The Art Institute of California – San Diego is one of The Art Institutes, a system of more than 40 for-profit educational institutions located throughout North America, The Art Institute is a design, media arts and culinary arts post-secondary school providing bachelor's and associate's degrees in Advertising, Culinary Arts, Game Art & Design, Graphic Design, Fashion Design, Fashion Marketing & Management, Interior Design, Media Arts & Animation and Web Design & Interactive Media. Located in the middle of San Diego's Mission Valley.

The school, located at 7650 Mission Valley Road in San Diego, California, houses many PC and Mac labs to facilitate industry style art creation. Professional skills kitchens are also available for culinary students. The school also includes a library resource center, student gallery, student lounge, an art supply store, staff and faculty offices and other amenities. In April 2004, the school opened its dining lab, The Palette—a restaurant open to the public that’s operated by senior level culinary students and overseen by professional chef faculty.

The Art Institute of California – San Diego was founded in 1981 as La Jolla Academy of Advertising Arts, and later known as The Advertising Arts College and The Art Institute of California . The Art Institute of California – San Diego is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology (ACCSCT).

The Art Institutes system is a subsidiary of Education Management Corporation, which is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.