Full Sail University is a private for-profit university in Winter Park, Florida, focused on audio, film, games, animation and other media and entertainment fields. It had 27,169 students in fall 2024, and 84% of undergraduates studied entirely online. Its pros are specialised creative programs, extensive studio facilities and open admission; its cons are a very high net price, heavy borrowing, a 53% retention rate and national rather than regional accreditation, which can limit credit transfer.
Below are the pros and cons in detail, with cost, outcome and accreditation figures from the federal College Navigator database, so you can judge whether Full Sail is a good school for you.
Full Sail University at a Glance
- Type: private for-profit university.
- Location: an approximately 200-acre campus in Winter Park, about 8.6 miles northeast of downtown Orlando.
- History: founded in 1979 in Dayton, Ohio, as a recording studio; it moved to Florida in 1980, offered its first bachelor’s degree in 2005, launched online degrees in 2007 and gained university status in 2008.
- Enrollment (fall 2024): 27,169 total, 25,777 undergraduate.
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 32 to 1.
- Admission: open admission.
Pros: What Full Sail Does Well
- Specialised creative programs. Full Sail’s degrees concentrate on audio, film and media production, video game design, animation and entertainment business, so students go straight into their field.
- Serious production facilities. The Winter Park campus has soundstages, a film backlot and 110 studios, plus a virtual production studio opened in March 2022 and labs for spatial computing and drones opened in 2025.
- Industry exposure. WWE has filmed episodes of WWE NXT at Full Sail since 2012, and the campus esports facility, The Fortress, was named a top-10 collegiate esports facility in 2020.
- Online options. 84% of undergraduates study entirely online, which lets students outside Florida take its programs.
- Open admission. Full Sail has an open admission policy, so a creative portfolio or test scores are not a barrier to entry.
Cons: What to Weigh Before You Enroll at Full Sail
- A very high net price. The average net price for full-time first-time students rose to $37,848 in 2023-2024, and it was $38,738 for families earning up to $30,000, so low-income students get almost no price break.
- Heavy borrowing. 83% of full-time first-time students took out student loans in 2023-2024, averaging $8,661.
- Many students do not return. 53% of first-time students returned for a second year, and 44% of the 2018-19 bachelor’s cohort graduated within four years (45% within six).
- National, not regional, accreditation. Full Sail is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC). It has faced criticism over limited transferability of its credits, so check with any school you might transfer to or attend for graduate study.
- Large classes relative to faculty. A 32 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio is high for hands-on creative training.
What Full Sail Costs
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition and fees, 2024-2025 | $26,906 |
| Total estimated cost living off campus (not with family), 2024-2025 | $55,478 |
| Average net price, 2023-2024 | $37,848 |
| Average grant for first-time students, 2023-2024 | $8,851 |
By income, the 2023-2024 net price ranged from $38,162 to $41,762, with little difference between income bands. Full Sail has no campus housing, so students who attend in person must budget for off-campus living in the Orlando area.
Is Full Sail University a Good School? What the Numbers Say
Full Sail is a legitimate, accredited school with genuine studio facilities, and a focused student who is certain about a media or entertainment career may value its hands-on programs.
The financial and outcome data are the concern: a net price of $37,848, 83% borrowing, 53% retention and a 44% overall graduation rate, together with national accreditation that other colleges may not accept for transfer. Compare the total cost and debt with public university programs in film, audio, animation or game design before enrolling.
Who Accredits Full Sail University?
Full Sail is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC), with accreditation dating from 1986, and College Navigator lists its next review for 2028. ACCSC is a national accreditor recognised by the Department of Education, so students can use federal aid, but regionally accredited colleges do not always accept nationally accredited credits.
Who Full Sail Suits, and Who Should Look Elsewhere
A good fit for: students committed to a career in audio, film, games or animation who want intensive, industry-style training and have a plan to manage the cost.
Worth comparing alternatives if: you may want to transfer or go to graduate school, you need a low net price, or you are not yet sure about a creative career.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Full Sail University accredited? Yes, nationally, by ACCSC.
- Is Full Sail a for-profit school? Yes.
- Do Full Sail credits transfer? Not always. The school has been criticised for limited credit transferability, so confirm with the receiving school.
- Does Full Sail have dorms? College Navigator lists no campus housing.