Visual Development is a Bachelor Degree program offered by Academy of Art University in San Francisco, CA. The program takes 120 units to complete, with a total tuition of $163,920.
Program Overview
The School of Visual Development's BFA program provides a dynamic education in the art of scene setting. Core curriculum emphasizes photography, figure modeling, form analysis, figure drawing, narrative principles, visual development for animation, character design, concept paintings, advanced exploration of perspective for video game design, and various other critical design disciplines.
Master character design from first sketch to sculpted maquette—capturing form, weight, and personality. Create immersive worlds through environment and prop design for film and games. Hone your eye for composition, color, light, and perspective. You’ll graduate with production-ready film and game assets that work across platforms and stand out on any screen.
What sets this Program apart
Visual development artists set the tone, shape the mood, and define the look of entire worlds. They’re the architects of imagination in the production pipeline.
In our Visual Development programs, you’ll learn the tools and techniques to design characters, environments, and concepts for film, games, and new media—building the creative vision that drives today’s storytelling.
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: 52%; 2024: 53%.
- The percentage of graduates in 2023/2024 who took out federal student loans to pay for this program: 2023: 43%; 2024: 52%.
- 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 online and on campus.
Unit Requirements.
- Core: 24 units
- Sophomore Portfolio: 3 units
- Senior Portfolio: 3 units
- Major: 39 units
- Electives: 9 units
- Liberal Arts: 42 units
- Total: 120 units
BFA Visual Development Degree Requirements.
- Minimum grade of C- in all major coursework
- Minimum 2.0 GPA and the following general education requirements:
- 4 Art Historical Awareness courses
- 1 Art & Design Communication course
- 1 Written Communication: Critical Thinking course
- 1 Historical Awareness course
- 1 Quantitative Literacy course
- 1 Cultural Ideas & Influences course
- 1 Employment Communications and 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:
Visual Development
- Generate functional designs for entertainment media (2D or 3D), following an industry-standard process from thumbnails through final render
- Effectively communicate narrative, theme and character through design choices
- Maintain a consistent “language” or “signature style” in art directing a scene with the requisite continuity in visual storytelling
- Demonstrate the ability to research for inspiration, reference, and accuracy
- Demonstrate flexibility in illustrative style by showing both a unique personal style and the ability to accommodate style to project needs
Artistic Ability
- Draw and paint convincing poses, expressions, character designs, thumbnails, storyboards and production paintings
- Demonstrate facility creating perspective and conveying anatomy and proportion in human and animal figures.
- Master the use of a focal point, with value, color, detail and composition.
Technical Skills
- Demonstrate proficient skills with relevant animation technology and software.
Presentation Skills
- Create visually compelling and cohesive presentations
- Discuss work clearly and professionally
Collaboration
- Collaborate effectively on creative projects
Professional Readiness
- Produce a comprehensive portfolio (digital and print) which meets industry standards
- Manage workload to meet deadlines
Required Courses
| Subject # | Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
Career Outcomes
We give you the training and hands-on experience to launch your career in visual development. Our programs are built to equip you with the skills studios want and the portfolio to prove it.
Production Designer
- Art Director
- Character Designer
- Concept Artist
- Matte Painter
- Production Artist
- Vector Artist
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: 17% (12 of 71 students available for graduation); 2024: 9% (9 of 100 students available for graduation).
- Placement Rate % Employed in the Field: 2023: 8% (1 of 12 graduates available for employment); 2024: 5% (1 of 20 graduates available for employment).
- License Examination Passage Rates: Not Applicable.
- Annual salary and wages reported for 2023 graduates employed in the field (1): $5,001 - $10,000: 1.
- Annual salary and wages reported for 2024 graduates employed in the field (1): $60,001 - $65,000: 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
Academy Award winners, tech disruptors, CEOs, creative directors, and startup founders join us—live and on Zoom—from around the world. They speak from experience. About the work. The risk. The path forward.
Every student whether you are on-campus or online is welcome. To listen. To ask. To connect. These aren’t lectures—they’re conversations.
Around it all, student clubs like Women in Animation ,and Tea-time animation, offer space to gather, create, and share. You’ll meet friends, test ideas, and build together. Sometimes it’s a project. Sometimes it’s a collaboration that lasts for years. 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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