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PROGRAM
ADMISSIONS
CAMPUSES
FINANCIAL AID
RESOURCES
CONTACT
Search
APPLY NOW

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

If you’re considering a career in audio engineering or music production, you likely have a lot of questions. That’s why we’ve created this frequently asked questions (FAQ) page to help answer some of the most common questions we receive at CRAS. If you have any additional questions please contact us today.

How will I pay for school?

How will I pay for school?

There is a potential financial plan for everyone. Federal Financial Aid is available to those who qualify. Additionally, private funding, to include private scholarships, and private education loans from banks and other financial institutions are accepted. A no-interest monthly payment plan is available for those who wish to pay personally for tuition. Students can use a combination of any or all of these options and may be eligible for other aid accepted by the school.

Our Student Financial Services Department is available to assist students with the details of the student aid process. Please call 1.800.562.6383 for a personal consultation once you have been interviewed and accepted to attend.

How long is the program?

How long is the program?

The Master Recording Program II consists of 43.5 credit hours over 48 weeks, which equates to approximately 11 months. The first 36 weeks are spent on campus where students must complete all 12 cycles of classes. Upon class completion, student will complete 280 internship hours over 12 weeks.

When do classes start?

When do classes start?

Unlike most traditional schools who start classes twice a year, CRAS starts classes throughout the year. To maximize your opportunities, class sizes are small and seating is limited to 12 students per class. Therefore classes fill up far in advance. Start dates are subject to availability at the time of enrollment.

Is it possible to work while attending CRAS?

Is it possible to work while attending CRAS?

Yes. Classes are held Monday through Friday from 9:00am to 1:00pm or from 2:00pm to 6:00pm. Sessions are subject to availability at the time of enrollment. Having a set schedule with class being the same time everyday throughout the program easily enables students to find a job that will conform to their class schedule. It is suggested to limit work hours to 20-30 hours per week.

There are additional hours scheduled on Saturdays and/or Sundays. Students may also be required to complete assignments outside of classroom studies.

What is the cost of living in Arizona?

What is the cost of living in Arizona?

The average cost for housing ranges from $700 — $900 per month depending upon size, location, amenities, etc. CRAS partners with Lori Coulter from Apartment & Home Solutions. She offers an apartment locating service at no cost to our students and has been serving Arizona since 1989.

The cost of living varies greatly. To view AZ’s living statistics, please visit the CRAS – Conservatory of Recording Arts & Science College Navigator.

As well, you are welcome to visit our NET PRICE CALCULATOR to view a quick estimate. We, at CRAS, feel that the generated values from this calculator may raise an eyebrow, so please feel free to contact our Financial Aid Department with your inquiries.

How much will I need to study outside of class?

How much will I need to study outside of class?

A general rule of thumb is two to four hours a day. More or less may be necessary, dependent upon each student’s individual capabilities. With 24-hour access to the school, most students find it very easy to put in extra hours on campus. Let’s face it, if you’re passionate about audio and you had millions of dollars worth of equipment at your disposal, wouldn’t you be here as much as you could too?

How much will I need to study outside of class?

How much will I need to study outside of class?

Graduates receive a diploma for completing the Master Recording Program II and several certifications for industry-standard hardware and software, including Pro Tools, Logic Pro, Rational Acoustics Smaart, T.C. Electronic M3000, T.C. Electronic S6000, Antares Auto-Tune and more.

View Certifications

What kind of job will I qualify for?

What kind of job will I qualify for?

The mission of CRAS is to train students for entry-level positions in the audio recording and music industry. Through their extensive training on campus and experience gained during their internship, many CRAS graduates have obtained jobs working as an assistant engineer in a recording studio, mixing sound for concerts and live shows, audio post production (recording and editing sound for movies and television), design and audio for video games and A&R work for record labels. Other opportunities include Pro Tools Engineer, Studio Management, Pro-Audio Consultant, Pro-Audio Product Development, Radio/Commercial Production, Corporate Audio Technician, Sound Reinforcement Consultant and Audio Technician.

Jobs & Salaries

Is housing available for students?

Is housing available for students?

Depending on the size of housing, housing location, and amenities, CRAS partners with Lori Coulter with Apartment & Home Solutions, with a free locating service to best meet your needs. For more info, check out our housing ideas.

Housing Resources

Begin your journey towards becoming an audio engineer

Tempe Main Campus:
2300 East Broadway Road
Tempe, AZ 85282

Gilbert Satellite Campus:
1205 North Fiesta Boulevard
Gilbert, AZ 85233

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“CRAS gives students a unique experience emphasizing practical and hands-on learning that teaches students to both listen and think critically about audio and production.”

“We are glad to have CRAS as part of our educational alliance team. On behalf of everyone at Avid, I want to congratulate CRAS and acknowledge your long- term dedication to educating students on the Pro Tools platform.”

“McDSP is pleased to be a part of the offerings at the Conservatory of Recording Arts & Sciences.”

“Focusrite Pro is honored to have the relationship we do with CRAS. In an ever-changing world of audio technology, CRAS students are engaged and excited to learn as much as they can. It’s a comfort to the future of audio knowing these students will soon be in the field, and no doubt future thought leaders of the industry.”

“MOTU is thrilled to partner with CRAS to bring the very latest recording studio technology to the audio engineering and music production trend-setters of tomorrow’s music industry.”

“CRAS has been an excellent partner with Telefunken Elektroakustik in building aspiring young engineers. By providing the kinds of tools and experience that allow their students to be confident and succeed in the real world, CRAS sets the standard for those that want to excel in todays industry.”

“We are extremely proud to partner with industry-leading educators, CRAS where innovation and creativity go hand-in-hand.”

“What you teach, that learning how to use quality tube gear, real consoles and beautiful tape machines to produce records, is more important every day.”

“In the ever-growing competitiveness of the audio and production industries, CRAS stands out as an example of the kind of institution the SLATE companies prefer to be associated with. As evidenced by the caliber of graduates in the field, the faculty at CRAS do a wonderful job of honoring and enlisting the technology of the past in order to inform students of the techniques and tools of the present.”

“Blue is thrilled to be a part of the unique hands-on studio experience the CRAS program provides. Because of how they’ve benefited from smaller class sizes and individual attention from incredible instructors, when hiring, we’ve consistently seen that CRAS alumni are leaps and bounds above other candidates.”

“CRAS is an amazing school preparing their students to accomplish their dreams. ReMasterMedia is proud to be a CRAS partner as well as integral part of their students journey in audio production.”

“An excellent introduction to a wide variety of audio careers in a comprehensive and succinct program.”

“I have had the opportunity to lecture at CRAS a number of times and never cease to be impressed by both the staff and students. It’s a highly technical environment and the facilities are chock full of wonderful, state-of-the-art gear, sure, but the thing that impresses me most is the “family” feel among the staff and students and the level of technical chops and professionalism among the staff. In my book, the über-experienced CRAS staff members are rockstars in the tech-ed world and do a wonderful job of preparing students for their ultimate careers. Be it worship sound, concerts, recording, broadcast, education, film sound, game sound or any other aspect of professional audio and production, the field is wide open to those who possess a solid work ethic, act with integrity, are problem-solvers and put their employers’ needs above their own. Clearly it takes more than technical prowess to rise to the top, but I am confident that if students will keep their eyes & ears open, apply themselves and take advantage of all the opportunities CRAS presents, CRAS can help students craft the solid foundation on which to build successful careers. I wholeheartedly recommend CRAS.”

“M&K is proud to be featured in your surround classroom, Studio D. Having your students exposed to high end gear such as M&K better prepares them for employment once they graduate, I’m look forward to continuing our relationship.”

“Alesis is very happy to be part of the curriculum at CRAS. Thank you for letting us be a part of the growth of such a large and promising group of up-and-coming audio professionals.”

“We are extremely impressed with the quality of the graduates coming out of CRAS. Their strengths in critical knowledge areas such as signal flow and problem solving really makes a difference in the real world. Even when faced with learning a new console, such as the two AWS948s that the Conservatory installed recently, the students were not intimidated. They went back to their basics, and figured it out. We are extremely happy to have a relationship with the Conservatory of Recording Arts and Sciences, and look forward to being a partner in helping to enable the next generation of engineers.”

“We are very excited to be a part of the wonderful work being done at CRAS.”

“We’re pleased that A-T mics play a role in the education/career development of the next generation of audio professionals.”

“It’s exciting to partner with an educator like CRAS. We see how important it is to connect creative audio and video students with the same products used to create the world’s biggest productions. We at iZotope are thrilled to work with a forward thinking educator like CRAS and look to enable creatives at the intersection of art and education.”

“Education has always held an important place in the Audiokinetic mission. So we are very proud of our association with CRAS, which has consistently demonstrated leadership and outstanding professionalism. We want to thank CRAS for its ongoing efforts to develop the next generation of game audio professionals who will use Wwise in their future projects.”

“Sennheiser is proud to be associated with CRAS. Your dedication to the education and development of our future audio professionals is valuable not only to your students, but our entire industry. We look forward to a long-standing partnership and welcome new students to a life changing opportunity at CRAS.”

“CRAS has a reputation for providing its students with real-world skills using the latest in recording technologies. Holophone is proud to be a part of that. Surround sound is quickly making its way into every part of the audio industry and we look forward to a partnership which helps make that transition an easy one.”

“Every time I visit CRAS, I’m completely blown away by the high level of engagement shown by the students and the enthusiasm and professionalism of the faculty. It reminds me why I got into this industry in the first place.”

“RTS Intercoms is extremely impressed by what the Conservatory of Recording Arts has achieved and is geared up to achieve in the future. The investments done throughout the educational facilities are nothing short of astounding. CRAS’s investments in the latest and greatest technologies are sure to deliver a very real-world experience for their students. We are more than delighted to consider ourselves a partner with CRAS and are looking forward to help educate the future broadcasters of America.”

“CRAS is equipping students to perform in the audio industry with the highest degree of professionalism, confidence, and success attainable. Keep up the great work!”

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