11-10-2025 10:54pm

Art Academy of Cincinnati Expands Commitment to Access and Affordability

Beth Callahan Editor

Story contributed from Game Day Communications

CINCINNATI — Art Academy of Cincinnati (AAC) is proud to announce an expanded commitment to affordability, transparency, and creative opportunity for students and families.

Beginning in Fall 2026, AAC will become the first independent college in Greater Cincinnati to offer a Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) to all new incoming and transfer students—further strengthening the institution’s long-standing Tuition Promise and expanding a range of scholarship opportunities designed to make creative education more accessible than ever.

“We want our students and families to know that an investment in an Art Academy education comes with a promise—not just of academic and creative excellence, but of real support after graduation,” said Joe Girandola, presiden, Art Academy of Cincinnati. “The AAC Advantage reflects our confidence in the long-term value of a degree from the Art Academy of Cincinnati.”

The AAC Advantage: Loan Repayment Assistance Program

Through a partnership with Ardeo Education Solutions, AAC will offer the AAC Advantage Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) at no cost to students or their families.

If a graduate’s income after leaving AAC is below $50,000, the program helps repay federal student loans, parent PLUS loans, and private alternative loans. Support continues until the graduate’s income exceeds $50,000 or their eligible loans are fully repaid.

“While we believe the value of an AAC education and creative impact goes far beyond financial outcomes, we understand that student debt is a concern for many families,” said Katie Brenner Wolf, executive director of enrollment & student success. “The AAC Advantage helps ease that burden and lets our students focus on their creative futures with confidence.”

Expanded Scholarships for Access and Excellence

AAC believes creative potential exists everywhere—and that every aspiring artist deserves the opportunity to pursue their passion without financial barriers. To honor that belief, AAC offers a range of scholarships that celebrate talent, dedication, and academic excellence across our region and beyond.

Tri-State Creative Scholar Award
- The Tri-State Creative Scholar Award celebrates talented students from Ohio, northern Kentucky (Gallatin, Grant, Pendleton, Bracken, Boone, Kenton, Campbell), and southeastern Indiana (Franklin, Dearborn, Ohio, Switzerland, Ripley, Jefferson) who combine academic excellence with a passion for artistic expression.
- With a minimum 3.0 GPA, recipients of this award receive an additional $10,000 scholarship towards four years of study at AAC, stackable with the Portfolio Entrance Scholarship and other merit-based awards.

Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS) Scholarship
- AAC is proud to uplift the creativity that begins right here in our city. The Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS) Scholarship recognizes the vision and talent of Cincinnati’s young artists who are ready to transform their creative potential into a professional path.
- One incoming student will receive the Full Tuition & Fee CPS Scholarship, covering four years of tuition and fees at AAC. This scholarship application is open to Pell-eligible high school seniors currently enrolled in the Cincinnati Public School District.
- The CPS Scholarship replaces all AAC institutional scholarships, but may be combined with external scholarships, grants, and loans to ensure cost of attendance coverage.

Vision Scholarship
- AAC also honors the courage it takes to dream big and be the first. The Vision Scholarship celebrates Pell-eligible, first-generation college students who bring creativity, determination, and a drive to make their mark on the world.
- One incoming student will receive the Full Tuition & Fee Vision Scholarship, covering four years of tuition and fees. In addition, eligible students may be considered for a $3,000 Annual Vision Scholarship, renewable each year and stackable with other AAC scholarships up to the full cost of tuition and fees. Both awards can also be combined with external scholarships, grants, and loans, providing continued support throughout a student’s creative journey. Students and families are encouraged to learn more about AAC’s scholarship opportunities and review application details by visiting www.artacademy.edu/scholarships.

Continuing the AAC Tuition Promise

AAC’s Tuition Promise program continues to serve as a cornerstone of its commitment to transparency and financial stability.

College is one of the most important financial investments students and families will ever make—and AAC remains dedicated to helping families plan that investment with confidence. The Tuition Promise guarantees that for all incoming and currently enrolled undergraduate students, tuition will not increase over four academic years.

This continued promise ensures that renewable entrance scholarships retain their full value throughout a student’s college journey, offering consistent financial support from start to finish.

“We want to instill a sense of trust and stability in the college process,” said Girandola. “Our Tuition Promise gives families the predictability they deserve while empowering students to focus on becoming the future creatives of tomorrow.”

A Promise That Reflects AAC’s Mission

From the AAC Advantage Loan Repayment Program to the continued Tuition Promise and new regional scholarships, these initiatives reflect the Art Academy of Cincinnati’s belief that creative education should be accessible, transparent, and transformative.

“We’re investing in our students because we believe in their potential,” said Brenner Wolf.“Our goal is simple: to remove barriers, increase access, and give every artist the freedom to create boldly and live freely.”

Students and families are invited to experience the Art Academy of Cincinnati firsthand at Open House on Saturday, Nov. 15, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. At the event, they can connect with the admissions team, hear directly from college representatives, and learn more about scholarships and the AAC Advantage Loan Repayment Assistance Program. Open House will be held at Art Academy of Cincinnati, 1212 Jackson St., Cincinnati, Ohio 45202.

About the Art Academy of Cincinnati:

Art Academy of Cincinnati (AAC), established in 1869, is an independent college of art and design. Degrees granted are the Associate of Science in Graphic Design; the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Creative Writing, Design, Illustration, Painting and Drawing, Photography, Print Media, Digital Arts Animation and Sculpture; and the Master of Arts in Art Education. Accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD), AAC is a charter member of both NASAD and the Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design. AAC is also accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the Strategic Ohio Council for Higher Education (SOCHE). AAC’s mission is to create and sustain radical, forward thinking, contemporary visual artists and designers whose creative contributions make a substantial difference in all the lives they touch.