Illustration 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 Illustration. Student portfolios will demonstrate the variety of skills and creativity developed. Graduates enter the field prepared for professional opportunities in Illustration. 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.
In the School of Illustration, you will master the evolving world of digital media, including motion vectors for apps and web. In our Comic focus, you will explore the full graphic novel production pipeline, from story development to layout and inking. In our Illustration focus, you will develop professional portfolio samples for children’s books, editorial, advertising, and surface art. When you graduate in Comic or Illustration, you will have a portfolio that demonstrates your career readiness in bringing ideas to life through visual storytelling.
What sets this Program apart
At the Academy, creativity doesn’t pause at graduation; it accelerates. Our students leave with portfolios that speak louder than résumés, catapulting them into creative careers.
Through rigorous studio courses, you’ll master the fundamentals of visual communication—line, form, perspective, composition, and rendering—while working with a wide variety of tools, including brush, pencil, stylus, and screen. Guided by professional illustrators, you’ll refine your craft, build a competitive portfolio, and gain the business savvy to succeed. Your work won’t just tell stories, it will inspire the world.
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
Illustration Certificate Requirements.
- Minimum 2.0 GPA
- Minimum grade of C- in all core courses and major courses
Program Learning Outcomes.
Undergraduate students will meet the following student performance criteria:
Drawing
- Effectively utilize line, edge, value and design in their work
- Draw with opinion and evidence of individual style
- Accurately and appropriately interpret the figure, landscape, and or architecture
Composition and Color
- Effectively use focal point, eye path and value
- Create coherent thumbnails, comps, and layouts
- Use color and value effectively to enhance story and ideas
Tools and Technique
- Execute illustration work using appropriate tools and media
Visual Problem Solving
- Demonstrate in their portfolio the ability to meet client needs and solve client problems
- Tell a story visually and/or create visually engaging and conceptually meaningful imagery
Personal Style
- Illustrate in a consistent and uniquely identifiable style
Critical Thinking and Development
- Demonstrate the ability to research for inspiration, reference, accuracy, and incorporate findings into client-based solutions
- Articulate intentions and analyze whether or not work meets objectives
Presentation Skills
- Professionally articulate ideas and proposals
Professional Development
- Create cohesive digital and printed portfolios that incorporate current industry practices and presentation standards
- Generate and maintain a business/career plan
- Understand and practice professional pricing, contract, and bookkeeping skills
- Clearly articulate career goals
Required Courses
| Subject # | Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
Career Outcomes
From concept to composition, you’ll graduate with a full arsenal of marketable skills—ready to create, collaborate, and lead in today’s fast-moving illustration industry.
- Editorial illustrator
- Children’s book illustrator
- Packaging and advertising illustrator
- Surface art licensing artist
- Mainstream comic artist
- Graphic novelist
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
Academy Award winners. Tech founders. Creative directors. CEOs. They join us live and on Zoom from around the world. They speak from experience. About the work. The risk. The path forward. No theory. Just real stories from people who’ve done it.
Every student is welcome. On campus or online. To listen. To ask questions. To make connections. These are conversations, not lectures.
Student Clubs
Whether you are an on-campus or online student you are welcome to join our student clubs. You’ll meet up, share ideas, and create art together. Sometimes it’s a quick sketch. Sometimes it turns into something big, a collaboration that lasts a lifetime. It’s always fun.
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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