The Artists from TAD are amazing...

[Artpotion]

But theres one thing that has been bothering me....

The artists from TAD understand what it means to be an art student, mainly to be broke while still struggling through school. They faced the ridiculous costs at art schools too right? So art schools cost so much why? a lot of the costs go to salary and a lot of the costs go to physical campus related costs right?

Hmm I guess I just am wondering why TAD charges so much for school, aren't their costs quite reduced from being online? Or are they just trying to attract talent with big salaries?

I really want to go to art school but its just too much. Im teaching myself meanwhile =P.

anyone know why TAD charges so much?

[Stuart DeViva]

Because everyone's tryin' to get paidddddd!

[Artpotion]

yeah i know but wouldn't just 2 student tuition alone cover the salary for one artist/teacher?

[Demo]

TAD charges so much?.... are you kidding what its like $30,000 to $40,000 for 4 years
I am at a private school right now that charges that for 2 semesters, and its art program is a complete and utter joke.

TAD's price is extremely reasonable.

[Andrew Sonea]

TAD charges so much?.... are you kidding what its like $30,000 to $40,000 for 4 years
I am at a private school right now that charges that for 2 semesters, and its art program is a complete and utter joke.

TAD's price is extremely reasonable.

I think that those prices you are talking about are mostly just for the USA. The rest of the world is a fair bit cheaper.

[Diarum]

I think they use the TAD money to fund CA.org, which cost a shit ton of money to mantain. I could be wrong tho.

[Conniekat8]

TAD charges so much?.... are you kidding what its like $30,000 to $40,000 for 4 years
I am at a private school right now that charges that for 2 semesters, and its art program is a complete and utter joke.

TAD's price is extremely reasonable.

I agree!
The accredited, pretty high llama private art school I'm going to in fall (LCAD) charges about $25,000 per year.

Being accredited in nice in fact that a student can qualify for all kinds of federal and state aid, and also, if one wants to pursue masters degree, there is a number of options available too.

[Raoul Duke]

I think it's the accredidation process. I know anything involving student loans is going to mark up the price like crazy, because affordability is no longer the issue. It's also the result of the majority of student loans going unpaid. So essentially you are paying for the risk a lender is taking on your loan weather you get a loan or not. In TAD's case they gave out a mess of scholarships before the school started. I'm sure that is a factor in the tuition. I dunno. Manly will probably come by and comment. I'm no expert on loans. I just watch the news.

Connie- I've heard amazing things about LCAD's job placement program. I heard they throw you out if they can't get you a decent job before the end of the second year. The people I've met that went were actually working jobs that paid for the tuition.

[JFierce]

Art is one of the few majors I see the accreditation less important. People don't care what fancy school you went to or if you have a masters degree if you suck hate to say. (Unless maybe it's a teaching job?)

One of the few fields where I imagine portfolio is the key factor. If your not going mainly to learn and get better and just going to get a piece of paper that's one expensive ass piece of paper.

[Conniekat8]

I think it's the accredidation process. I know anything involving student loans is going to mark up the price like crazy, because affordability is no longer the issue. It's also the result of the majority of student loans going unpaid. So essentially you are paying for the risk a lender is taking on your loan weather you get a loan or not. In TAD's case they gave out a mess of scholarships before the school started. I'm sure that is a factor in the tuition. I dunno. Manly will probably come by and comment. I'm no expert on loans. I just watch the news.

Connie- I've heard amazing things about LCAD's job placement program. I heard they throw you out if they can't get you a decent job before the end of the second year. The people I've met that went were actually working jobs that paid for the tuition.

Thanks, TBH, I haven't really checked into their job placement. Looks like a really solid program, one I always thought was way over my head, but it turns out I'm able to do a lot more then I thought I could. I did hear that they are rather well connected in the industry from a number of sources.

Also, what I like is that their program has a lot of art/studio units, and not very many general education units. Considering this is my second degree, I'm really not that interested on a general ed. refresher courses....

I think my 'after school' future will most likely be freelancing, but we'll see. I may even switch into fine arts before it's all over. We'll see. I've always been into 3D, because technical part of it came easy. Since I started fundamentals, I'm discovering all kinds of new fun things, and not doing as much 3D. Could be just the newness of it all (and a lot of homework).
As I learn and grow, I'm figuring I'll settle into something.

Right now I have several different ideas and directions. I hear as one grows as an artist, this solidifies. Using detailed 3D to make illustrations appeals to me a lot... so does the concept art.

I just filed my Financial application(s)... and started learning how it all works.

Art is one of the few majors I see the accreditation less important. People don't care what fancy school you went to or if you have a masters degree if you suck hate to say. (Unless maybe it's a teaching job?)

Unless you want to take advantage of government programs and finances to pay for your school.

Accredited program, I'm looking at 60%-100% of the fees paid by the scholarships and grants and federal and state programs.

Non-accredited, about federal money, and sometimes state becomes unavailable, and you have to pay out of your pocket. In my particular case, that would add up to about 15-17K a year not available.

Also, in case you want to transfer somewhere, lot of them have standardized classes and reciprocity.

Sure, once you have a snazzy portfolio, the degree is not that important, but, these programs are a really good way to get the knowledge, and put in the work needed to have a snazzy portfolio, and get to know a few people in the industry. For example, LCAD is pretty closely connected with Blizzard, and one of their 'recruiting grounds'.

Also, I find it easier to go to school, then to try and structure a well rounded art education studying on my own.

[Artpotion]

ok so tad doesn't charge 30-40k for 4 years. their opening page on tuition costs even says its 45k for 30 months which is 2.5yr and nonacr. so one its online, costs should be reduced right?, two its only a 2.5 year school (which seems crammed for a full education). and its 18,000 per year for each one of those 2.5 crammed years. isn't it pretty much common sense that trying to teach in 2.5 years what is bought to most in 4 years or even more. Cramming that much material into shorter time means the quality of the classes get degraded when you cram too much material into classes.

Perhaps Im just cheap. I suppose 18k per year is cheaper than most other art schools isn't it? I don't doubt the ability of the teachers when I talk about class quality being reduced, Its not the fault of the teachers at all, its simply i guess the physics of times, if you have more stuff to go over in a shorter period of time then you have to cover topics faster. But i love all the artists here, I just wish there was some true affordability in the system in general.

How is a student expected even to pay back 18k a year loans. thats a lot less than a 30k a yr place but most people probably are still going to have a stupid hard time trying to pay it back, if they don't have to move back in with their parents that is. like is happening with a lot of recent graduates.

[Pavel Sokov]

Meanwhile in Canada our tuition is 1,250$ per semester approximately. Don't you guys just hate socialism?

[Vay]

Meanwhile in Canada our tuition is 1,250$ per semester approximately. Don't you guys just hate socialism?

Is that a public (Community or city college?) or private school? I am still paying twice your amount, about $2,500, going to a NYC city college. But the financial aids pays $5,000 per semester, and the extra $2,500, I get back to spend on stuff. I also get $650 for textbook costs(textbook costs are insane, 2 of my textbooks need to be new such that their access codes are contained within, and two new textbooks with online access-codes I bought costs $340 in total. The ones that don't require access codes, I buy used from Amazon).

A local community college here is $1800 per semester.

[Voodoo_Mama]

It is expensive Artpotion, very expensive. Even more if what Conniekat says about not being able to apply for help is true.
I don't know much about it, but I'm guessing it's that expensive because the people who are teaching are very skilled and already have some fame in the industry. I'm just guessing, I'm not sure, I don't even know who the teacher's are.

eh it's true, I went to college here in Toronto and the semesters were around 1250 to 2000 dollars. I thought it was like that in all of North America, I didn't know that studying in the United States could be so expensive. Although maybe universities are equally expensive?

[Vay]

Yea, but don't things in Canada, like a Snicker bar, cost more than in the US, except for the tuitions?

[Voodoo_Mama]

umm...maybe...maybe yes, since we do have high taxes to pay. A lot of people here in Canada complain about the high taxes.
I personally don't mind the taxes, because they go into what it's needed, like free health care.

Stuff like sneaker bars, are more expensive I think because they're imported (I think, Sneakers are made in the US no?) same with books that are made or printed in the US cost more expensive, it depends on the book but it's usually around 10 to 20 dollars more expensive. The James Gurney books I bought were around 30 dollars here, and I think they sell them for 25 in the states.

[vineris]

Is that a public (Community or city college?) or private school? I am still paying twice your amount, about $2,500, going to a NYC city college. But the financial aids pays $5,000 per semester, and the extra $2,500, I get back to spend on stuff. I also get $650 for textbook costs(textbook costs are insane, 2 of my textbooks need to be new such that their access codes are contained within, and two new textbooks with online access-codes I bought costs $340 in total. The ones that don't require access codes, I buy used from Amazon).

A local community college here is $1800 per semester.

We have no major private post-secondary schools. All our best post-secondary schools are public, whether they're a University (a degree-granting institution) or a College (non-degree granting institution).

I can go to the best art school in the country for a little over $5000 a year, and that includes health and dental.

Yea, but don't things in Canada, like a Snicker bar, cost more than in the US, except for the tuitions?

Yeah, we totally get ripped off on the shitty consumer goods so that we can get cheap education and health care. It's a never-ending trial.

Although maybe universities are equally expensive?

Depends largely on the program and institution. On average you'll pay somewhere between $4000 and $5000 per semester at a major, reputable University to study something like engineering or law. This includes all the little extra fees that they ding you for, though, like health & dental and recreation.

[JFierce]

lol if we're going into a healthcare debate you won't hear me arguing. Healthcare is a joke here, plain and simple.


But on topic, yeah I'd say Community college around my area is in that price range, not a university though. But I've seen a lot of community colleges that have even more amazing teachers than some universities. Although the teachers in Art seem to shift a lot, here for a few semesters gone the next. Financial aid would be nice if you can get it. I don't have that luxury sadly from complications :/

[Conniekat8]

Community college here in CA is $35 per semester unit (At least in my areas, don't know if it's uniform for the whole state)... so at 15 units that about $500-$600, and for double that for a full year... $1200. That doesn't count books and supplies, just school tuition.

For the price, some of the art foundation classes they offer are great, and transferable to other schools (if your portfolio passes their standards, in addition to a good grade).

[Demo]

ArtPotion I am not sure where your from but in the states a semester is around 4.5 months for fall and spring. with a break during the summer. I'm not sure how TAD does the division of classes but I would pretty much guarantee that they don't go a full straight 12 months at a time. My guess is that they do 4 months in the fall, 1 or 2 month break, 4 months in the spring, and then you can elect to do more classes in the summer.

My guess for costs is that the legal side of running things might cost a lot here in the states, regardless if online.

There seems to be a good, good number of instructors so it probably cost more to have a verity of instructors in-place of just a few.

I believe there are real world components, POD's setup in various locations for students to work together.

I would also guess something to do with being eligible to receive scholarship money or such???? and on that note if it is out of your range then apply for Scholarships.

[Jason Manley]

Some facts:

A: TAD tuition has been as low as 22.5k for the full five semesters and there are a number of tuition packages available.
B: TAD offers interest free financing...ie ZERO percent interest.
C: TAD has on ground programs in Austin, Kansas City, and Richmond and does workshops twice per year.
D: Half of the entertainment 3rd (now 4th) semester 2d students are already working on major titles including the top MMO on earth right now.
E: The first three TAD graduates were restricted from participating in the Society of Illustrators annual student competition and so they entered into the professionals program, taking the Gold, Silver, and best of other category awards. The top advertising illustration awards in the business.
F: TAD has given more than 1 Million in scholarships so far to students of merit and many have attended for free, half or quarter rides. Some of the half ride winners paid up front to get the discount and got the full five semesters for 11,250.
G: TAD pays its faculty as they should be paid, not the offensively low salaries teachers get paid elsewhere. My mother was a teacher, so is my sister, and I see the world as one where teachers should be well paid.
H: Here are a list of the speakers coming to TAD (less than 50 of the 100 who are coming). Find me an art school with this level of commitment to student exposure.

TAD charges about 1/3 of what it costs to go to art school elsewhere in the US, when compared to the 130K tuitions at Ringling or even more at Art Center, which is also a 2.5 year program.

We have done all we can to lower the cost of education and improve quality...

Oh yeah..the list! Any one of these people can make entire careers.

JOHN STEVENSON: CO-DIRECTOR- KUNG FU PANDA
ALEXANDER SEROPIAN: FOUNDER- BUNGIE and WIDELOAD GAMES, FORMER PRESIDENT, DISNEY INTERACTIVE
JEFF BRAUN: FOUNDER OF MAXIS and FORMER PRESIDENT OF EA
CAREEN YAP:VP of LICENSING AND BIZ DEV - KONAMI
JAY DEE ALLEY: DIRECTOR OF PRODUCT DEV.- CAPCOM
KEITH BOESKY: PRESIDENT OF BOESKY AND COMPANY (also Mel Gibson's former agent, and the ex President of Eidos who launched Tomb Raider)
LORNE LANNING: CO-FOUNDER- ODDWORLD
SHERRY MCKENNA-CO-FOUNDER- ODDWORLD
MEGAN GAISER: CHIEF CREATIVE STRATEGY OFFICER-HER INTERACTIVE
HEATHER HAZEL: SENIOR PRODUCER- POPCAP GAMES
CHRIS AVELLONE: LEAD DESIGNER/OWNER- OBSIDIAN ENTERTAINMENT
J.E. SAWYER: LEAD DESIGNER-OBSIDIAN ENTERTAINMENT
STEVE BOKKES: LEAD DESIGNER- SONY ONLINE
JOSEPH OLIN-FORMER PRES. ACAD OF INTERACTIVE ARTS AND SCIENCES
BILL DUGGAN: AUTHOR- STRATEGIC INTUITION
JOSEE LALUMIERE: GM NEWBREED VFX (Transfomers)
MARIO WYNANDS: FOUNDER- SIDHE INTERACTIVE
MARSHALL VANDRUFF: EDUCATOR- THE ART DEPARTMENT
JEFFREY T. MAKOFF: SENIOR PARTNER- VALLE-MAKOFF LLP.
JEFFREY ROSE Esq. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ATTORNEY
ODED PALLED: CEO- ROCKET NINJA
MILES THOMPSON: MEDIA PUBLISHER
RAJESH RAO: CEO, DHRUVA INTERACTIVE
JASON DELLA ROCA-GAMES CONSULtANT=FORMER HEAD OF IGDA
SEAN KAUPINNEN- CEO, IDEA- GAMES INDUSTRY BIZ DEV GURU
TIM DONLEY: CREATIVE DIRECTOR- THQ/VIGIL GAMES
BRIAN REID: FOUNDER & CREATIVE DIRECTOR-OSIRIS
JOHN SCHINDEHETTE: SENIOR ART DIRECTOR, WIZARDS OF THE COAST

This is just the initial list from the 100 people presenting, doing keynotes, giving talks, reviewing work, and participating in greenlight pitches. And this list is on top of the faculty list we have working daily too. More info here for those not in TAD (TAD students have this included in their tuition). https://www.facebook.com/pages/Green...98897506830896


I hope that answers some questions. We really are doing our best and we did this because we felt other schools were not only doing a poor job, but were far too expensive. We will continue to offer what we feel is the best possible education we can.

Thanks for all the points...and yes TAD does pay for CA and keeps this site open for you all.


Jason

[Justin.]

To prevent misinformation: Art Center is not a 2.5 year program- The Entertaiment Design Program specifically at ACCD is 4 years long.

[erinc]

two its only a 2.5 year school (which seems crammed for a full education). and its 18,000 per year for each one of those 2.5 crammed years. isn't it pretty much common sense that trying to teach in 2.5 years what is bought to most in 4 years or even more. Cramming that much material into shorter time means the quality of the classes get degraded when you cram too much material into classes.

I'm not sure how TAD works, but I know how most traditional colleges and universities work. Your first two years are gen ed years -- foundational courses. Regardless of your specific major, you'll take basically the same classes as everyone else. More so if you don't go to an "art school," but a school with an art program or a liberal arts school. You'll take a lot of intro classes.

Depending on the school, you'll graduate with something like 60-80 hours of major specific classes (with another 60 or so general education courses). That's about 2 years of school at 4 semesters of 15-20 hours, which is a full-time course load (or, like, 5 3-credit hour classes per semester). We were told that for every hour you spend in class, you should spend 3 hours doing homework for that class every week. So, if you take 5 3-hour classes per week (total 15 hours) then you should plan on doing 45 hours of homework, projects, etc. There were probably a couple of weeks where I hit that, but generally I didn't come close. It was more likely a 1 to 1 ratio, where about 30 hours a week were spent in class or on homework, on the down weeks, and that's being generous. And let's not even broach how much of any of that is spent sober for the average college student.

In a 2-semester system, you'll spend about 30-35 weeks in school per year, including finals week. Depending on your schedule, you may take classes every mon-fri, but I managed a semester where I only had classes on tuesday and thursday, and a monday evening class. I think I only had classes on friday for 3 semesters. The amount of downtime a student can manage is astronomical, although it's not a prudent use of time or money.

All that to say, if you can't fit a typical 4 year education into 2 and a half year time frame, you aren't trying.

[Artpotion]

Wow jason thanks so much for answering the thread and my question! Yeah I guess a lot of art schools are even way more expensive. I know you guys do a lot, and from your explanation it sounds like you've tried hard to cut costs, and you prices are quite competitive when compared with other art schools.

I dont blame TAD for my inability to afford to go to art school lol, I just don't think I could afford it right now =(. Soo i guess ill just work on it myself while I try to get into a position to afford it =).

I took two years of classes at a local university in florida 12cr per sam, pretty good school. I did very well but the classes were just too boring really, mostly gen ed courses but even in the art classes or psych classes I took the classes were zoo hmm, non-interactively.

Well I guess ill do some math, see if I can find a way to afford it ^_^.

thanks again everyone for replying

[Charlie D]

Comments from Dan Dos Santos may be of help

http://muddycolors.blogspot.com/2012...-download.html

And btw Artpotion there are some good vids in TAD store for just 7 bucks


The Mechanic is excellent