Interaction & UI/UX Design is a Master Degree program 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
The MFA program provides advanced study for students pursuing a career in web design and new media. Progress in the MFA degree is measured through a rigorous process, both at the midpoint and final reviews.
Studio courses develop creative and technical acumen, with attention to mastering user experience design, while advanced courses provide a focused learning environment for building final thesis projects. Students will graduate with a portfolio and comprehensive thesis project showcasing their talent.
Shape the future of how people experience the world. Prepare for a career at a leading tech company, or launch your own venture. Acquire in-demand skills, from user research to prototyping, and turn insights about behavior into designs that move people, improve lives, and sell brands.
You’ll learn the latest software and technologies to build mobile apps, interactive platforms, and VR/AR experiences. Along the way, you’ll develop a portfolio that proves you can lead across both traditional and emerging media.
With instructors active in the field, you’ll gain real-world knowledge and networking connections, often the first step to internships and industry opportunities
What sets this Program apart
Great design gets noticed before anyone can explain why. It earns trust in the first three seconds and holds onto it every screen after.
You’ll train in the four pillars of human-centered design: design thinking, visual communication, technology, and user experience. Guided by working professionals you’ll gain a full skill set in UX and UI, workflows, and strategies. You’ll learn to work with numerous AI tools preparing you to thrive in the fast-paced tech industry.
You’ll leave with a portfolio that doesn’t just look good and proves you are career ready.
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.
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.
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. 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: $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 $300, student activity fees $210, estimated course fees $2,248–$5,412, for an estimated $100,616–$103,780 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. 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: 24%; 2024: 28%.
- The percentage of graduates in 2023/2024 who took out federal student loans to pay for this program: 2023: 25%; 2024: 11%.
- 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.
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 Interaction & Ui/Ux 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 & Communication course
Program Learning Outcomes.
Graduate students will meet the following student performance criteria:
MFA Thesis Project
- Present a clearly defined design project worthy of the MFA degree
- Provide proof of concept demonstrating the feasibility of the project
- Produce a final thesis project demonstrating design thinking, visual communication and technical skills
Design Thinking
- Gather, analyze and apply the information necessary to develop design solutions centered on real target users
- Demonstrate thorough knowledge of thesis topic and identify resources for content development
- Create interactive architecture to effectively support the needs of the project’s functionality
Visual Communication
- Effectively utilize grid, hierarchy, typography, color, and composition
- Apply the above design principles to effectively implement/display interactivity appropriate to the project
Technical Abilities
- Demonstrate an understanding of current interactive technologies by identifying appropriate technical tools to implement a core component of the thesis project
- Establish and document the technical scope of the thesis project
User Experience
- Demonstrate a realistic consideration of potential users
- Develop final testing plan based on initial explorations
- Apply testing results to refine projects throughout the design process, documenting key iterations along the way
Professional Readiness
- Effectively articulate and defend ideas and process
- Accurately cite or credit sources used to develop thesis proposal, project, and presentations
- Demonstrate organizational skills in the thesis proposal and record of thesis project development process
- Develop and demonstrate the skills required for the chosen professional path, as demonstrated in the thesis project, portfolio and personal website
Required Courses
| Subject # | Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
Career Outcomes
Shape what people touch, swipe, and remember. At the School of UX & Product Design, you’ll fuse strategy, AI, and emerging tech to create the apps, interfaces, and experiences that define how the world lives, works, and plays.
- Product Designer
- UX (User Experience) Designer
- UI (User Interface) Designer
- Interaction Designer
- Senior UX/UI/Product Designer
- UX Lead / Design Lead
- UX Manager / Director of UX
- AI Product Designer
- Conversation UI Designer
- Augmented Reality (AR) / Virtual Reality (VR) 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% (2 of 36 students available for graduation); 2024: 30% (10 of 33 students available for graduation).
- Placement Rate % Employed in the Field: 2023: 0% (0 of 2 graduates available for employment); 2024: 22% (2 of 9 graduates available for employment).
- License Examination Passage Rates: Not Applicable.
- Annual salary and wages reported for 2024 graduates employed in the field (2): $95,001 - $100,000: 1; No Salary Information Reported: 1.
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
San Francisco isn’t just a backdrop to your studies it’s the epicenter of tech, design, and disruption. Here, you’re surrounded by startups, studios, and industry giants. You can plug into the scene. Intern, network and build your future where the future is being built.
On campus and online students have the opportunity to attend workshops, and guest lectures featuring successful alumni speakers, founders, and tech icons who provide invaluable insights and answer questions.
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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