Audio Technologies is a Diploma program (Hybrid) offered by Diverse Media Institute in St. Paul, MN. The program takes 60 quarter credits, 10 months to complete, with a total tuition of $12,000.
Program Overview
Audio Technologies, 60 quarter credits. The 10-month Audio Technologies Program is designed to prepare students for an entry-level position in audio production-related fields, with a specialization in A/V & Live Sound. Students who complete the specialization courses graduate with a 60 Quarter Credit Hour Diploma in Audio Technologies - A/V & Live Sound.
Production 1 and 2. The first two terms develop production skills and the knowledge and tools to monetize creations: contemporary techniques for composing, recording, arranging and mixing, tracking and overdubbing, tempo mapping, drum programming and mastering for the project studio, together with defining an artistic direction, business planning, working with investors and crowdfunding, branding, and marketing and promotion.
A/V & Live Sound. The third term covers event production workflows, sound systems, video, lighting and com systems, site layout drawings, estimating equipment and labor costs, installing A/V equipment and systems, and communicating with clients, with hands-on experience setting up, operating, mixing and breaking down sound reinforcement systems for a range of venues.
What sets this Program apart
- Pro Tools certification. DMI is an Avid Learning Partner; students prepare for the Pro Tools PT101 and PT110 exams, which DMI administers without an additional fee.
- AVIXA AV Technologist Test. As an AVIXA Learning Partner, DMI prepares students for the AVIXA-Recognized AV Technologist Test, taken at the end of AV210.
- A trip to InfoComm. AV220 takes students to the InfoComm Convention, the leading A/V technology trade show, to meet manufacturers and A/V employers.
- A home workstation. DMI provides each student a computer, software and recording hardware so coursework can also be completed through distance learning.
Admission Requirements and Process
The Diverse Media Institute invites qualified men and women to apply for admission. Applicants must be high school graduates or have earned a high school equivalency diploma, and applicants for the Audio Technologies Program must pass the entry proficiency exam. DMI offers “Entry Proficiency Boot Camps” periodically as needed / requested.
General Requirements
- High School Diploma or EquivalentApplicants must be high school graduates or have earned a high school equivalency diploma. Students who seek admission on the basis of high school graduation should have earned a…
- GED or TASC ScoreStudents who seek admission on the basis of a high school equivalency diploma should have a composite score of 2300 on the G.E.D. Examination or an equivalent on the Test Assuring…
- Entry Proficiency ExamIn order to enroll in the Audio Technologies Program, each student must complete the entrance proficiency exam, demonstrating basic knowledge of computers, audio, recording, and…
- Application for AdmissionAll prospective students are required to file a complete Application for Admission, including all supporting documentation. DMI then considers each student's academic record and…
- New Student OrientationDMI provides an orientation session for all new students prior to the beginning of each new start. All new students are expected to attend.
Application Process
- 1Reserve Your SpotContact DMI admissions to share your interest in the Audio Technologies Program and reserve your spot.
- 2Submit Your Application for AdmissionContact admissions to file a complete Application for Admission, including all supporting documentation such as proof of high school graduation or a high school equivalency diploma.
- 3Pass the Entry Proficiency ExamComplete the entrance proficiency exam, demonstrating basic knowledge of computers, audio, recording, and software. DMI offers Entry Proficiency Boot Camps periodically as needed / requested.
- 4Apply for Financial Aid (FAFSA)DMI participates in eligible federal Title IV financial aid programs. Complete the FAFSA to be considered for federal and state financial aid.FAFSA Code for St. Paul: 043173Fill Out the FAFSA
- 5Acceptance and Enrollment AgreementOnce DMI notifies you that you have been accepted into the school, sign the enrollment agreement. Read and understand the school's policy regarding tuition refund and cancellation before you sign.
- 6New Student OrientationAttend the orientation session before your start date to meet members of the faculty and staff, network with other new students, and obtain additional information that can help you succeed at DMI.
Program Schedule
Three 13-week terms. The program runs in three terms of 13 weeks each, not counting breaks and holidays. Students attend about 24 hours a week, with classes generally scheduled Monday through Saturday between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m., and classes are limited to 20 students.
2026-27 calendar. New student orientation is October 2, 2026, and fall term classes begin October 5, 2026; the winter term begins January 5, 2027 (orientation January 4) and the spring term April 12, 2027.
Attendance. Attendance counts active participation in person or online. Missing 14 consecutive calendar days without approved leave leads to administrative withdrawal, and a leave of absence is granted for one term.
Campus Location
Why Accreditation Is Important
When you attend an accredited institution, you attend a school that has been independently evaluated for educational quality.
Diverse Media Institute is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC) and licensed as a private career school by the Minnesota Office of Higher Education.
- 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 St. Paul Campus (IPEDS, 2024).
Cost of Attendance and Financial Aid Information
| Charge | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition (60 quarter credits) | $12,000 |
| Lab fee (books, course materials, supplies & equipment) | $1,000 |
| AV220 InfoComm fee (travel course) | $1,500 |
| Total (60 credits) | $14,500 |
Books and supplies. The lab fee covers all the books and supplies students need; a student may opt out of the entire textbooks and supplies program at enrollment, buy the materials independently, and receive an account adjustment.
Cost of attendance. For budgeting and aid purposes, DMI estimates an academic year of $28,944, including tuition, fees, and off-campus living expenses of $4,815 a quarter in St. Paul.
Financial aid and discounts. DMI participates in eligible federal Title IV financial aid programs; complete the FAFSA with school code 043173. Minnesota’s Fostering Independence Grant is available to eligible former foster youth under 27. Qualifying High School for Recording Arts graduates may receive a tuition discount of up to $1,500 a term and Ujamaa Place participants up to $600 a term, applied after federal and state aid. A monthly payment plan is available for balances aid does not cover.
Cancellation and refunds. A rejected applicant receives a full refund, as does a student who cancels within 5 business days after the enrollment agreement takes effect. Cancelling later but before the program starts refunds everything except the initial enrollment fee. A student who withdraws after the term starts but before completing 60% of it is refunded tuition and fees pro rata; after 60% of the term the full term charges apply. Refunds are made within 45 days of the withdrawal determination.
Curriculum
Program outline, 60 quarter credits. Fifteen 4-credit courses taken in term order: Production 1, Production 2, and the A/V & Live Sound specialization, shown below. Courses are offered residentially and online.
Grading and graduation. Grades run from A (90-100, 4.0) through D (60-64, 1.0) with F below 60. Students keep at least a 1.5 cumulative GPA at the end of each term and complete 67% of attempted credits, and graduate with at least a 2.0 GPA, sufficient attendance and all financial obligations met, receiving a diploma and an official transcript.
The required courses below are from Diverse Media Institute's published catalog.
Required Courses
| Subject # | Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
Required Courses
| Subject # | Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
Career Outcomes
Careers. Graduates are prepared for entry-level employment in fields including studio engineering, live sound reinforcement, music production, audio for visual media, sound design, A/V equipment sales and installation, production equipment maintenance, media mastering and distribution, tour support, and production facility management.
Career services. After graduation, students receive job search assistance, and employers often contact the school with job listings. DMI cannot guarantee or promise employment.
What to expect as a Diverse Media Institute student
The campus. The nonprofit Diverse Media Institute is housed in a two-story building at the corner of University Avenue and Lexington Avenue in St. Paul, within the nearly 35,000-square-foot home of the High School for Recording Arts, close to the Metro Green Line. It has 3 classrooms and laboratories on a digital backbone, recording studios, a soundstage with professional microphones, amps and speakers, and Apple workstations running Avid Pro Tools and Apple Logic Pro, and it is handicapped accessible.
Support. Students get new student orientation before each start, faculty academic advising, open lectures and labs, study groups, make-up classes and graduate-assistant tutoring. DMI does not offer housing but can help students find housing in the Twin Cities.