Academy of Art University - wikipedia Academy of Art University Academy of Art University Motto Built by artists for artists Type for - profit Established 1929 President Elisa Stephens Students 12,608 Undergraduates 8,303 Postgraduates 4,305 Location San Francisco, California, United States Campus Urban and online Colors Black and Red Athletics NCAA Division II Website academyart.edu The Academy of Art University, formerly Academy of Art College, is a privately owned for - profit art school in San Francisco, California, in the United States. It was founded as the Academy of Advertising Art by Richard S. Stephens in 1929. It has 283 full - time teachers and 1154 part - time teaching staff, and about 12,600 students ; it claims to be the largest privately owned art and design school in the United States. The school is one of the largest property owners in San Francisco, with the main campus located on New Montgomery Street in the South of Market district. Contents 1 History 2 Accreditation and teaching 3 Automobile Museum 4 Athletics 5 Alumni 6 Staff 7 See also 8 References History It was founded in 1929 as a school for advertising art. The founder, Richard S. Stephens, a painter and magazine editor, lead it until 1951 when his son Richard A. Stephens took over, who 1992 was replaced by his daughter Elisa Stephens. Under her presidency, student numbers increased from around 2000 to 18,000 by 2012. Academy of Art University has been participating in the NY Fashion Week event bi-annually since 2005. A private bus fleet transports students between dorms and classrooms located across San Francisco. Starting in 2007, the San Francisco city planning commission held more than twenty hearings relating to possible violations of the land - use laws of the city, including the unauthorized conversion of rent - controlled housing to academic use ; in May 2016, the city brought a lawsuit against the school. In December 2016 an agreement was reached whereby the Academy agreed to pay the city $20 million in fees, $7 million of which will go to purchasing low - income housing. The school will also provide additional low - income housing for seniors as part of the deal. Accreditation and teaching Academy of Art University received regional accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges in 2007. The school is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design. In interior architecture and design, the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree ( taught or online ) and Master of Fine Arts degree are both accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation. The Master of Architecture degree has, since January 1, 2006, been accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board while the Bachelor of Architecture program was granted as of January 1, 2015. The school offers associate, bachelor 's and master 's degrees in about twenty - five subjects. Some courses are offered online. in 2016, approximately 7 % of students completed a four - year degree within the allotted time. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 31 % of students complete a four - year degree within 150 % of that time ( the `` 6 - year graduation rate '' ). For online - only students, the 6 - year graduation rate is much lower, at 6 % ; in mid-2015, about 35 % of all students were online - only. For part - time students the 6 - year graduation rate is 3 %. About 58 % of students are female. Automobile museum The university owns and operates the Academy of Art University Automobile Museum. Among its 200 vintage cars are some of the world 's rarest and most valuable, with Forbes valuing the collection at over $70 million. Approximately half of the cars housed in the museum are owned by the university, while the rest belong to the Stephens family. Among the cars in the collection is the Tucker 48 ; the 1933 Pierce - Arrow Silver Arrow ; and a 1928 Hispano - Suiza H6C. Athletics The school sports teams, the Urban Knights, compete as members of the Pacific West Conference in nine sports in NCAA Division II. In the 2014 -- 2015 season, the men 's cross country team had a second - place finish and the women 's team had a record fourth - place finish, earned at the Pacific West Conference Championships. Valentin Pepiot, their third NCAA Nationals individual qualifier, was one of the top finishers from the PacWest in the postseason finale. The Academy of Arts earned a record 10 PacWest postseason honors. For the 2015, indoor and outdoor track and field seasons, they had seven All - Americans honors and one NCAA individual champion in Jordan Edwards. Alumni Mobolade Ajomale, Canadian Olympic sprinter Asencio, figurative painter Rick Baker, winner of an Academy Award for Best Makeup and Hairstyling and special effects for Maleficent Scott Borrero, 2016 winner of Adorama & Nigel Barker 's `` Top Photographer '' Alexandria von Bromssen, Runner - up on Project Runway ( season 12 ) Lee Cheol - ha, film director Lauren Conrad, actress Deanne Fitzmaurice, photographer, winner of a 2005 Pulitzer Prize Melissa Fleis, 3rd - place finisher on Project Runway ( season 10 ) Patricio Buenrostro Gilhuys, Music video director Vicky Jenson, film director Kara Laricks, fashion designer Bilal Lashari, Pakistani film director and cinematographer Chris Milk, music video director Heidi Montag, actress Rodrigo Prieto, cinematographer Elena Slivnyak, 3rd - place finisher on Project Runway All Stars ( season 3 ) Alex Snyder, participant on Project Runway ( season 15 ) Rudy Soedjarwo, film director Raven - Symoné, actress and singer Margaux Avedisian, comedian and bitcoin entrepreneur Staff Past and present staff of the school include : Diane Baker, actress Tom Bertino, animator Michael Brandt, co-founder of Nootrobox Richard Hart, journalist John Heebink, comic book artist Kamshad Kooshan, movie writer & director Tim McGovern, Academy Award - winning visual effects director Adam Savage, creator of Myth Busters Peter Schifrin ( born 1958 ), Olympic fencer and sculptor Art Spiegelman, cartoonist Simon Ungless, former designer for Alexander McQueen Terryl Whitlatch, illustrator Lindsey Yamasaki, basketball player Jan Yanehiro, television journalist See also List of colleges and universities in California References ^ Jump up to : Academy of Art University. Peterson 's. Accessed January 2014. Jump up ^ `` The Academy of Art University is a school with a soul ''. National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved May 22, 2016. ^ Jump up to : Academy of Art University. College Navigator. National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed June 2016. Jump up ^ `` Who We Are ''. Academy of Art University website. Retrieved October 16, 2013. Jump up ^ John Cote ( November 15, 2010 ). `` Academy of Art land use violations ignored ''. San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved October 16, 2013. ^ Jump up to : Brickman, Sophie ( 2011 - 05 - 22 ). `` Elisa Stephens of Academy of Art University ''. SFGate. San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2016 - 09 - 05. ^ Jump up to : Lee Romney ( July 9, 2012 ). `` San Francisco rule would encourage building student housing ''. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 5, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Mercedes - Benz Fashion Week ''. mbfashionweek.com. Retrieved 2016 - 12 - 11. Jump up ^ `` Academy of Art University ( San Francisco, CA, United States ) ''. Fashionista. 2016. Retrieved 11 December 2016. Jump up ^ `` FashionLedge.com ''. www.fashionledge.com. Retrieved 2016 - 12 - 11. Jump up ^ Lee, Vic. `` SF suing Academy of Art University for alleged permit violations ''. ABC News. Retrieved June 23, 2016. Jump up ^ Katia Savchuk ( August 19, 2015 ). How A For - Profit University Flouts San Francisco 's Land - Use Laws. Forbes. Archived August 20, 2015. Jump up ^ Vic Lee ( May 6, 2016 ). SF suing Academy of Art University for alleged permit violations. ABC News. Accessed June 2016. Jump up ^ Brinklow, Adam ( 19 December 2016 ). `` Academy of Art settles with city, pays $20 million in fees ''. Curbed. Retrieved 21 December 2016. Jump up ^ `` Statement of accreditation status : Academy of Art University ''. Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities, Western Association of Schools and Colleges. July 19, 2007. Retrieved 9 October 2016. Jump up ^ `` Accredited Institutional Members ''. National Association of Schools of Art and Design. 2014. Retrieved 9 October 2016. Jump up ^ `` Accredited Program History ''. Council for Interior Design Accreditation. Retrieved July 15, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Architecture programs : Academy of Art University ''. National Architectural Accrediting Board. 2006. Retrieved 9 October 2016. Jump up ^ `` School View ''. www.naab.org. Retrieved 2016 - 12 - 07. Jump up ^ Home : Graduate Schools : Academy of Art University. Peterson 's. Accessed January 2014. ^ Jump up to : Academy of Art University. US News and World Report. Archived 28 August 2016. ^ Jump up to : Katia Savchuk ( September 7, 2015 ). Black Arts : The $800 Million Family Selling Art Degrees and False Hopes. Forbes magazine. Archived August 19, 2015. Jump up ^ McClymonds, Taylor Soppe, Chad, Inside A San Francisco Family 's $70 Million Car Collection, retrieved 2016 - 12 - 05 Jump up ^ Clark, Meaghan ( 12 March 2015 ). `` ust How Much is Academy of Art 's Vintage Car Collection Worth ? -- The Bold Italic -- San Francisco ''. TheBoldItalic.com. The Bold Italic. Retrieved 5 December 2016. Jump up ^ `` Classic cars go on display at the Academy of Art University ''. ABC7 San Francisco. Retrieved 2016 - 12 - 05. Jump up ^ `` Join the Chronicle VIP party at the 57th annual International Auto Show ''. San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2016 - 12 - 05. Jump up ^ `` Academy of Art University ''. NCAA. Retrieved May 11, 2016. ^ Jump up to : Garcia, Rob. `` ART U Track & Field Announces New Coaching Staff ''. The PacWest. Retrieved May 22, 2016. Jump up ^ 2015 Universiade bio Archived April 6, 2016, at the Wayback Machine. Jump up ^ `` Artworks of Henry Asencio ''. Crown Thorn Publishing. Retrieved January 24, 2013. Jump up ^ `` Legendary Star Wars Special Effects Makeup Artist Announces Retirement ''. Makeup Artist Edu. Retrieved May 22, 2016. Jump up ^ Thurston, Anthony ( 30 November 2016 ). `` Nigel Barker 's ' Top Model ' - inspired web series awards ' Top Photographer ' prize ''. Digital Trends. Retrieved 7 May 2017. ^ Jump up to : Zinko, Carolyne. `` Bay Area 's ' Project Runway ' designers : Where are they now ? ''. San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 7 May 2017. Jump up ^ Majeski, Ashley. `` ' Project Runway ' winner says fights ' went on for hours ' ''. The Today Show. Retrieved 7 May 2017. Jump up ^ `` 2009 Sonoma International Film Festival ''. ScreenDaily. Retrieved March 28, 2009. Jump up ^ `` Lauren Conrad Biography ''. People Magazine. Retrieved October 16, 2013. ^ Jump up to : Katie Baker ( November 17, 2009 ). `` Ask The Appeal : Does Academy Of Art University Have Any Notable Alumni ? ''. San Francisco Appeal. Retrieved October 16, 2013. Jump up ^ `` The 2005 Pulitzer prize winners -- feature photography : Deanne Fitzmaurice ''. The Pulitzer Prizes, Columbia University. Retrieved December 17, 2006. Jump up ^ Nordyke, Kimberly ( 5 September 2013 ). `` ' Project Runway All Stars ' Season Three Designers, New Mentor Revealed ''. The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 7 May 2017. Jump up ^ `` Patricio Buenrostro Gilhuys ''. CENTRO. Retrieved September 9, 2014. Jump up ^ Vicky Jenson. ACME Film Works. Accessed June 2016. Jump up ^ Dunhill, Heather. `` Qs for Fashion Star 's Kara Larick ''. Heather Dunhill 's Fashion IQ. Sarasota Magazine. Retrieved May 17, 2012. Jump up ^ Sarah Gish ( March 20, 2012 ). `` My essentials : Kara Laricks of ' Fashion Star ' ''. Ink Magazine. Retrieved October 16, 2013. Jump up ^ `` Chris Milk Official Site ''. San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved May 7, 2008. Jump up ^ `` Heidi Montag ''. People Magazine. Retrieved October 16, 2013. Jump up ^ `` Academy of Art 's Epidemic Film Festival ''. San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved September 2, 2014. Jump up ^ `` PROJECT RUNWAY ALL STARS DESIGNERS & CAST ''. Archived from the original on November 2, 2014. Retrieved 2017 - 05 - 07. Jump up ^ `` PROJECT RUNWAY ALL STARS : S3 FINALE ''. Democracy Diva. Retrieved 7 May 2017. Jump up ^ Finkle, Dana. `` Project Runway All Stars, Episode 10 : `` Are U.N. Or Are You Out ? '' ``. Threads Magazine. Retrieved 7 May 2017. Jump up ^ Goldberg, Gail. `` Meet the Bay Area Designers of Project Runway Season 15 ''. 7x7 ( magazine ). Retrieved 7 May 2017. Jump up ^ `` Guess What ? : Rudi Soedjarwo : Leaving the old rules of movie making behind ''. Retrieved September 21, 2015. Jump up ^ Susan King ( August 26, 2009 ). `` For Diane Baker, one scene leads to 50 years ''. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 16, 2013. Jump up ^ `` Tom Bertino ''. Nova Online. 1997. Retrieved September 2, 2014. Jump up ^ `` The Animated Side of Star Wars : An Interview With Rob Coleman, The Film 's Animation Director ''. Animated World Network. August 1999. Retrieved September 2, 2014. Jump up ^ `` A Pair of Entrepreneurs Focuses on ' Nutrients for Your Brain ' ''. WeWork. June 18, 2015. Retrieved June 18, 2015. Jump up ^ `` This Twenty - Something Ditched His Dream Job At Google And Now He Has A Startup That Sells Brain - Enhancing Pills ''. Business Insider. August 6, 2014. Retrieved June 18, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Q&A : `` Evening Magazine '' co-hosts Jan Yanehiro and Richard Hart ``. San Francisco Chronicle. July 22, 2010. Retrieved September 2, 2014. Jump up ^ `` Heebink 's Notes - An Interview with John Heebink ''. Nick Fury. Retrieved June 13, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Sony Pictures to produce `` Tehranis '' by Director Kamshad Kushan ``. Payvand Iran News. Retrieved June 13, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Tim McGovern ''. Visual Effects Society. Retrieved June 13, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage ''. Discovery. Retrieved June 13, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Witzend - groundbreaking 1960s indy comic with art by Wallace Wood, Art Spiegelman, and Frank Frazetta ''. BoingBoing. August 13, 2014. Retrieved September 2, 2014. Jump up ^ Hagan Cain, Robyn. `` From London to San Francisco : Simon Ungless on Academy Life ''. San Francisco Racked. Retrieved June 13, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Artist Interview with Terryl Whitlatch ''. Copic. March 15, 2011. Retrieved October 16, 2013. Jump up ^ Josh Flynn ( December 28, 2010 ). `` Ready to Win ''. Slam Online. Retrieved October 16, 2013. Jump up ^ Peter Hartlaub ( July 22, 2010 ). `` Yanehiro, Hart now at Academy of Art in S.F ''. San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved October 16, 2013. Wikimedia Commons has media related to Academy of Art University. Universities and Colleges in San Francisco Undergraduate City College of San Francisco Golden Gate University San Francisco State University University of San Francisco Creative and culinary arts Academy of Art University American Conservatory Theater The Art Institute of California - San Francisco California College of the Arts California Culinary Academy San Francisco Conservatory of Music San Francisco Art Institute Graduate Alliant International University California Institute of Integral Studies Golden Gate University University of the Pacific, Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry San Francisco Law School Saybrook Graduate School and Research Center University of California, San Francisco San Francisco State University University of California, Hastings College of the Law University of San Francisco Pacific West Conference Members Academy of Art Urban Knights Azusa Pacific Cougars Biola Eagles California Baptist Lancers Chaminade Silverswords Concordia -- Irvine Eagles Dixie State Trailblazers Dominican Penguins Fresno Pacific Sunbirds Hawai'i Pacific Sharks Hawai'i -- Hilo Vulcans Holy Names Hawks Notre Dame de Namur Argonauts Point Loma Nazarene Sea Lions Affiliates Cal State Los Angeles Golden Eagles Cal State Stanislaus Warriors Sonoma State Seawolves San Francisco Bay Area portal University portal Coordinates : 37 ° 47 ′ 16 '' N 122 ° 24 ′ 02 '' W ﻿ / ﻿ 37.78785 ° N 122.40065 ° W ﻿ / 37.78785 ; - 122.40065 Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Academy_of_Art_University&oldid=824981436 '' Categories : Art schools in California Art schools in San Francisco Educational institutions established in 1929 Financial District, San Francisco Fisherman 's Wharf, San Francisco For - profit universities and colleges in the United States Schools accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Universities and colleges in San Francisco Pacific West Conference schools Film schools in California Academy of Art University Hidden categories : Webarchive template wayback links Use mdy dates from June 2016 Coordinates not on Wikidata Talk Contents About Wikipedia Español Français Nederlands 日本 語 Norsk 中文 Edit links This page was last edited on 10 February 2018, at 19 : 38. 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Question: where is the academy of art university located
Answer: San Francisco, California