Miami Ad School

What Miami Ad School does

Miami Ad School is a private, founder-owned creative advertising and design school established in 1993 by Pippa and Ron Seichrist. It operates COE-accredited US campuses in Miami and New York, a global Online campus, and seven international partner schools (Berlin, Buenos Aires, Madrid, Mexico City, Punta Cana, Sao Paulo, and Sri Lanka). The school's core offering is a two-year portfolio program in Art Direction, Copywriting, and Design, billed quarterly at $4,850 ($38,800 total), augmented by master's degree tracks in partnership with Florida International University and a growing portfolio of short-form boot camps including AI for Creatives, Creative Direction, Social Media, and Strategic Planning. A new 5-week Creative Career Kickstart priced at $1,250 serves as an entry-funnel product.

The business model is tuition-driven consumer education distributed through direct enrollment via the school's website, physical campus presence, and a self-serve online channel. Differentiated curriculum delivery is built on working industry professionals as instructors (drawn from Google, Meta, Ogilvy, R/GA, Droga5, Anomaly, Grey Group), a Board of Directors staffed with sitting CCOs and CEOs of major agencies and brands, and a student-experience stack including Global Hackathons with real clients (Netflix, LEGO, KFC), the Quarter Away international internship program, and a culminating Portfolio Review event offering up to ten industry interviews per graduate. The school claims 60,000+ alumni, a 7-time Cannes Lions Future Lions School of the Year designation, and The One Club's #1 creative school ranking.

Revenue is not publicly disclosed and the school has not raised external funding. Strategic emphasis in recent years has been on extending curriculum into AI skills for creatives, broadening the top of funnel via low-cost entry products, expanding corporate training (Train Your Team, Host a Project), and reinforcing brand leadership through continued award recognition and creator-economy partnerships.

Name

Miami Ad School

Legal name

Miami Ad School

Website

https://miamiadschool.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Miami Ad School is a founder-owned, COE-accredited private creative education institution founded in 1993, offering two-year portfolio programs, FIU master's degrees, boot camps, and corporate training across US and international campuses for aspiring creative professionals and brand-side teams.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Portfolio Program Tuition: 2-year portfolio programs in Art Direction, Copywriting, and Design charge tuition quarterly at $4,850 per quarter ($38,800 total). These are the school's flagship COE-accredited programs.
2. Master's Degree Program Tuition: Master's programs offered in collaboration with Florida International University charge tuition for the portfolio portion at Miami Ad School plus master's degree fees from FIU.
3. Boot Camp Programs: Short-term intensive boot camps (AI for Creatives, Creative Direction, Social Media Management, Strategic Planning) charge tuition for the certificate program. Boot camps are not COE accredited.
4. Creative Career Kickstart: A 5-week intensive program priced at $1,250 total, designed to help prospective students determine if a creative career is right for them. Next cohort starts August 2026.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Miami Ad School is a private educational institution offering 2-year COE-accredited portfolio programs in Art Direction, Copywriting, and Design, master's degree programs in collaboration with Florida International University, and short-term boot camps in AI, Creative Direction, Social Media, and Strategic Planning. Students learn from working industry professionals, complete live client projects for brands like Netflix, LEGO, and KFC, and participate in the Quarter Away international internship program.

Product overview

Miami Ad School is an educational institution offering a multi-tiered portfolio of creative programs. The core offerings include 2-year COE accredited Portfolio Programs in Art Direction, Copywriting, and Design that help students build professional portfolios. Master's Degree Partnerships with Florida International University provide academic credentials alongside portfolio development. Short-term Boot Camps (AI for Creatives, Creative Direction, Social Media, Strategic Planning) offer targeted skill building. The school also offers a Creative Career Kickstart 5-week intensive for career exploration, plus corporate programs (Train Your Team, Host a Project). Student experience programs include the Quarter Away global internship initiative and Global Hackathons with real companies. The institution operates campuses in Miami, New York, and Online (US), plus international campuses in Berlin, Buenos Aires, Madrid, Mexico City, Punta Cana, Sao Paulo, and Sri Lanka.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• M.AD: Common abbreviation used for Miami Ad School in communications and branding.

Products and services

• Art Direction Portfolio Program A 2-year COE-accredited portfolio program that trains students to become art directors, building real-world skills and a professional portfolio through hands-on projects.
• Copywriting Portfolio Program A 2-year COE-accredited portfolio program focused on developing writing and creative skills for advertising careers.
• Design Portfolio Program A 2-year COE-accredited portfolio program teaching design skills for the creative industry.
• Photography & Video Program Portfolio program focused on photography and video skills for creative professionals.
• Art Direction Master's Program Master's degree program offered in collaboration with Florida International University where students build a portfolio at Miami Ad School and earn a master's degree.
• Copywriting Master's Program Master's degree program in collaboration with Florida International University focused on copywriting skills.
• Social Media Strategy Master's Program Master's degree program in collaboration with Florida International University focusing on social media strategy.
• Strategic Planning Master's Program Master's degree program in collaboration with Florida International University focused on strategic planning.
• AI for Creatives Boot Camp Boot camp teaching AI skills to creatives to help them future-proof their skill set and add AI capabilities to their portfolio.
• Creative Direction Boot Camp Boot camp focused on creative direction skills for advancing creative careers.
• Social Media Boot Camp Boot camp for learning social media management and strategy skills.
• Strategic Planning Boot Camp Boot camp for learning strategic planning skills in advertising.
• Creative Director Program Certificate program designed for established creatives to advance from doer to leader.
• Creative Career Kickstart A 5-week intensive program designed to help individuals determine if a creative career is right for them, priced at $1,250 total.
• Train Your Team Customized corporate training programs for companies looking to upskill their creative teams in AI tools, creative direction, social media management, and strategic planning.
• Quarter Away Program International internship program allowing students to study and intern in cities around the world during their final quarter, including opportunities to work inside agencies like Ogilvy and R/GA.

Quantifiable outcome

• 7x Cannes Lions Future Lions School of the Year (more than any other school)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Creator MethodminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 March 2026Partnered with Creator Method to host 'The Creative Unlock' panel at a global stage, bringing together influential minds in the creator economy. The combined communities and monthly reach of speakers on stage eclipsed 100 million people.
• Florida International University (FIU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMiami Ad School partners with Florida International University to offer master's degree programs. Students build a portfolio at Miami Ad School and earn a master's degree from FIU. Programs include Art Direction, Copywriting, Social Media Strategy, and Strategic Planning master's tracks.
• OgilvyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOgilvy Tokyo and other Ogilvy offices worldwide serve as Quarter Away partner locations where Miami Ad School students can intern and study.
• VaynerXminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAndrea Sullivan, CMO at VaynerX, serves on the Miami Ad School Board of Directors. VaynerX participates in student events and workshops such as the Upskale Day at the VaynerX Yacht. Avery Akkineni, CMO of VaynerX, was a speaker at the 'Creative Unlock' panel.
• GoogleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGoogle employees serve as instructors at Miami Ad School. Ignacio 'Nacho' Zuccarino, formerly Head of Creative for Latin America at Google and Global Creative Director for Google Cloud, is an advisory board member. Google Cloud creative projects are used as student briefs.
• Instagram/MetaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstagram employees serve as instructors. Andrew Keller, VP for Creative and Experiential at Facebook, serves on the Board of Directors. Belen Marquez, Global ACD/AD at Facebook/WhatsApp, is listed as an instructor.
• R/GAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBarry Wacksman, Global Chief Strategy Officer at R/GA, serves on the Board of Directors. R/GA is listed as one of the agencies where teachers come from and serves as a Quarter Away partner location.
• Droga5minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDroga5 is listed as one of the agencies where teachers come from, indicating an instructor talent pipeline from the agency.
• Leo Burnett WorldwideminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMichael Conrad, Chief Creative Officer at Leo Burnett Worldwide, serves on the Miami Ad School Board of Directors.
• AlmaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLuis Miguel Messianu, Creative Chairman & CEO at Alma, serves on the Board of Directors.
• CutwaterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlexandra Ebright, Sr. Art Director at Cutwater, is a graduate portfolio showcase example on the school's website.
• Anomaly NYminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDonnell Johnson, Group Creative Director at Anomaly, is a Miami instructor. Paola Delgado, Art Director at Anomaly NY, is featured in graduate portfolios.
• Canvas WorldwideminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPaul Woolmington, CEO at Canvas Worldwide, serves on the Miami Ad School Board of Directors.
• NetflixminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetflix serves as a client for student projects. Student project 'Netflix Spoiler Billboard' received coverage from Forbes, Yahoo, Campaign, and Daily Mail. Netflix is also a client for Global Hackathons.
• LEGOminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLEGO is a client for student projects in Global Hackathons. Student Sofia Soldevilla interned at R/GA and worked on LEGO projects from briefing to production.
• KFCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKFC is a client for student projects during Global Hackathons alongside Netflix and LEGO.
• McCann ParisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlumni Sarah Yadidian completed two rounds of practical experience with McCann Paris during her studies. McCann is referenced as a partner for student projects and internships.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• School of Visual Arts (SVA): SVA is a New York-based private art and design college offering BFA and MFA programs in advertising, design, and related creative fields. It competes with Miami Ad School for creative talent in the Northeast and shares a similar portfolio-driven pedagogy.
• Hyper Island: Hyper Island is a Sweden-based creative business school offering industry-driven programs in advertising, digital media, and creative leadership across global campuses. It shares Miami Ad School's practitioner-led, project-based model and target audience of aspiring creative professionals.
• VCU Brandcenter: Virginia Commonwealth University's Brandcenter offers a graduate portfolio program in advertising, branding, and creative strategy with strong industry placement. It is the most direct US peer to Miami Ad School, competing for the same pool of aspiring art directors and copywriters.
• Berghs School of Communication: Berghs is a Stockholm-based creative communication school offering portfolio programs in art direction, copywriting, and design. It is one of Europe's most awarded creative schools and a close international peer to Miami Ad School's flagship portfolio tracks.
• School of Communication Arts 2.0 (SCA): SCA London runs an intensive, industry-mentored creative advertising program with a strong placement record into top UK agencies. Its apprenticeship-style model and emphasis on industry practitioners closely mirror Miami Ad School's instructor and project approach.
• Creative Circus: Creative Circus is an Atlanta-based private school offering portfolio programs in art direction, copywriting, and design with a small, intensive cohort model. It competes directly with Miami Ad School for US-based aspiring creatives seeking a non-traditional four-year degree path.

Emerging players

• Domestika: Domestika is a global online learning marketplace offering affordable creative courses in design, advertising, and content creation. It is an emerging competitor for Miami Ad School's boot camp and continuing education audience, particularly for self-directed learners.
• General Assembly: General Assembly operates short-format, for-profit boot camps in digital marketing, design, and data with strong corporate training sales. It overlaps with Miami Ad School's boot camp and Train Your Team offerings, especially in digital and social media skills.

Broad incumbents

• Ringling College of Art and Design: Ringling College is a private four-year art and design college in Florida offering BFA programs in graphic and advertising design. It competes for Florida-based creative students and represents the traditional four-year degree alternative to Miami Ad School's portfolio model.
• Miami Dade College: Miami Dade College is a large public community college in the same Miami market, offering broader associate and continuing education programs including creative disciplines. It is a broad incumbent competitor for students weighing cost-conscious public options against Miami Ad School's premium tuition.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/miamiadschool
• Facebookfacebook.com/137720069631976
• Instagraminstagram.com/miamiadschool
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/267808

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles28 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Miami Ad School