Musicians Institute (MI) is located in Hollywood. Started in 1977 as the Guitar Institute of Technology, MI later adopted its current name as course offerings grew to include degrees in bass, drums and keyboards as well as recording technology and music business. Musicians Institute boasts a number of famous alumni, including Chad Smith and John Frusciante of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rivers Cuomo of Weezer fame and Dave Kushner of Velvet Revolver.
The audio engineering degree at MI emphasizes flexibility--day and night schedules are available, and recording studio labs are student-accessible 24/7. Degree programs include bachelor's, associate's and multiple certification programs. Classes address topics like digital and analog signal processing, mixing and mastering, live sound application and popular audio programs like Pro Tools and Logic. Class sizes are small (12 or fewer) so students benefit from one-on-one attention. Unlike many other sound engineering schools, MI is an accredited institution of higher learning recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Expression College for Digital Arts is located in Emeryville, near the San Francisco Bay area. The Sound Arts degree program offers courses comparable to Musicians Institute, with one exception: Students are expected to complete 30 credit hours of general education coursework. The school is tailored to students pursuing careers in the game and film industries.
Expression features plenty of lab-recording facilities that are available to students 24/7, though scheduling is not as flexible as MI. Class sizes are small, so students benefit from close relationships with faculty. The school also hosts a number of performances from up-and-coming pop groups, including Cobra Starship and Matisyahu. Expression lists their total estimated degree cost at roughly $80,000. It is accredited as a career school by the U.S. Department of Education.
Located in Alhambra, just east of Los Angeles, Pinnacle College is dedicated solely to sound engineering. The program is less immersive than those offered by MI and Expression, but may be an excellent choice for students seeking quick certification. Coursework is completed within 9 months, and classes are offered in the morning or at night. Facilities are limited--there only two dedicated studios available for student use. Graduates of the program have worked with a host of famous artists--Dr. Dre, Korn and Tina Turner, among others.
Unique to Pinnacle is the Audio for Games and Interactive Media program. Focusing only on game-related audio, the program instructs students in sound design, composition and dialog editing. The 18-month program qualifies students for entry-level positions in the audio departments of video game developers.