Photography is an Associate Degree program offered by Academy of Art University in San Francisco, CA. The program takes 60 units to complete, with a total tuition of $81,960.
Program Overview
The AA degree provides students with an education in the fundamental skills of photography. Coursework ensures technical competence for digital capture, lighting, post-production, and a solid understanding of photography as a visual language.
At Academy of Art University’s School of Photography, you’ll learn the technical skills behind great images: camera work, lighting, and post-production. At the same time, you’ll develop a creative voice that’s entirely your own. Every assignment will move you closer to a portfolio that shows both your craft and your point of view.
You’ll learn from working photographers with experience in commercial, documentary, and fine art work. And you’ll join a tight-knit community of faculty, peers, and alumni who will support your growth during school and beyond.
What sets this Program apart
At the School of Photography, you’ll master image capture, editing, lighting, and visual design—core tools for crafting powerful images with intention. You’ll direct shoots with confidence and build a portfolio that reflects your artistic voice.
Specialized topics in advanced digital imaging, fashion & beauty, motion capture, and AI will give you a technical range across commercial, editorial, fine art, and documentary photography.
Every project will sharpen your skills and vision, and will present you with new opportunities. You’ll graduate with a portfolio that reflects both fluency and originality—ready to lead in a field that’s as diverse, dynamic, and evolving as your work.
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 60-unit program’s tuition is $81,960 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 $250, student activity fees $180, estimated course fees $1,845–$4,733, for an estimated $84,380–$87,268 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: 46%.
- The percentage of graduates in 2023/2024 who took out federal student loans to pay for this program: 2023: 63%; 2024: 38%.
- 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
Associate of Arts (AA) Degree – Core Classes.
This program is available online and on campus.
Unit Requirements.
- Core: 24 units
- Sophomore Portfolio: 3 units
- Major: 15 units
- Liberal Arts: 18 units
- Total: 60 units
AA Photography Degree Requirements.
- Minimum grade of C- in all major coursework.
- Minimum 2.0 GPA and the following general education requirements:
- 2 Art Historical Awareness courses
- 1 Art & Design Communication course
- 1 Written Communication: Critical Thinking course
- 1 Employment Communications & Practices course
- 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:
Conceptual and Problem-Solving Skills
- Make creative decisions that support conceptual impact, cohesiveness and memorability of created images
- Integrate key conceptual elements (such as mood, narrative, introducing the unexpected) with technical elements (such as composition, lighting, point of view) to suggest a story or elicit an emotional response from the viewer
Lighting Skills
- Utilize indoor and outdoor lighting, studio lighting techniques, lighting with constant light sources, and mixed lighting situations
- Work effectively with natural light and demonstrate understanding of the relationship between time of day and variations related to quality of light
- Work effectively with point source, flood, spot, diffused and reflected light
Camera Capture Skills
- Demonstrate full knowledge of digital SLR components
- Demonstrate understanding of exposure controls
- Effectively use a light meter for multiple lighting situations
Digital Imaging
- Apply Photoshop techniques using various tools, layers, curves and selections with digital images
- Apply retouching skills and color correction knowledge consistent with industry standards
Digital Printing
- Produce professional quality prints
- Create high quality print portfolio demonstrating printing skill and overall quality of images required for petition to graduate
- Demonstrate understanding of archival qualities, including ink and paper stability
Professional Readiness
- Demonstrate knowledge of industry trends and professional practices related to professional photography
- Produce professional materials required for an entry-level job search
Required Courses
| Subject # | Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
Career Outcomes
Our graduates influence contemporary culture—building iconic brands, launching advertising campaigns, publishing books, exhibiting worldwide, and producing documentary work that tells powerful human stories. Others lead innovation in digital media, entertainment, and emerging technologies.
- Commercial Photographer
- Fine Art Photographer
- Documentary Photographer
- Editorial Photographer
- Fashion Photographer
- Portrait Photographer
- Food & Product Photographer
- Photography Instructor
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: 8% (5 of 59 students available for graduation); 2024: 11% (5 of 47 students available for graduation).
- Placement Rate % Employed in the Field: 2023: 33% (3 of 9 graduates available for employment); 2024: 11% (1 of 9 graduates available for employment).
- License Examination Passage Rates: Not Applicable.
- Annual salary and wages reported for 2023 graduates employed in the field (3): $15,001 - $20,000: 1; $30,001 - $35,000: 1.
- Annual salary and wages reported for 2024 graduates employed in the field (1): $45,001 - $50,000: 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%.
What to expect as a Academy of Art University student
The School of Photography takes you beyond the classroom, into the field, the studio, and the city. Guest talks from working photographers bring real-world insight. Collaborations with departments like Fashion push your creative edge. Access to professional gear lets you turn San Francisco into your set. With regular gallery exhibitions, you’ll immerse yourself in the creative energy of students, alumni, and faculty, share your own work with the world, and build meaningful connections within a vibrant and professional community of artists.
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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