A young artist (Allison Boyle) standing in front of their art

Admissions

WE’RE EXCITED TO SEE WHAT YOU CAN DO.

Every artist’s journey starts with the decision to move forward, and the AAC Admissions team is here to guide you through the entire process. Whether you are in the first stages of your application, or ready to hit submit, you’ll find everything you need right here.

75%

of graduates are still employed in fields related to their major, compared to the national average of 27%*

100%

of AAC students receive an entrance scholarship

33%

of students who apply are accepted to our selective B.F.A. programs

9:1

Student to Faculty Ratio

#25

Cincinnati, Ohio - Best Places to Live in the USA

Student Growth and Retention

  • AAC is growing, as the college’s total enrollment grew from 183 in 2019 to 259 in 2023.
  • AAC recruits most students from Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana, but welcomes students from across the globe.
  • AAC has a noted history of enrolling and retaining excellent MA in Arts Education students. Over the last 10 years, 92% of graduates from the MAAE program have started working in their field before they graduate.

Student Graduation Data

Because many students attending AAC already work professionally and create art independently, the curriculum model is designed to progress on students’ individual timelines. Historically, 46% of AAC graduates complete their BFA in 4 years, 40% of graduates complete their BFA in 5 years, and 14% complete their BFA in 6 years. Our innovative curriculum allows all AAC majors to be minors as well, adapting alongside a growing artist in real-time.

Student Success After AAC

Our undergraduate students enter a rich art and design marketplace in Over-the-Rhine and Downtown Cincinnati, with 75% of graduates still working in their major’s field after 5 years. Similarly, AAC undergraduates seeking higher education gain acceptance into some of the best graduate programs in the country like Parson’s School of Design, Cranbrook Academy of Art, and Savannah College of Art and Design. 

Where AAC Alumni Work

Museums: The Field Museum of Natural History; MoMa Art Center, Columbus Museum of Art, The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cincinnati Art Museum, 21c Museum Hotel Cincinnati, The Computer History Museum, Taft Museum of Art, Alice F. and Harris K. Weston Art Gallery, and The Contemporary Art Center.

Higher Education: Art Academy of Cincinnati, Rhode Island School of Design, Parsons School of Design, Ohio State University, Ferris State University, Harvard Graduate School of Design, University of Central Florida, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, University of Dayton, and The New School.

Other Employers: The Kroger Company, Macy’s, Inc., Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, The Los Angeles Times, Velocity Design, Fifth Third Bank, Paycor, Worldwide Graphics & Sign Company, The White House, Fidelity Investments, Lush Cosmetics, LaRosa’s Inc., Netflix, Just for Laughs, Comedy Central, Procter & Gamble, and Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park.

The Future of Art and Design Starts Here

At the Art Academy of Cincinnati, we are the new generation of boundary-breakers. The imaginative radicals who are changing the face of art as we know it. The creative entrepreneurs who are redefining culture. The luminous visionaries who are creating a newer, brighter, more radiant world.

The art and design of the future embraces change and points toward hope. It’s about rebellion and self-discovery. And it makes a difference.

The art of the future starts here. It starts with you.

BEGIN YOUR APPLICATION PROCESS HERE

How to Apply

Let’s go over the nuts and bolts of our application process in easy step by step instructions.

Requirements and Deadlines

Here are some requirements and deadlines to help you keep your application on track and on time.

Request Info

We are ready when you are. Contact us now and we’ll get your application under way.

SEE WHO WE ARE

Virtual Tour

See the industrial splendor of our radiant, urban campus. You know you want to.

FACULTY

Meet the artists who will be guiding you to your own confident and creative process.

ViewBook

Your personal compendium to all things AAC. If you need to know it, it’s in here.

SPECIAL APPLICATION RESOURCES

International Students

We’ve got solutions custom-fit for you, no matter your needs.

DACA Students

We’re excited to have you on board! Your resources are a click away.

Transfer Students

Already have college credits? We’ll help you with the transfer process.

Let us help make the application process easy, accessible, and affordable.

From our initial conversation to your first day of class, our friendly and knowledgeable AAC Admissions Team will help you every step of the way. Go on, give it a try!

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Due To Inclement Weather

Classes are cancelled

January 25th, 2023

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