Career Training Path › California › Academy of Art University
Academy of Art University
San Francisco, California · Private for-profit university · Training programs available:
Address: 79 New Montgomery, San Francisco, CA 94105 · Phone: (800) 544-2787 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
Sanction on record, not yet lifted — Feb 2026 · Warning or Equivalent-Factors Affecting Academic Quality · WASC Senior College and University Commission.
Academy of Art University is a private for-profit trade and career school in San Francisco, California, offering auto mechanic programs, accredited by NASAD and WASC.
Per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, median graduate debt is $31,000 and median earnings 10 years after entry are $39,008; this campus's completion rate compared to the state average of 64.2% is not reported.
Cost of attendance is not reported in federal data for Academy of Art University; contact the school for current tuition. Federal financial aid is accepted, and about 41.0% of students receive Pell Grants.
What these trades pay once you're working
| Occupation | Starting (10th pct) | Median | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Automotive service technicians and mechanics | $38,180 | $64,980 | $77,060 |
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for everyone employed in the occupation in California (May 2025; national where the state figure is not published). The program table below shows what this campus's own graduates earned in their first year, whatever job they took.
Trade programs at this campus
| Program | Credential | Grads / yr | Earnings, yr 1 | Earnings, yr 2 | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Associate degree | 2 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
Earnings are median wages and self-employment income reported to the IRS (W-2 and Schedule SE) for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled, measured in the calendar year after finishing. They are pay only: health insurance, retirement contributions and other benefits are not included.
Graduates per year from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey. Earnings and debt are College Scorecard field-of-study medians for graduates of this program at this campus (reported at the 4-digit program level, so closely related programs share a figure); "not reported" means too few graduates were counted to publish a figure.
About this school
Academy of Art University is a private for-profit institution located in San Francisco, California. It is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design, Commission on Accreditation, and by the WASC Senior College and University Commission, and it participates in federal Title IV financial aid programs, meaning students can use FAFSA, federal loans, and Pell Grants to help pay for enrollment. Among its trade-related offerings tracked in federal data, the campus awards credentials in auto mechanic schools, with 2 completers recorded in that program family.
Federal Scorecard data shows a state average completion rate of 64.2%, though this campus's own completion rate compared to that state average is not reported. Graduates who borrowed carried a median debt of $31,000, and median earnings ten years after entry were $39,008. Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data. About 41.0% of students received Pell Grants, indicating a meaningful share of lower-income students enrolled.
With undergraduate enrollment of 3,587 in a large-city setting, this campus serves a broad student population, though how well it fits an adult career-changer specifically cannot be determined from program length data, which is not reported here. Prospective students weighing the auto mechanic program against other options should verify current accreditation status directly with NASAD and WASC, and review the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard for the most current completion, debt, and earnings figures before enrolling.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
Federal data shows Academy of Art University awarding credentials in auto mechanic schools, with 2 completers recorded. Contact the school directly at (800) 544-2787 or via https://www.academyart.edu/ for a full list of current program offerings.
Is this school accredited, and by whom?
Yes, the school is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design, Commission on Accreditation, and by the WASC Senior College and University Commission.
Can I use federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) at this school?
Yes, this campus participates in Title IV federal financial aid programs, so students can use FAFSA-based aid including federal loans and Pell Grants.
What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?
This campus's own completion rate is not reported in federal data. The state average completion rate is 64.2%, but a direct comparison for this campus is not reported.
How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?
Median debt among graduates is $31,000, per the College Scorecard.
What do graduates of this school earn?
Median earnings for graduates 10 years after entry are $39,008, per the College Scorecard.
How much does it cost to attend for a year?
Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school for current tuition figures.
Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?
Academy of Art University is a private for-profit school, which can affect tuition levels, aid packaging, and accreditation type compared to public or non-profit institutions.
How long do the programs here take to complete?
Program length is not reported in the available data; contact the school directly to confirm program duration.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can verify accreditation with NASAD and WASC directly, and review official outcome data on the College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?108232.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
Fit for adult career-changers cannot be determined from the data provided, since program length and schedule details are not reported.
What license or certification will I need after finishing a program here?
Licensing or certification requirements after program completion are not reported in federal data; contact the school for details specific to the auto mechanic program.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can reach Academy of Art University by phone at (800) 544-2787 or through its website at https://www.academyart.edu/.
How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?
Comparative data against other nearby schools offering auto mechanic programs is not reported in this dataset; check the College Scorecard for nearby institutions' outcomes.
Other trade and career schools in San Francisco, CA
- City College of San FranciscoSan Francisco, CA · 40% completion
- San Francisco Institute of Esthetics & Cosmetology IncSan Francisco, CA · 87% completion
- Bay Area Medical AcademySan Francisco, CA · 52% completion
- Cinta Aveda InstituteSan Francisco, CA · 62% completion
- San Francisco School of Massage & BodyworkSan Francisco, CA · career school
- San Francisco Institute of Esthetics & CosmetologySan Francisco, CA · state-licensed school
- The AcademySan Francisco, CA · state-licensed school
- Zum Services Inc - SFSan Francisco, CA
See all trade and career schools in California or search by ZIP code.
Data: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey; College Scorecard June 2026; Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP), September 2026. Figures are the U.S. Department of Education's official measures, not Career Training Path's opinion. Tuition, schedules and program availability change — confirm with the school before enrolling.