Graduate Preparatory Coursework.
- 6File 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
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).
Graduate students must carry a minimum study load of 9 units to be considered as full-time students. Students are expected to attend summer semesters to meet their scheduled completion date.
Our online programs offer immersive classroom experiences both in real time and on demand.
- February 03rd, 2027
- June 21st, 2027
- September 08th, 2027
Cost of Attendance and Financial Aid Information
Tuition. Graduate & Art Teaching Credential tuition for Fall 2026–Summer 2027 is $1,551 per unit for domestic students ($1,857 per unit for international students); tuition is the same for both on-campus and online classes. This 63-unit program’s tuition is $97,713 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: 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 program charges for a domestic student taking all courses online: tuition $97,713, application fee $50, enrollment fee $95, registration fees $300, for $98,158, plus course fees. Course fees vary by course, and fees may be different for on-campus sections and online sections (see the Course Fees & Prerequisites list). The university’s published Total Program Cost estimates are for full-time, onsite students.
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. Federal aid available to Academy of Art University graduate students includes Federal Work Study, Direct Stafford (unsubsidized) Loans and Direct Graduate 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: 38%; 2024: 47%.
- The percentage of graduates in 2023/2024 who took out federal student loans to pay for this program: 2023: 0%; 2024: 27%.
- 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
Master of Fine Arts (MFA) Degree – Major Classes.
This program is available online and on campus.
Unit Requirements.
- Major Coursework: 30 units
- Directed Study: 18 units
- Electives: 6 units
- Graduate Liberal Arts: 9 units
- Total: 63 units
MFA Graphic Design Degree Requirements.
- Successful completion of Final Thesis Project.
- Minimum grade of C in all required 63 units.
- Minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA and the following Academic Study requirements:
- 1 Art Historical Awareness & Aesthetic Sensitivity course
- 1 Cross Cultural Understanding course
- 1 Professional Practices & Communications course
Program Learning Outcomes.
Graduate students will meet the following student performance criteria:
Critical & Creative Thinking
- Conduct appropriate research to identify problems and potential solutions
- Initiate appropriate level of audience involvement and participation
- Demonstrate the resourcefulness and flexibility necessary to conceive and execute design solutions
Conceptual Skills
- Create compelling and engaging visual communications that convey appropriate messages and ideas
- Address problems through a design process
- Develop design solutions that function effectively within a defined context (social, cultural, technological, economic, etc.)
Formal Skills
- Create visual communications demonstrating competent formal design skills which include: hierarchy, typography, aesthetics, composition and construction of meaningful images
- Demonstrate competence in media, materials, tools, technology, and techniques
Professional Readiness
- Demonstrate sound organization and design project management skills
- Effectively present and communicate ideas
- Demonstrate the skills necessary for chosen career path through the presentation of a competent body of work
MFA Thesis Project
- Produce a comprehensive graduate thesis project that successfully utilizes design to solve for an identified problem
- Propose a graduate thesis project that identifies a problem, and has the potential for successful development using design
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: 6% (3 of 49 students available for graduation); 2024: 11% (4 of 35 students available for graduation).
- Placement Rate % Employed in the Field: 2023: 0% (0 of 1 graduates available for employment); 2024: 0% (0 of 9 graduates available for employment).
- License Examination Passage Rates: Not Applicable.
Graduation and retention rates (university-wide).
- Graduate Students (Full-time): % of all incoming full-time students (503) in Fall 2019 graduated in 5 years: 75%.
- Retention Rates – 2024 Cohort: All incoming full-time graduate students (199) in Fall 2024 re-enrolled in Fall 2025: 81%.
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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