What Sessions College for Professional Design does

Sessions College for Professional Design is a privately held, accredited online institution founded in 1997 and headquartered in Tempe, Arizona. It delivers fully asynchronous, project-based degrees, certificates, and now micro-credentials in graphic design, web design, illustration, digital photography, digital media, filmmaking, and related creative fields to aspiring creative professionals globally. The institution has graduated students from 100+ countries and has maintained continuous accreditation since 2001, currently holding both DEAC and Middle States Association accreditations.

The technology stack is built on the Canvas learning management system for 24/7 course delivery, with Adobe Creative Cloud as the primary software environment for coursework. Courses are entirely asynchronous with no mandatory login times or synchronous sessions; students progress through project-based curricula with 1:1 feedback from practicing industry professionals. Proprietary components include a free Color Calculator tool used for top-of-funnel content marketing and lead generation, and a 2026-launched Credly integration for issuing verifiable digital badges and micro-credentials under Open Badge Standards. The platform supports no public API or partner integrations beyond the digital credentialing and standard ad-tech/marketing pixels.

Revenue is generated entirely through tuition priced at $400 per credit hour, with degree programs at $28,800 (Associate, 72 credits) and $48,000 (BFA, 120 credits), and shorter Professional Certificates at $2,750 ($3,750 for PLUS concentrations). The institution participates in federal Title IV programs (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), accepts GI Bill and military tuition assistance, and offers institutional scholarships. The go-to-market is direct-to-consumer: rolling online admissions supported by an inside-sales admissions team, with content marketing (Notes on Design blog, free tools, organic social) feeding top-of-funnel demand. The student body is overwhelmingly individual adult learners rather than enterprise or institutional buyers, with no disclosed B2B channel.

Name

Sessions College for Professional Design

Legal name

Sessions College for Professional Design

Website

https://sessions.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Sessions College for Professional Design is an accredited online college founded in 1997, offering asynchronous, project-based degrees, certificates, and micro-credentials in design and digital media to individual adult learners worldwide at $400 per credit.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Online Higher Education

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (611610), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Design Colleges (Graphic, Industrial, UX/UI, Interior) (EDAHAJAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Digital Arts & Design (Graphic Design, Illustration, Animation) (EDAMAAAB), Design & Maker Skills (Graphic Design, Calligraphy, Lettering) (EDAAAGAJ)

Keywords

• Online design education
• Graphic design programs
• Digital media degrees
• Professional certificates
• Creative arts college

Headquarters

HQ city

Tempe

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Tuition Revenue: Students pay tuition per credit hour ($400/credit) or flat program fees for certificates. Revenue is recognized as courses are delivered over the program duration. Multiple payment options including pay-in-full discounts and monthly payment plans.
2. Federal Student Aid: Federal Pell Grants and Direct Loans for eligible students in Associate Degree and Undergraduate Certificate programs. Pell Grant recipients may qualify for full tuition coverage with no out-of-pocket costs.
3. Military Education Benefits: GI Bill, Tuition Assistance (TA), and MyCAA benefits for eligible active military, veterans, and family members. Recognized as Military Friendly School for 2025-2026.
4. Scholarships: Creative Learner Scholarships ($500-$2,000 awards) for exemplary degree students in six nontraditional student categories. Institutional scholarship funding reduces net tuition revenue but supports enrollment.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Sessions College for Professional Design is an accredited online institution that delivers asynchronous, project-based visual arts and design education. It sells BFA Bachelor's degrees, Associate degrees, undergraduate and professional certificates, micro-credentials, and individual continuing-education courses in disciplines such as graphic design, web design, digital media, illustration, photography, and filmmaking, targeting working adults and aspiring creative professionals.

Product overview

Sessions College for Professional Design is an accredited online institution offering a multi-tiered educational product portfolio. The core offerings include Bachelor's Degrees (BFA, 120 credits, 4 years), Associate Degrees (72 credits, 2 years), Undergraduate Certificates (24 credits, 8 months), and Professional Certificates (9 months or less). Professional Certificates span Graphic Design, Web Design, Digital Arts, Marketing Design, Fine Arts, and Multimedia Arts. A Professional Certificate PLUS option adds 180-hour concentrations in specialized areas. Micro-credentials provide digital badges for foundational skills via Credly. Individual courses are available for standalone enrollment. The institution also provides a free Color Calculator tool for design professionals. All programs feature project-based learning, 1:1 instructor feedback, and flexible asynchronous delivery through the Canvas LMS.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) Degree Accredited four-year bachelor's-level degree program in design and digital media, delivered fully online and asynchronously, for aspiring and working creative professionals seeking a terminal undergraduate credential.
• Associate Degree Accredited two-year associate degree program in design and digital media, fully online and asynchronous, for learners seeking a shorter foundational credential that can ladder into the BFA.
• Undergraduate Certificate Programs Credit-bearing undergraduate certificates in design and digital media specialties, stackable toward the Associate or BFA degree, for learners wanting focused credentials.
• Professional Certificate Programs Non-credit or continuing-education professional certificates in design disciplines for working adults seeking career-focused credentials without committing to a full degree.
• Professional Certificate PLUS Premium tier of the professional certificate program with additional supplementary components, targeting learners who want expanded content beyond the standard professional certificate.
• Micro-Credentials Short, focused digital credentials (badges) issued via Credly for specific design and digital media skills, designed to be stackable into larger certificates and degrees.
• Individual Courses Standalone single courses in design and digital media available for individual purchase, for non-degree learners and continuing-education students who want specific skill training without enrolling in a full program.

Quantifiable outcome

• 50% lower tuition than average 4-year colleges in the United States
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CredlycoreTechnology or Integration · 27 April 2026Partnership with Credly to issue and manage digital credentials and micro-credential badges. Credly is the end-to-end solution for issuing and managing digital credentials. Badges are based on Open Badge Standards maintained by 1EdTech (formerly IMS Global). Students receive email notification from Credly ([email protected]) with instructions for claiming badges.
• GoogleminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGoogle pixel used for marketing and advertising purposes - tracking website visitors and supporting retargeting campaigns. Visit to photography program pages may result in banner advertising on Google Display Network.
• Meta (Facebook)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerMeta pixel used for cross-context behavioral advertising and marketing purposes. Visit to photography program pages may result in banner advertising on Facebook/Instagram.
• TikTokminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTikTok pixel used for marketing and advertising purposes - supporting social media retargeting campaigns.
• Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC)coreOthersDEAC is the primary accrediting body for Sessions College. Accredited since 2001. DEAC is listed by the U.S. Department of Education as a recognized accrediting agency and recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
• Adobe Creative CloudcoreTechnology or IntegrationAdobe Creative Cloud is the primary software environment used throughout all design programs. Students need Adobe Creative Cloud subscription for courses in Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, After Effects, etc.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Full Sail University: Accredited career-focused institution offering online degrees in graphic design, digital cinematography, and media arts — cited by Sessions College as a comparable at $610/credit and overlapping heavily on creative technology curriculum.
• Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design (RMCAD): Accredited online art and design college offering degrees in graphic design, illustration, photography, and interior design; listed by Sessions College as a direct pricing comparable at $850/credit.
• Academy of Art University: San Francisco-based accredited art and design school with extensive online degree and certificate programs in graphic design, illustration, photography, and digital media — Sessions College explicitly benchmarks pricing against Academy of Art ($1,366/credit), making it the most directly comparable peer.
• Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD): Premier accredited art and design college with significant online degree offerings; cited by Sessions College as a pricing comparable ($955/unit) and competes for the same design-focused student audience.

Emerging players

• Skillshare: Subscription-based online learning platform with thousands of creative courses in graphic design, illustration, and photography — competes for the same self-improvement learner at a fraction of the price, though without accredited credentials.
• Domestika: Creator-led online learning marketplace specializing in illustration, design, and creative disciplines; targets aspiring creative professionals with affordable courses but no accredited degrees.

Broad incumbents

• Pratt Institute: Prestigious accredited design school with online and continuing education offerings; targets a different prestige tier than Sessions College but competes for design-interested learners willing to invest in accredited credentials.
• Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU): Large accredited online university offering creative degrees including graphic design and digital media; competes on online convenience and federal aid eligibility but is not a design-specialist.
• Coursera: Large MOOC platform offering design certificates and degrees through partner universities (CalArts, Yale, Michigan State); overlaps with Sessions College on credentialed design learning but at different price points and via partner institutions.
• Liberty University Online: Accredited online university offering design and digital media programs at competitive tuition; broader portfolio than Sessions College but competes for the same online, federally-aided adult learner.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sessionscollege
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@SessionsEdu
• Facebookfacebook.com/sessionscollege
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/sessions-college
• Instagraminstagram.com/sessions_college
• TikToktiktok.com/@sessions.edu

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sessions College for Professional Design