Over 30 years ago, Full Sail University began as a dream to create a place where people could learn how to take a passion for entertainment and turn it into a career. Today, students from all over the world come to Full Sail to pursue their dreams, create the art they love, and share ideas with like-minded individuals.
In taking Full Sail University online, our goal is to use the experience and knowledge we have gained from 30 years of educational innovation to create an unparalleled online education that challenges and inspires our students.
Where Is Full Sail University?
Full Sail University is located in Winter Park, Florida, just north of Orlando. The 210-acre campus is designed to offer students the opportunity to create using the same tools as professionals in their industry. To do this, the school boasts over 60 classrooms and 110 studios and labs. Not to mention 3 performance spaces!
The following are just a few of Full Sail’s creative student buildings.
- Film Soundstages
- Recording Studio
- Animation Labs
- Game Studios
- 3-D Arts Center
- Film Backlot
Enrolling at Full Sail University
In the fall of 2015, 20,025 students were enrolled in Full Sail University. 17,890 of these students were pursuing undergraduate programs. 27% of the undergraduate student body was female and 73% was male. 100% of these students were pursuing their degree full-time.
Full Sail differs from other similar schools because its student body almost equally combines traditional and returning college students. 51% of undergraduate students are 24 years old or younger. The remaining 49% are adult learners who are 25 years old or older.
This age breakdown could make Full Sail University a perfect choice for adults getting back to their education. Not only could classes be tailored to your inverted schedule, but you may also have peers in your courses in a similar situation as yourself.
And, many enrolled students take advantage of Full Sail online programs. 64% of undergraduates are only enrolled in distance education. The remaining 36% take part in some distance education.
The remaining 2,135 students at Full Sail are enrolled in graduate programs. Again, 100% of these students chose to attend classes full-time.
Much like their undergraduate counterparts, many graduate students chose to take part in Full Sail online programs. 77% of graduate students were only enrolled in distance education. Another 23% supplemented their schedule with some distance education.i
Undergraduate Full Sail University Admissions
The Full Sail University acceptance rate is hard to judge because it has an open admissions policy. As part of this, you may not be required to submit a minimum high school GPA or SAT/ACT exam score. That being said, you may still be required to submit some materials along with your application. As party of the process, you may be asked to provide the following.
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Government-issued photo identification
The following programs may also ask for additional supplemental materials.
- Computer Animation
- Game Art
- Game Development
- Software Development
- Simulation & Visualization
Be sure to speak with an admissions adviser for more details about submitting extra materials.
Please note that Full Sail does require undergraduate students to interview with the admissions team as part of their application. Online students may be able to complete this step via digital communications.
Speaking of online students, there are a few unique admissions requirements for them. As part of your application, perspective Full Sail online students may be required to take an online education readiness evaluation (OERE). The evaluation aims to see if students are able to competently use the technology necessary to participate in online courses.
Students may also be asked to pay a $40 application fee in addition to providing the above-mentioned materials.
Graduate Admissions at Full Sail University
Graduate admissions at Full Sail vary greatly because each individual program may as for unique materials. That being said, there are a few general requirements students might have to submit with their application. Below are a few of the potential admissions requirements at Full Sail University.
- 2.5 GPA
- Bachelors degree in related field
- Government-issued phot identification
Students who do not meet the GPA requirement have an alternative option. They may submit a letter of intent, resume, and college transcripts to a program director for personal review.
Graduate students may be required to complete an interview with an admissions representative. Online students may be able to complete this via video or phone call.
Like their undergraduate counterparts, potential online graduate students must also complete an OERE.
Credit by Examination
Online students in the graduate track may also apply for credit by examination (CE). This effectively takes into account your previous professional experience and translates it into credit hours.
To do this, students may be required to submit proof of 5 years of professional experience in the field. Depending on committee review, they may then be asked to take the appropriate examination. Students scoring above an 85% or better receive credit.
CE could be applied to the following graduate programs.
- Business Intelligence
- Entertainment Business
- Internet Marketing
Studying Online at Full Sail
Learning at Full Sail has always centered around interaction and the exchange of ideas. Their online curriculum fully embraces this philosophy. They have developed their own online learning environment with the aim of being a people-focused education experience on the web.
- One-Click Access to Instructors
- Powerful Collaborative Tools
- People-Focused Learning Environment
- Innovative Curriculum
Full Sail's educational philosophy emphasizes an immersive, real-world approach to learning, combining elements of creativity, business, and life skills, technical prowess and academic achievement. From video, animation, and podcasts, to more traditional lectures and essay assignments, their goal is to find the most effective way to communicate important concepts.
- Immersive, Media-Driven Education
- Based on Full Sail's Acclaimed On-Campus Programs
- Intelligent, Engaging Content
Full Sail looks forward to seeing the next generation of artists, business leaders, educators, and entrepreneurs come through our virtual doors on their way to career success.
Student Financial Aid Options
86% of full-time beginning undergraduate Full Sail students in 2014-2015 received some sort of financial aid. This is roughly equal to 2,691 students.
Out of these students, 81% received aid from a grant or scholarships. Below is a list of types of grants and scholarships students were awarded. Also listed is the median amount of aid students received.
- Federal grants, $4,478
- State or local government grants or scholarships, $1,193
- Institutional grants or scholarships, $8,803
72% of students would also take out student loans. Students received the provided median amount of aid from the listed loan agencies.
- Federal student loans, $11,032
- Other Student loans, $26,802i
Faculty at Full Sail
Full Sail University employed 844 full-time and 2 part-time faculty members in 2015. During this time, there was a student to faculty ratio of 23 to 1.
100% of these faculty members were in an instructional role. This means that they dedicate their time on campus teaching in the classroom. No professors took time away from their instructional schedule to take part in their own research our outside projects.
It’s also important to note that Full Sail does not employ graduate students. Classes are solely taught by professors in the field and not by graduate students.i
Full Sail University Accreditation
Full Sail University is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC), and is licensed by the Commission for Independent Education (CIE), Florida Department of Education.
Available Full Sail Online Programs
As part of the Full Sail University online initiative, the school offers many of its campus courses in the digital classroom. Full Sail offers online programs at the bachelors, masters, and certificate levels. For instance, the following are a few examples of available bachelors degree programs.
- Audio Production
- Computer Animation
- Creative Writing for Entertainment
- Digital Cinematography
- Music
- Web Design
Or, you may be interested in some of the following masters programs offered online at Full Sail.
- Creative Writing
- Entertainment Business
- Instructional Design
- Internet Marketing
- Media Design
- Mobile Gaming
For a complete list of available undergraduate and graduate programs, speak with an admissions representative.
Online Bachelors in Computer Animation
The bachelors in science in computer animation that is part of the Full Sail online school is a comprehensive design program. Classes in this program teach animation methods for media such as television, movies, and video games.
As part of this, students could study subjects from the minutiae of character design to the broad strokes of landscapes. Not only that, but they could also cover the math and physics behind animating life-like models in your animation.
As part of this degree program, you could have the chance to take some of the following courses.
- 3-D Foundations
- Shading & Lighting
- Model Creation
- 2-D Animation
- Character Rigging
- Fundamentals of Physical Science
- Motion Capture
Be sure to speak with an admissions counselor for an up-to-date list of available courses.
Students pursuing this program may be required to complete 120 credit hours’ worth of classes. Depending on your enrollment, you could potentially earn an online bachelors in computer animation in 29 months.
Full Sail Graduation
44% of full-time, first-time students who began their studies in 2009 graduated within 150% of their “normal time” of completion. What is considered “normal time” varies depending on your chosen degree program. For instance, a bachelors program’s “normal time” of completion is typically 4 years.
This number does not include a portion of students who also started their programs at the same time. For example, the graduation rate does not take into account the following students.
- Transfer students
- Part-time students
- Students who began as part-time students
- Students who had previously earned a degree
The bachelors programs provide a better look at these numbers. 43% of full-time, first-time students who began their program in 2009 earned their degree in 4 years. Of the remaining students, 43% earned their degree in 6 years. 43% of graduates in this time period were male and 43% were female.i
You & Full Sail University
The online programs at Full Sail University are ready and waiting to help you on your educational journey. Their supportive network of student services and intensive coursework could create a great environment for you to develop your academic knowledge.
To browse potential Full Sail online programs, use the tabs on this page. They list available programs at the undergraduate and graduate level. Clicking a link provides you with a general description about the program. In addition, it could also describe key details like admissions guidelines, course description, and possible careers.
[i] nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?q=full+sail+university&s=all&id=134237
