- Nossi College of Art was founded by an artist, Ms. Nossi, in 1973. It is where student artists create in Nashville, Tenn., AKA Music City USA. Let your creative mind run wild as you train for a career in fields like photography, graphic & web design, illustration, culinary arts, or video & film.
- Nossi College of Art is the only art college in Tennessee designed specifically for artists. Our new modern campus took three full years to build - from idea to completion - because we wanted to get everything just right. Our design and editing labs were created to mimic pro-level labs and are equipped with industry-standard software and tech. We boast one of the largest instructional photography studios in the region (2400 square feet!. If there`s a campus better designed to encourage creativity, we haven`t seen it.)
- Step onto our campus and it won`t take long to see why our students consider themselves unique and say, "I`m different. I`m Nossi." If people say you are different, then welcome home. https://nossi.edu/about/
School Highlights
Nossi College of Art and Design serves 247 students (100% of students are full-time).
The college's student-teacher ratio of 15:1 is lower than the state community college average of 25:1.
Minority enrollment is 38% of the student body (majority Black), which is equal to the state average of 38%.
Quick Facts (2026)
- Enrollment: 247 students
- Acceptance Rate: 46%
- Student-teacher ratio: 15:1
- Minority enrollment: 38%
- Source: Verified school update
Top Rankings
Nossi College of Art and Design ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Tennessee for:
Category
Attribute
Selectivity
School Overview
The teacher population of 17 teachers has declined by 66% over five years.
Nossi College of Art and Design
(TN) Community College Avg.
Carnegie Classification
Associate's Colleges
0
Institution Level
Four or more years
0
Institution Control
Private for-profit
0
Total Faculty
17 staff
38 staff
Number of Programs Offered
-2
16
School Calendar
Student Body
The student population of Nossi College of Art and Design has declined by 14% over five years.
The student-teacher ratio of 15:1 has increased from 6:1 over five years.
The Nossi College of Art and Design diversity score of 0.55 is more than the state average of 0.00. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five years.
Total Enrollment
247 students
1,083 students
Student-Teacher Ratio
15:1
25:1
# Full-Time Students
247 students
416 students
# Part-Time Students
25 students
667 students
# Enrollment Undergraduate
323 students
394 students
# Full-Time Undergraduate Students
247 students
378 students
# Full-Time Graduate Students
n/a
93 students
# Part-Time Undergraduate Students
n/a
776 students
# Part-Time Graduate Students
n/a
64 students
Total Dormitory Capacity
n/a
446 students
% American Indian/Alaskan
1%
n/a
% Asian
2%
2%
% Hispanic
7%
8%
% Black
25%
20%
% White
62%
62%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
2%
4%
% Non Resident races
n/a
1%
% Unknown races
n/a
3%
Diversity Score
0.55
0.00
College Completion Rate (Students who graduate in 4 years or more than 4 years)
58%
52%
Average Graduate Earnings (10 Years)
$24,900
$29,000
Tuition and Acceptance Rate
% Students Receiving Some Financial Aid
96%
94%
Median Debt for Graduates
$31,000
$11,059
Median Debt for Dropouts
$11,000
$5,000
Acceptance Rate
46%
87%
SAT Reading
n/a
470
SAT Math
n/a
455
SAT Writing
n/a
477
ACT Composite
n/a
20
ACT English
n/a
19
ACT Math
n/a
19
Extracurriculars
Total ExtracurricularsTotal Extra-curric.
7 extracurriculars
ExtracurricularsExtra-curric.
Club or Organization:
Arts and Music Programs:
Colors Club for LGBT Students and AlliesNossi Fashion Creatives
Nossi Student EventsNossi Veteran's Group
NossiMICs (music industry club)Outdoors Club
Arts and Music Programs:
Kappa Pi - Eta Tau
Source: 2025 (or latest year available) Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) , School Administrators
School Notes
Nossi College of Art offers Associate and Bachelor's degrees in the
professional arts - Culinary Arts, Photography, Graphic Design,
Video & Film, and Commercial Illustration. Thanks to our unique and
Award-Winning* student activities office, we provide
Nossi All Access, which gives students
opportunities to create for real clients - and get paid for their
experience and expertise.
Build a real-world portfolio while you are in school to set you apart from peers after graduation. Capture concerts and fashion shows, produce logos and posters for Nashville events, illustrate characters and children's books, document music videos and behind the scenes event documentaries, or code websites and appsfor Nashville area nonprofits, businesses, and brands.
We always assist students with financial aid for those who qualify and provide LIFETIME career assistance to all our graduates. With both day and night classes available year-round, our students are able to schedule classes around jobs and families.
Students who enroll can expect to receive instruction in a variety of courses designed to teach and train individuals to be professional, commercial artists. Classes focus on teaching students critical time-saving techniques enabling them to produce work within deadline and with the creative skills necessary for each industry. We also offer marketing, business and social media courses to better understand the business behind their chosen careers.
Build a real-world portfolio while you are in school to set you apart from peers after graduation. Capture concerts and fashion shows, produce logos and posters for Nashville events, illustrate characters and children's books, document music videos and behind the scenes event documentaries, or code websites and appsfor Nashville area nonprofits, businesses, and brands.
We always assist students with financial aid for those who qualify and provide LIFETIME career assistance to all our graduates. With both day and night classes available year-round, our students are able to schedule classes around jobs and families.
Students who enroll can expect to receive instruction in a variety of courses designed to teach and train individuals to be professional, commercial artists. Classes focus on teaching students critical time-saving techniques enabling them to produce work within deadline and with the creative skills necessary for each industry. We also offer marketing, business and social media courses to better understand the business behind their chosen careers.
- Culinary Arts Associate Degreeis our
newest program that will launch in Fall 2021. Led by award-winning
Chef Anthony Mandriota, classes will focus on essential kitchen and
managerial skills necessary to be successful in the industry. In
addition to cooking and baking, students will learn about
leadership, business skills, and niche industries.
- For Photography students, the curriculum
includes experience in basic and advanced camera techniques, a
strong emphasis in lighting, composition and understanding the
changing digital world of photography and image creation. Classes
in sports, wedding, food, travel, fashion, nature, digital
retouching, basic and advanced Photoshop are all combined to give
you the ability to seek entry-level positions in commercial art
firms, advertising agencies, commercial photography studios as well
as the ability to freelance.
- Graphic Design students are taught in-depth
techniques in traditional and digital technologies including web
design and 3D animation in addition to general education classes
that include commercial writing, art history and mass
communication. Graduates hit the employment streets with a powerful
portfolio that commands attention from both employers and clients
alike. More importantly, our faculty will arm you with the
conceptual, strategic, and critical thinking skills that separate
you from your peers and create leaders in the industry.
- Video & Film students understand the emerging
trends in video, incorporating graphic elements like motion
graphics to short-format film. Video professionals are now being
asked to do more with advances in technology, like uploading
content directly to the web and understanding how to use graphics
within video.Nossi's degree program concentrates on various
aspects of video while incorporating graphic design, to enhance a
student's skillset by deepening their understanding of the
industry. In addition to fundamentals like writing, shooting,
editing and directing, Nossi College also teaches design,
marketing, and business courses.
- Commercial Illustration students learn the traditional and digital mediums to make them successful in a commercial world. With unique studios and an anatomy lab, illustration students learn a strong foundation in illustration and design so they can take on multiple career opportunities. From comic art to book publishing and 3D technologies, our students can find their perfect fit and produce strong portfolios by graduation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What schools are Nossi College of Art and Design often compared to?
Nossi College of Art and Designis often viewed alongside schools like Nashville State Community College by visitors of our site.
What is the acceptance rate of Nossi College of Art and Design?
The acceptance rate of Nossi College of Art and Design is 46%, which is lower than the state average of 87%. Nossi College of Art and Design's acceptance rate is ranked among the top community colleges in Tennessee with low acceptance rates.
What is Nossi College of Art and Design's ranking?
Nossi College of Art and Design ranks among the top 20% of community college in Tennessee for: Lowest acceptance rates.
In what neighborhood is Nossi College of Art and Design located?
Nossi College of Art and Design is located in the Madison neighborhood of Nashville, TN.
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