The Art Institute of Pittsburgh
420 Boulevard of the Allies
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
412-263-6600
800-275-2470
http://www.aip.artinstitutes.edu/
IN ADDITION
Students at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh can find reasonably priced housing through the services of the school's Housing Department. School-sponsored housing is available at Allegheny Center Apartments. Downtown Pittsburgh is serviced by a well-networked Port Authority Transit and subway system, making all of Allegheny County's suburbs accessible to students of the Art Institute of Pittsburgh.
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The Art Institute of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15219
The Art Institute of Pittsburgh is nestled in the heart of the Golden Triangle.
Overview
On October 1, 1921, the Art Institute of Pittsburgh first opened its doors to a class of 9 students. Known as the Artist's League of Pittsburgh, the school established its roots in a single, 500-square-foot room, under the direction of Pittsburgh artist Willis Shook. Even in its earliest days, the Institute operated with an eye toward employers' needs. In 1921, America was in the throes of a consumer buying frenzy. The advertising business, although young, was booming, stoking the country's interest in the new and improved. In response to the marketplace, the Institute graduated commercial artists who designed billboards and magazine ads that competed for the attention of the buying public. More than eighty years later, the Institute's mission to train students for creative careers remains the same. Otherwise, the resemblance is minimal for the second-oldest school in the Art Institutes family.
The technological revolution has impacted the art, design, and entertainment fields in ways most people never dreamed. The hallmark of the Art Institutes has always been industry-relevant curricula, precipitating monumental investments in classroom technology. In the late 70s, computers had not yet been introduced into the curricula. The Art Institute now has fully equipped and industry-standard labs. To remain on the leading edge, advisory boards comprised of local and regional experts evaluate technology-driven programs.
In 1976, the Art Institute of Pittsburgh became part of the Art Institutes, a family of schools with twenty-one locations nationwide. The strength of the system allows for shared employer and alumni networking and traded program experience. Together, the Art Institutes have collectively produced more than 100,000 graduates and are the largest source of new professionals in the creative arts.
The Art Institute of Pittsburgh is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology (ACCSCT) and the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges (ACICS).
The Art Institute of Pittsburgh is nestled in the heart of downtown Pittsburgh's Golden Triangle. A visitor to the Greater Pittsburgh area finds a thriving metropolis that sprawls over 55 square miles. The thirteenth-largest city in the nation, Pittsburgh is situated halfway between New York City and Chicago and is within a two-hour flight or a day's drive of more than 70 percent of the U.S. population.
By day, Pittsburgh follows the rush of the downtown business crowd and is the international headquarters of US Airways, Alcoa, Heinz, and many new technology-driven businesses. There are free summer concerts in downtown's Market Square; an abundance of theaters; thriving nightlife districts, such as the South Side and the Strip District; and quaint coffee shops and retail merchants on every corner.
Pittsburgh is enjoying a renewed commitment to downtown growth. A brand-new football stadium for the Pittsburgh Steelers and a waterfront baseball park for the Pirates are on the way for the city's beloved sports teams.
Pittsburgh is serviced by Greater Pittsburgh International Airport, one of the largest and most retail-developed airports in the U.S.
Academic Life
The Art Institute of Pittsburgh offers bachelor’s degree programs (thirty-six months) in advertising, culinary management, digital media production, entertainment design, fashion and retail management, game art and design, graphic design, hotel and restaurant management, industrial design, interactive media design, interior design, media arts and animation, photography, and visual effects and motion graphics. Associate of Science degree programs (twenty-one months) are offered in culinary arts, graphic design, industrial design technology, interactive media design, photography, restaurant and catering operations, and video production. Diploma programs (twelve months) are offered in the art of cooking, digital design, residential planning, and Web design.
The faculty and staff members of the Art Institute of Pittsburgh have grown proportionately, both having nearly doubled over the last twenty years alone, to approximately 250 people. Many of the Art Institute faculty members are drawn from the ranks of industry professionals, so they are able to teach students how to use current technology while cultivating their conceptual, creative, and problem-solving skills. To support its educational mission, the Art Institute staff is comprised of nearly 150 dedicated individuals, all working toward the success of students from admissions to career services. The year-round average class size is 25 students. The Art Institute boasts an active employer count of more than 9,700, indicating another area of enhancement-career services. The one-time advising approach to graduate placement has become an aggressive and far more sophisticated marketing effort. Today, approximately 88 percent of all graduates are working in field-related jobs within six months of graduation.
Campus Life
What started as a relatively local student body now draws a substantial portion of its enrollment from areas beyond 100 miles of the school and from all over the nation. International students also represent a growing percentage of the Art Institute's population. The average age of the Art Institute student fluctuates between 18 and 24. Approximately 600 of the Art Institute's 2,400 enrolled students reside in a school-sponsored apartment complex located on Pittsburgh's North Shore.
The Art Institute of Pittsburgh's Student Life Department offers collegiate activities and events. The department also employs a Student Activities Coordinator who plans various events, theme parties, and clubs. Events are communicated via weekly and quarterly newsletters as well as a college television network. The school supports approximately twenty clubs and intramural sports teams as well as a housing department that oversees the activities and concerns of school-sponsored housing residents. A cross-program Student Council represents the needs and issues of the entire student body and meets biweekly. The Student Life Department also offers counseling services.
Facilities and Resources
The Art Institute of Pittsburgh is currently located at 420 Boulevard of the Allies in a 19-story building. The fully networked building is a sprawling 170,000-square-foot, nine-story historic landmark. The facility boasts interchangeable classroom and computer and cell animation labs, with extended access to Macintosh and PC computer and design and animation software.
Photography students have access to a brand new digital darkroom as well as traditional wet labs and printing stations. Interior design students utilize a fabric and textile research facility and computer-aided drawing software. The building is equipped with a television studio, digital editing suites, and Foley audio studio to support the video production curriculum. A full industrial design shop is available as well. The Art Institute of Pittsburgh's library is program oriented and is undergoing an aggressive purchase of related volumes. Students can also utilize more than 200 periodical subscriptions and the Internet stations housed in the library as well.
Expenses
Expenses vary by program. Prospective students should contact the school for current tuition costs. Other charges include a starting kit for all first-quarter students. Kits vary in price depending on the program of study.
Financial Aid
The Art Institute of Pittsburgh provides financial planning for its students and encourages its students to become familiar with the financial aid programs that are available. The Student Financial Services department helps the student and his or her family plan for the projected costs of education. The Institute reviews the application forms by using a federally required calculation to determine eligibility for financial aid. A financial planner then works with the student to devise a student financial plan to help cover education expenses, based on financial aid eligibility and family income circumstances. This plan carefully matches the student's personal financial contributions with probable outside forms of assistance.
Financial aid programs are designed to supplement-rather than replace-the resources of the family. The Student Financial Services department uses a required formula specified by the U.S. Department of Education that compares the cost of education to family size, income, and assets to determine how much of the estimated cost of education should be financed by the student or family and how much should be paid for using aid programs. Various merit-based and need-based scholarships are available at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. Information about the school's scholarships can be obtained in the Admissions Office.
Admission Requirements
EA prospective student seeking admission to the Art Institute of Pittsburgh must be a high school graduate with a high school QPA of 2.0 or higher, hold a General Educational Development (GED) Certificate, or a bachelor's degree or higher as a prerequisite for admission. Students who have completed high school or its equivalent yet cannot provide the necessary documentation may provide alternate documentation to satisfy this requirement. The President of the Art Institute of Pittsburgh must approve all exceptions. A student who holds a bachelor's degree or higher may submit proof of the bachelor's degree to satisfy the high school or GED requirement.
The Art Institute of Pittsburgh seeks students who are serious about entering the commercial art, design, or media fields as a career. Prospective students should be serious minded about achieving career goals as efficiently and effectively as possible. They should also desire a practical and skills-oriented education, while understanding the importance of a general education component in a well-rounded education.
All Art Institute of Pittsburgh applicants are evaluated on the basis of their previous education, background, and stated or demonstrated interest in their program of choice. Portfolios are welcome but not required. Applicants who have taken the SAT I or ACT are encouraged to submit scores to the Admissions Office for evaluation.
Application and InformationApplication are accepted on a rolling basis. An application for admission must be completed, signed by the applicant, and sent to the Art Institute of Pittsburgh with a $50 application fee. As part of the application, the applicant is required to independently conceive and write an essay, stating how the applicant believes his or her education at the Art Institute will help to attain his or her career goals. . Applicants must submit a completed enrollment agreement and a high school transcript or GED scores and are assessed a $100 enrollment fee within 10 days of application. Applicants who are not accepted for admission receive a full refund.
Prospective students are encouraged to visit the Art Institute, although a visit is not required. The Art Institute conducts four open houses per year and has a solid commitment to visiting high schools to conduct presentations.