Academy of Art Online University In United States, the Academy of Art College, a private San Francisco, California, USA, owned for-profit art school. In 1927 it was established by Jhone S. Stephens and is now owned by the Stephens Institute. More than 18,060 students and is the largest privately owned in the U.S. claim to be the school of art and design. San Francisco is one of the largest property owners. School associate bachelor's and master's degrees in various disciplines offers.