Miami Ad School to Shut Down Atlanta Campus Due to Drop in Student Enrollment
In the ever-changing world of advertising and design, Miami Ad School is navigating through a series of changes. The school, which has been a pioneer in the industry, announced the closure of its Atlanta campus in six months, effective 2023.
The Atlanta campus, opened in 2015, had a small cohort and is no longer sustainable, according to the school's officials. This closure follows the recent shutdown of Miami Ad School's Toronto location in March.
Miami Ad School's U.S. headquarters had no advance notice of the Toronto campus's closure. Some students in Toronto have not been reimbursed for their tuition, according to the Toronto Star. The Atlanta campus students, however, will have the opportunity to continue their studies in Miami, New York, or online.
The school's strong growth and success are undeniable. Miami Ad School has won the Future Lions School of the Year award at Cannes Lions seven times, including 2025. The school has also expanded its reach, with partnerships in cities such as Berlin, Buenos Aires, Madrid, and Mexico City.
However, the school is not immune to the challenges faced by top advertising and design schools globally. The rapidly evolving digital landscape, the need for interdisciplinary collaboration, and the demand for new skill sets to address complex global issues have placed pressure on Miami Ad School to innovate educational models, embed technological fluency, and foster interdisciplinary relevancy while navigating institutional inertia and fragmented ecosystems.
One of the key factors causing these challenges is the rapid digital transformation and integration. Design and advertising education must continually adapt to quickly changing technologies and digital frameworks, demanding new methods such as human-centered and systems design. Schools struggle to keep pace with digital innovation, requiring partnerships with industry leaders to reimagine future digital experiences.
Another challenge is the need for cross-disciplinary collaboration. Effective design education increasingly requires breaking down barriers between disciplines to foster radical collaboration addressing complex societal problems. However, organizational silos within institutions or associated industries can fragment efforts and reduce effectiveness.
Preparing students for complex global challenges is another significant hurdle. Students must be equipped with a broader skill set that integrates strategic thinking, creative vision, and practical skills, dealing with social, civic, and business issues on a systems level. This shift demands rigorous, human-centered pedagogy that many programs are still optimizing.
Resistance to change within institutional structures is another factor causing challenges. Digital transformation faces moments of resistance from diverse departments, leading to fractured adoption of new tools and methodologies. Without unified strategy and coordination, schools risk having fragmented approaches to education and research that do not leverage shared goals or resources effectively.
Competing with industry’s rapid innovation pace and providing meaningful, real-world collaboration opportunities through internships or partnerships remain ongoing operational challenges for top schools.
In response to these challenges, Miami Ad School has launched an AI for Creatives course and is making efforts to assist affected students, such as one student who has transferred to Miami Ad School's online course. The school has also expressed concern about the treatment of students.
Miami Ad School will relocate its New York campus to a new facility in Manhattan in 2026. Despite these changes, the school remains optimistic about its future and its ability to continue shaping the next generation of creative minds.
[1] - https://www.miamidadschool.com/ [2] - https://www.edhec.com/ [3] - https://www.imperial.ac.uk/ [5] - https://www.adweek.com/
[Source: Miami Ad School, Edhec, Imperial College London, Adweek]
- To alleviate the challenges faced in the evolving world of advertising and design, Miami Ad School has launched an 'AI for Creatives' course, emphasizing on incorporating technological fluency in its portfolio. This learning initiative aims to foster 'personal-growth' and adapt to the rapidly changing digital landscape.
- Miami Ad School has also expanded its 'education-and-self-development' opportunities to ensure students are equipped to address complex global issues. The school is committed to providing 'options' for its students, allowing them to continue their studies in Miami, New York, or online.
