Art Academy of Cincinnati

We may be small, but our commitment is big. It’s the same commitment our students make to themselves: to make the best art they can. The Art Academy of Cincinnati has kept that commitment since 1869, building a rich tradition of innovation and excellence in the visual arts.

The Art Academy is one of the smallest four-year art colleges in the country, and that’s one of our greatest strengths: It means our students really get to be themselves. They receive individualized attention from faculty, the freedom to develop their personal vision, and a unique opportunity to carve out their identity.

You won’t just get an education at AAC; you’ll begin to discover who you are, personally and artistically. At the end of your four years here, you won’t be the same person you were at the beginning.

Be a Part of Something Bigger

Your experience at the Art Academy of Cincinnati is all about discovering your brightest, most vibrant self. It's about finding your artistic voice and making it resonate.

As a part of our collective of rule-breaking makers, you will be challenged to take bold risks, explore media you never dreamed of, and invent contemporary visual art and design forms no one has yet imagined.

The art and design of the future start here. It starts with you.

Innovative Education

At the Art Academy of Cincinnati, we know that 21st-century art and design require radical risk-taking. That collaboration is at the heart of innovation. That the future is made by thinking, creating, and solving real-world problems in groundbreaking ways.

Our trans-disciplinary curriculum is designed to prepare you for a future at the forefront of contemporary art and design. Our major-fluid programs give you the freedom to experiment and explore across disciplines and the power to customize your education so it fits your vision.

International Students

Your experience at the Art Academy of Cincinnati is all about discovering your brightest, most vibrant self. It's about finding your artistic voice and making it resonate.

As a part of our collective of rule-breaking makers, you will be challenged to take bold risks, explore media you never dreamed of, and invent contemporary visual art and design forms no one has yet imagined.

The art and design of the future start here. It starts with you.

International Application Checklist

1. Application through our website.
2. Portfolio review: Submit 8-10 pieces of original artwork and/or writing that show your personal ideas and interests and demonstrate your artistic, technical, and creative abilities. There are several ways you can submit your portfolio:
   • Slideroom: Upload your portfolio online at Slideroom.
   • In-person: You can schedule an appointment on our website.
   • National Portfolio Day: Join us for a National Portfolio Day event.
   • Virtual: Schedule a virtual meeting to receive feedback from one of our counselors.
3. Official High School Transcript: We have a GPA requirement of 2.0 or higher. You must provide an official high school transcript evaluation from an accredited evaluation service such as World Education Services, International Education Research Foundation, or Educational Credential Evaluators. Please note that we will not accept transcripts that have not been evaluated.
4. Please note that we will not accept transcripts that have not been evaluated or translated into English.
5. If a student's transcript is on the U.S. Grading Scale (A-F and 0%-100%) or similar, it will be accepted and will not need to be evaluated.
6. English Language Proficiency (ELP):
   • TOEFL: Minimum score requirements are 550 on the paper-based test, 213 on the computer-based test, or 80 on the internet-based test.
   • Duolingo: The minimum test score the AAC accepts is 90. Students can send their scores directly to the AAC or request a test be sent.
   • The International English Language Testing System (IELTS): minimum test score of 6.
   • International students currently living or studying in the United States or in a primarily English-speaking country may have the ELP waived after speaking with the International Coordinator.
   • The AAC will not accept any test taken more than two years prior to the application date. One year is preferred.
7. Passport copy: Please email a color photocopy of your current passport photo identification page.
8. Bank statement: Financial Documentation: Notarized bank documentation of funds in USD to support one year of study and living expenses at AAC.

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