There are many well-known and recognized schools in Georgia, such as Georgia Tech, Emory University, and the University of Georgia. Still, not every school in the state makes this difference. Washington Monthly Magazine recently put out a list of colleges, and The Art Institute of Atlanta was named as the least impressive in Georgia.
How Do You Get to the Art Institute of Atlanta?
There are associate’s and bachelor’s degree programs in graphic design, photography, animation, culinary arts, fashion, and other art and design-related fields at the Art Institute of Atlanta, which is a privately run, for-profit college.
In 1949, it opened as Massey Business College. In 1975, it became part of the Art Institutes system back where it all began. The school has both a physical center in Sandy Springs, which is a suburb of Atlanta and an online branch.
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How The Art Institute of Atlanta Became the “Worst College”
The Art Institute of Atlanta was named the worst college in Georgia based on some important factors, such as its net price, average student debt, failure and completion rates, and return on investment (ROI).
Washington Monthly Magazine found that the school has an unbelievable net price of $27,164 per year, which is a lot more than the national average of $16,789 for private for-profit colleges. This school’s graduates have an average debt load of $39,000, which is a big number that is higher than the national average of $28,950 for college graduates.
The most worrying number is that the return on investment (ROI) for grads is a miserable -146,000, which means that students lose money instead of making it while they are at this school.
What Other Places Are There Besides the Art Institute of Atlanta?
For people who want to work in art and design, it is important to think about schools besides The Art Institute of Atlanta. There are both state and private schools and universities in Georgia that are known for having excellent programs in creative areas.
Some of these are Oglethorpe University, Georgia State University, Savannah College of Art and Design, and Kennesaw State University. Compared to The Art Institute of Atlanta, these schools offer better returns on investment (ROIs), lower tuition costs, higher completion rates, and lower amounts of student debt. In addition, their names and accreditations are better than those of the for-profit school.
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The rate of student loan failure is 19.1%, which is much higher than the national average of 10.1%. Another disappointing fact is that only 18% of students at The Art Institute of Atlanta graduate. This is a lot less than the national average of 59% for private for-profit schools.
Conclusion
Washington Monthly Magazine names the Art Institute of Atlanta as Georgia’s least outstanding college. Its high net price, student debt, poor completion rates, and -146,000 ROI, which means graduates lose money, draw criticism. Oglethorpe University, Georgia State University, Savannah College of Art and Design, and Kennesaw State University have greater ROIs, lower tuition, higher completion rates, and lower student debt. The Art Institute’s low graduation rate and high student loan failure rate raise questions about its curriculum.