Academy of Art University

The Academy of Art University (AAU or ART U), formerly Academy of Art College and Richard Stephens Academy of Art, is a private for-profit art school in San Francisco, California. It was founded as the Academy of Advertising Art by Richard S. Stephens in 1929.[2] In fall 2020, it had 202 full-time teachers, 621 part-time teaching staff, and 8,928 students;[3] it claims to be the largest privately owned art and design school in the United States.[4] 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.[5]