Is Full Sail University OK?

My friend just got a call from Full Sail U about their graphic arts program. Is it a real school? She said that it is NA but doesn't remember the accrediting organization.

 

The quickest way (that I know of) to check accreditation of universities in the USA is to use the USDE's site:
Search Institutional Accreditation System

This tells us that Full Sail IS nationally accredited through "Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges." So they do have valid accreditation. One thing Full Sail does have going for it is that it's a fairly well known school. I remember reading articles about it in old gaming mags because it was one of the first offering game development programs.

However, ACCSC seems to accredit mostly small vocational schools, not universities. List of schools:
ACCSC - Directory Search Results

And I don't know whether ACCSC credits would transfer to RA schools, but I *suspect* that they often would not. That means that if a person gets a BA through Full Sail and then wants to do their master's at a RA school they may be out of luck. Most of the same concerns a person might voice re DETC degrees would apply to ACCSC, except even stronger.

 

It is a school in Florida and it is ACCSC accreditied. It is a real school and somewhat respected but super expensive.

 

From the site:

"Full Sail University is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC), and is licensed by the Commission for Independent Education (CIEICU), Florida Department of Education."

Yes, it's a real school. NA. Can be real expensive, too. Graphic Arts? What does your friend think his/her employment prospects are like?

Johann

 

I interviewed someone with a BS from FullSail and I think they said it cost like $75-100K. It might not be correct but that is what I remember.

 

It's a real school (based in Orlando), it's very expensive, and it occupies a very unique niche with it's programs. Focus on creative arts with many offerings you won't find anywhere. Very well respected in it's areas.

 

I have a friend who did their recording engineering program and he's doing really well. He works for a large television network, worked on Entertainment Tonight, etc. He's definitely made use of it but I think he's the most successful from all of his classmates, most of whom didn't end up working in the industry. The point is, NA accreditation didn't hinder his job prospects. What he got wasn't even a BS...I think it was an associates degree. I think they have good programs, but they're super expensive.

 

A Navy buddy of mine lives in Orlando and started out in the recording engineering program, but I think he switched to show production or something in the end.

He loved the recording program but said the lab hours were weird. They'd have labs in the middle of the night from what he told me.

But back to the topic, I wouldn't spend that type of money for a degree. Maybe a condo!

 

Hey Lawrence, what do you think of the BS Multidisiplinary Studies at LU? I know someone who is considering it.

 

I think they should go for it. I’ll sum Liberty up like this: APA and Christ.
What cognates are they considering?

 

A graphic artist is paid based on their talent and/or ability, not where they graduated from. Does it make sense to spend $120K as opposed to $30K when a portfolio is going to earn/keep the job? The time and energy would be better spent becoming Adobe Certified in the CS5 master suite.

There are certain specific fields where a Full Sail degree is beneficial i.e Sound Engineering. Graphic Design is not one of those fields.

A graduate of Full Sail Graphics Design program is not going to be paid four times the going rate upon graduation, they will however be at least 4 times more in debt.

 

I like those two attributes! Don't know what cognates they are considering. This person has an AA and can't decide what to do with their life but wants to go ahead and finish a bachelor's. I thought a generalist degree might be a good way to go.

 

I wonder if it has any association with the WDW Company since it's based out of Orlando. I think most of the WDW Graphics Designers are based out of the West Coast.

 

Hi -

Association? Well, there are definitely Full Sail grads working at Disney. People from some Disney enterprises, e.g. Disney Radio, speak at Full Sail, etc. That's to be expected. No ownership tie-in that I know of.

I looked around and it appears that Full Sail students often do internships with major media players -- didn't see any Disney ones on my brief surf-mission, but maybe it happens. Wouldn't surprise me.

Johann

 

Full Sale University... one of only two nationally accredited schools that have university in their names... I got this info by searching the ACCSC web site. Calling itself a university is a bit misleading; until a couple years ago it was called Full Sail Real World Education. They stress the fact that you can earn a four year degree in as little as twenty months. Their web site often mentions that you should enroll now and lock in at current tuition prices... you'll save thousands of dollars.

Sound like a diploma mill?
read my blog... [spam removed by moderator]

 

"Comically false," indeed - as our friendly resident Maniac remarked. I just checked the DETC site - most extensive of the National Accreditors. 37 DETC-accredited schools have "University" in their names!

These spammers....

Johann

 

The post in question probably actually meant ACCSC-accredited schools specifically. It appears that there are only two ACCSC-accredited schools that call themselves "universities" (Full Sail U and Independence U). ACCSC typically accredits "schools", "institutes", or "colleges".

However, ACCSC is not the only "national accreditation" agency. There are many other national accreditation agencies (such as DETC), and many nationally accredited "universities" associated with such agencies. So the use of the term "university" is not inherently questionable for a nationally accredited institution.

 

I agree. I have Entertainment Business B.S. and tried to Apply MBA program at UCF, and they said... Clearly, "we do not accept students with degrees from Full Sail University as their accreditation is not one that is recognized by UCF" tried several other really unknown MBA schools, they said pretty much the same thing..

sigh--- I do want to go for MBA and I guess I need a REAL 4-year college degree. I am so glad that I didn't go for Entertainment Business M.S. at Full Sail.

 

I realize this is a year late but I have the same BS from Full Sail and had no problem getting accepted into Masters programs. Although, I have not completed one, I was accepted at Liberty U for the MBA, UGA, and GA State. Try Liberty though, that is where I will end up if I decide to go ahead with the MBA. Although, I am seriously considering going back to FSu for the M.S. in Entertainment Business. The curriculum ofered by FSU just cannot be beat.

However, I will say that an FSU degree is not really for those who want to later go to a more traditional college. It is for those who want a career in the entertainment industry. Your experience has been different from mine but nonetheless I love FSU and it was the best educational decision I have ever made.

Also, i only had $12 K in debt as FSu offers thousands in scholarships and grants and the most expensive degrees are around $85 K for a Bachelors so not all that bad for a private for profit university.