General Info

Founded in 1946 as the Burnley School for Professional Art, The Art Institute of Seattle has a proud history as a part of the Seattle community and a contributor to the creative industries in the Northwest. In 1982, it became The Art Institute of Seattle, part of a group of 32 North American Art Institutes. It enrolled nearly 2,500 students in 2004. The Art Institute of Seattle was granted regional accreditation by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities in 1999. In 2003, it was granted informal candidacy at the baccalaureate level to offer Bachelor of Fine Arts degree programs in media arts and animation, graphic design and interior design. The parent company of The Art Institutes, Education Management Corporation, is among the largest providers of private post-secondary education in North America, based on student enrollment and revenue. It has provided career-oriented education for more than 40 years in design, fashion, media and culinary arts.