When a school is this small and this little known, the temptation is to go to extremes: either distrust everything because “I’ve never heard of it,” or trust it too much because someone recommended it. Neither reaction helps you. What does help is the information the federal government collects from the school each year through the IPEDS system, which I will translate here without jargon: who studies there, how much it costs, how hard it is to get in, how students pay, and what happens to those who enroll.
I am not here to tell you whether this school is right for your child. That depends on what your child wants to study, what your family can afford, and factors only you know. But if this school is part of the conversation in your home, it is worth getting to know it for what it really is before deciding anything.
Where It Is and What Type of School It Is
Academy of Interactive Entertainment is in Seattle, within King County, in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue metropolitan area. The code the government uses to classify cities places it in a principal city with a population of at least 250,000. That tells you it is not in an isolated town, but it does not tell you how to get to campus from your home or what housing is available nearby. If your child plans to live at home and drive every day, make the trip yourself on a weekday at the exact time of your child’s classes. The actual travel time is almost never what the map says.
It is a private, two-year institution. The federal government classifies it as a non-bachelor’s-degree-granting school: it offers certificates or credentials requiring less than four years. This matters and needs to be stated very clearly because it changes the type of decision you are making: this is not a four-year college. Before signing anything, ask in writing for the exact name of the credential your child will receive upon completion, and ask whether those credits can later be used at a four-year college. No official data point can answer that question. The school can, in writing.
It also does not appear in the Carnegie Classification, a catalog the government uses to categorize institutions. We do not know why. That does not make the school better or worse; it simply does not carry that label. And it is not among the historically Black colleges and universities, Tribal Colleges and Universities, or land-grant institutions—three separate designations with different histories that apply to only 138 of the 3,012 colleges in this census. Having none of those three designations tells you nothing about which communities the school serves today or how your child will feel there. Ask directly what cultural centers and student organizations exist and, if possible, speak with someone who already studies there.
A Small Community and Proportions That Need a Clear-Eyed Look
Let’s begin with size because it shapes everything else. Academy of Interactive Entertainment had total campus enrollment of 76 last fall. Compared with the 255 private two-year schools reporting this information in the same census, it is among the smallest: at least nine out of ten of those schools have higher enrollment. Its entire enrollment—76—is undergraduate; there is no graduate enrollment there.
Small is not synonymous with better or worse. But it does change a practical question you should ask: whether courses in the program that interests your child are offered every semester or only once a year. At a school this size, that can lengthen or shorten the time required to finish.
Now consider the student body’s composition. Among every 100 undergraduates, the number who are Hispanic or Latino is 7. That is a small minority, and compared with the other 255 private two-year schools in the census, the school ranks below the comparison-group midpoint. If your child would be among the few Latino students on that campus, that is a concrete reality worth examining directly—not to rule out the school, but to ask what student groups and support services exist today and to speak with a Latino student who is already there before deciding.
Another figure stands out: the undergraduate population is almost entirely male. Among every 100 students, the number who are women is only 22. And among every 100, the number between the ages of 25 and 64 is 32, meaning that nearly a third of enrollment consists of adults rather than young people who have just finished high school. This tells you something about the environment your child would encounter: it is not a traditional campus of eighteen-year-olds fresh out of high school and spending their first year away from home. It is a different mix.
IPEDS does not report where first-time students came from—which state or which country—for this school. That information simply is not available.
How Academics Work
The academic year is organized into semesters: two long terms of about fifteen weeks each. In the section where the government asks about special credit upon entry, the school selected “none of the above”: it did not report awarding credit for life experience or AP exams, and it does not enroll high school students in college-credit courses. That specific question does not measure whether dual credit or some other type of credit-transfer policy exists; confirm that directly with the school, in writing.
In the federal report on degrees awarded during the most recent complete academic year, Academy of Interactive Entertainment does not appear as having awarded any bachelor’s degrees. This is not unusual for its type of school: among the 256 private two-year schools covered by this same census, the count in exactly the same position is 254—none awarded bachelor’s degrees that year. That is consistent with being a two-year school, not an anomaly. But if your child’s ultimate goal is a bachelor’s degree, this means the path requires transferring afterward. Verify the current program and request any existing transfer agreements in writing.
As for how many students there are per faculty member, the reported ratio is 25 in full-time-equivalent student enrollment per full-time-equivalent faculty position. Compared with the 255 similar schools in the census, it ranks above the group median, though not in the highest quartile. It is an aggregate ratio that is high for its type of school. But be careful: this is not a class size. It is an institution-wide ratio. If you want to know how many students are in a typical first-year class, that number is not provided here; ask for it directly.
Getting In: What the School Requires, What It Does Not, and How Many Are Admitted
This is where many families make mistaken assumptions about small, little-known schools. Let’s take it slowly.
Academy of Interactive Entertainment formally reported that it does not have open admissions. It reviews several components before saying yes. Of the nine possible considerations the government asks about, excluding admission tests and legacy status, the school marked three as required: the high school record, a formal sample of what the student can do—a portfolio or competency exam—and, when applicable, an English-proficiency exam.
That last item deserves its own line because it is the kind of issue families discover late, after it has already caused a problem: if your child studied outside the United States or attended high school in Spanish, ask now whether the English exam applies and what would qualify your child for an exemption.
The list of factors the school reported as NOT considered in the admission decision is longer than the list of factors that are considered: high school GPA, class rank, completion of the recommended academic program, letters of recommendation, work experience, and whether a relative attended the school. According to the reported information, these factors do not enter into the decision even if submitted.
And how many are actually admitted? In the most recent cycle, the school received 180 first-time applications and offered admission to 117. That is 65 out of every 100. Admission is not guaranteed, but it is not a closed lottery either: the application is reviewed using the three requirements already discussed. Its comparison group among similar schools is so small—only 46 institutions report this information—that it would not be meaningful to tell you its exact position within that group.
But receiving an offer of admission is not the same as enrolling. Among admitted first-time students, approximately half—52 out of every 100—ultimately enrolled there; the rest did not. This figure does not tell you whether they went to another school or why; it counts only those who attended classes at this institution. It does not measure quality or whether people ultimately were satisfied. When admission letters from different schools arrive, this percentage should not make the decision for you: place the letters side by side and compare net price, program, and distance before the deposit deadline.
Regarding the SAT and ACT, the school reported that it does not consider them in the admission decision, even if applicants submit them. This does not indicate whether the school uses them to award scholarships or for placement; ask about those uses separately.
As for transfers, in the most recent fall term, the school did not report any students who entered it for the first time after studying at another institution. The reported count is zero. A zero in this field does not mean the school rejects transfer students; it means that, in that fall term and in that specific count, nobody entered through that route. If your child’s plan involves transferring into or out of this school, ask admissions directly and ask which credits would be recognized.
Money: The Price on Paper and the Final Cost
At Academy of Interactive Entertainment, within the group of first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal Title IV aid and whose EFC records showed family income below $30,000, the count was 14 and the average net price was $34,917. Within the same population with EFC family income from $48,001 to $75,000, the count was 5 and the average was $38,411; within that population with EFC family income above $110,000, the count was 5 and the average was $38,339. For dependent students, the band combines their parents’ income with their own.
The difference between the average for the lowest-income band, whose count was 14, and the average for the highest-income band, whose count was 5, is $3,422. Among first-year students who received any grant or scholarship aid, the average was $37,331.
Even after grants and scholarships were deducted, the average net price for the lowest-income families was $34,917 in academic year 2022-23. If that amount does not fit your budget, it is better to see it now than in August.
An average does not show how different the individual cases were within that band; this information does not allow you to claim that some families were far below or above the published figure. The income bands in this profile describe first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal Title IV aid; at public institutions, the in-state or in-district rate is used. The overall average with aid, when shown, describes first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal, state, local, or institutional grants or scholarships.
Grants, Aid, and Loans: Who Receives What
Among every 100 degree- or certificate-seeking students at this school, the number who received some form of aid that does not have to be repaid—a grant or scholarship, regardless of whether it came from the federal government, the state, or the institution—was 54. That is more than half, but not everyone. Among recipients, the annual average was $4,500. Compared with the 256 private two-year schools in the census, this share of students receiving grant or scholarship aid falls in the group’s lowest quartile.
Separately, among every 100 students, the number who received Pell Grants—the federal grants for those who demonstrate financial need—was 49. Remember that a percentage and an average are two different calculations that are not multiplied by each other: one tells you how many received something, while the other tells you how much recipients received.
And now, loans, which are where many families encounter the hardest surprise. In the most recent academic year, among every 100 undergraduates at this school, the number who received a federal student loan was 49. That is practically one out of two. Compared with the 256 similar schools in the census, this share ranks on the low side—seven out of ten of those schools had an even higher share of students taking on debt. But “low compared with others” does not mean low in absolute terms: financing through debt is common here, not the exception.
Among borrowers, the average amount each received that year was $5,853. If your child borrowed a similar amount in each of the program’s two years, the total would be around $11,706, excluding interest. That is a figure you should decide on before the first signature, not afterward. And be careful: this figure covers only federal loans in the student’s name. It does not include Parent PLUS loans that parents sometimes end up signing for, debt from private banks, or credit cards. Nor is it the total debt with which someone leaves upon graduation; determining that would require adding every year, and that figure is not in this report.
This percentage describes other families who have already gone through the school, not yours. The amount your child would specifically need to borrow comes from your child’s own financial aid letter. Wait for that letter before ruling out the school and before committing to it.
The school does report two mechanisms to help manage payment: a guaranteed tuition plan and an installment payment plan. It is worth asking exactly how they work.
Campus Life: What Is Available and What Is Not
We need to be direct here because these are important absences to identify.
Academy of Interactive Entertainment does not offer institution-owned housing: there are no residence halls or apartments under the institution’s control, either on or off campus. It also does not report meal plans. This does not mean that the official financial aid budget ignores the cost of living off campus—those budgets usually include separate housing and food estimates. It means your family would have to arrange where your child will live independently, and you should request the exact budget the financial aid office would use.
The school did not report any ROTC opportunities, either in the general category or for any of the three military branches. Among the two-year schools in this guide, 45 out of 843 did select that category; this school was not among them. If your child’s plan includes that scholarship or career path, ask admissions directly before ruling it out: the field reflects what was reported, not necessarily everything that exists.
The entire athletics section is marked “not applicable” in the federal record. There is nothing to interpret there, either positively or negatively. If athletics matter to your child, the only way to know is to ask directly.
Regarding distance education, the school does offer undergraduate distance courses, and it reported having at least one program in which all required courses can be completed that way. But in the most recent fall count, no student took an entire course load fully through distance education—zero out of every 100. That does not mean the option does not exist today for your child’s specific program; it means nobody was using it that way at that time. Confirm it in writing, using the program’s exact name.
The federal libraries component is listed as “not applicable” for this school, so there is no official description of collections, staff, or expenditures. What the institution does report is that it has physical facilities, an organized collection of printed materials, and access to digital resources. If this matters to your child, ask directly where students can study, how they obtain books and articles, and whether computers are available for loan.
Regarding student support, the school reports combined academic and career counseling, employment services for current students, placement services for program completers, and a published web address for services for people with disabilities. The fact that these services are reported does not show how accessible or effective they are in practice; that is learned by speaking with the school and, if possible, with current students.
What Happens to Students Who Enroll
This may be the most important section for understanding how solid the path is once your child is enrolled.
For the cohort of first-time, full-time students who entered in the fall of 2022, the total cohort size was 50. Of that cohort, 33 met the official retention criterion: they were still enrolled at the school or had completed their program one year later. That is 66 out of every 100. The remaining count—17—fell outside that measure; the source does not say whether those students transferred, paused their studies, or what exactly happened to them.
Compared with the 255 private two-year schools in the census that report this information, this school ranks in the lower portion: seven out of ten of those schools retained a larger share of their cohort. This is a figure worth examining directly, without dramatizing or minimizing it. It does not demonstrate individual failure or identify a hidden transfer plan; it simply says that, among every 100 who entered together, 34 appeared neither as enrolled nor as graduates one year later. If transferring is part of your child’s plan, request the specific transfer data and any existing agreements in writing: that is evidence distinct from retention.
Now consider a figure that is surprisingly high: for the cohort of first-time, full-time, degree- or certificate-seeking students who entered in 2020, the graduation rate was 97 out of every 100, based on completion of a program at this institution within 150% of normal time. That is a very high figure. But it must be treated carefully: it describes a historical cohort, not a promise for your child. It follows only those who entered for the first time and attended full time; it does not include anyone who transferred in or began part time. If your child would enter under another category, this figure does not apply; ask for the one that does apply to your child’s situation.
Regarding eight-year outcomes—an indicator called Outcome Measures that the government uses for longer-term tracking—the most recent cycle marks it as not applicable to this institution. That does not mean the school refused to respond, nor does it allow any inference about how its students fared during that period. That figure simply is not available here.
Putting the Pieces Together
What you have just read is one piece of the complete map you need to make a decision: it is everything official government data allows you to see about Academy of Interactive Entertainment. It is a small, two-year school in Seattle, with an admission process that reviews both the student’s record and a work sample, published annual tuition of $24,600 that, even after aid, leaves the lowest-income families paying an average of nearly $35,000, nearly half of its students taking out federal loans, and a high graduation rate for first-time, full-time students, although retention one year after entry is weaker.
None of these figures makes the decision for you. What you now have is the piece that belongs to the college: what it is, what it offers, what it costs, and what happens to its students according to what it reports to the government. You still need to combine that with what your child wants to study, what your child has already built in high school, and what your family can and is willing to pay. A real plan comes from that combination—not from any single piece.
If this school remains part of the conversation in your home, you now know exactly what to ask admissions: the credential’s exact name, whether the credits transfer, the actual housing budget, what exists for Latino students, and your child’s specific financial aid letter before committing to anything. When that letter arrives, it will say more about your particular situation than any average in this article.
Source note: The information in this article comes from IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) and the United States Department of Education, primarily covering the 2022-23 and 2023-24 cycles, as indicated in each section. Best College Aid does not represent Academy of Interactive Entertainment or any government agency; this article organizes and explains public data to help you understand it.