It is with deep regret and a heavy heart that we share the news that ICON Collective will be permanently closed as of May 29. ICON has faced financial circumstances that require a prompt closure to protect the refunds and tuition payments potentially due to students. This decision has not come easily. Like so many of you, we’ve invested our hearts, our passion, and our purpose into building a creative space where artists could grow and thrive. We are truly sorry for the disruption this causes to your educational journey.
Find answers to questions you may have below:
Letter to Students
Dear ICON Students,
As the owner of ICON Collective. I want to speak to you directly and personally about the school’s sudden closure, and offer some transparency and context during what I know is a confusing and emotional moment.
First, I want to say how deeply sorry I am. I know this news came as a shock, and you deserve to understand how and why this happened.
ICON filed for Chapter 11 reorganization in November of last year not to shut down as in CH 7, but to restructure and preserve the school. At the time, I was fighting a legal battle to gain full ownership after the former owner stepped away from supporting operations. I sold everything and liquidated my life savings to make that possible, because I truly believed in the mission and the community we’ve built here.
For the past two years, I’ve been funding operations out of my own pocket and haven’t taken a salary since 2022. Instead, I invested my life savings back into ICON, to give ICON a chance to thrive. When I officially gained ownership in February 2025, I immediately began working with strategic partners to take ICON to its full potential in the new campus.
But this past week, an unexpected and devastating development occurred: the U.S. State Department halted visa interviews for international students. This created an immediate and significant impact on our projected enrollment so severe that it made it impossible to continue operations without putting refund obligations and student interests at risk. That was a gamble I was not willing to take.
I made the decision to close ICON not out of defeat, but out of responsibility. Continuing to operate without the ability to meet commitments to students would have caused greater harm. This path, though heartbreaking, was the only way to ensure a responsible wind-down.
I understand this brings uncertainty for you. Please know that we are working to ensure students receive clear guidance on refunds, transcripts, and teach-out options. Updates will be posted on this page so check back regularly. It's going to take a few days to provide the State with all your info including the refunds due to you so they can process your accounts. We will update a timeline in the FAQ below as we complete the process. You have up to 4 years to claim your refunds if one is due. For students that paid for ICON Rising or simply sent deposits for future starts, we will contact you shortly to provide your refund directly.
ICON was never just a school, it was, and always will be, a collective of artists, creatives, and heroes. That spirit lives on in all of us. The collective isn’t defined by walls or buildings, it’s defined by the passion we’ve shared and the community we’ve created. I’m incredibly proud of what we built together, and I thank you for carrying that legacy forward in your own work and journey.
I hope this added transparency reassures you that we are doing everything in our power to honor our financial responsibilities to you and to ensure this process is handled with integrity and care.
Thank you for being part of this journey. It has meant everything to me and the family I call ICON Collective.
With deep respect and appreciation,
David Alexander Valencia
Owner, ICON Collective
Can I still finish my program this quarter?
No. As of May 29th, ICON Collective has officially ceased operations. This means there will be no continued instruction, mentorship, or self-study options available through ICON. Students will have access to their course materials for one additional week to download any files, projects, or reference materials they wish to keep. After that, access will be permanently disabled.
Will I receive any kind of certificate or transcript for the work I’ve completed so far?
Yes. ICON will provide transcripts that reflect the coursework you’ve completed up to this point. Please email records@iconcollective.edu for fulfilling transcript requests.
Can I transfer my credits to another school?
Transfer credit decisions are made by the receiving institution, not by ICON. While we do not have any official transfer agreements in place, ICON is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM), which may improve the likelihood that other NASM-accredited institutions will accept your coursework. We have spoken directly with California College of Music, and they are open to reviewing ICON student transcripts for potential transfer.
Will you help me find alternative schools to continue my education?
For those in the Music Production program, California College of Music in Pasadena has agreed to accept credits from Icon Collective students for a comparable Music Production program at California College of Music. Like Icon, they are accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music and can issue I-20’s for international students. Their school website is
and contact info is as follows:
info@ccmla.edu
626-577-1751
42 S. Catalina Ave, Pasadena, CA 91106
For more detail see the teach out agreement here
Will I receive a tuition refund?
If you prepaid for instruction that will no longer be delivered (such as the remainder of Spring Quarter, Summer Quarter, or Fall Quarter), you may be eligible for reimbursement through the Student Tuition Recovery Fund (STRF)—a program administered by the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE).
You may qualify if you:
Were a California resident at the time of enrollment, or
Were enrolled in a program that required physical attendance in California, and
Paid the STRF fee as part of your tuition
How to apply:
You can file a claim online using the BPPE's STRF portal:
👉 https://connect.bppe.ca.gov/#/User/LoginSTRF
You’ll need to register and create an account before submitting your claim.
For help with the STRF process:
Phone: 888-370-7589 (Option 6)
Address: 1747 North Market Blvd., Suite 225, Sacramento, CA 95834
Website: www.bppe.ca.gov
Student Relief Office (general support): 888-370-7589 (Option 5)
Here are some helpful videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkKH5nCqd3k
I’m on a payment plan—should I stop payments? Will I still be charged?
No further charges will be made. All payment plans and autopayments have been disabled, and students will not be liable for any additional payments.
Will any student services or educational activities remain active?
No. All academic platforms are being discontinued. However, students will have one week of continued access to Canvas or Matrix (LMS) to download any personal files, session notes, or important messages before access is permanently closed.
Who can I contact with additional questions?
While the ICON team is no longer actively operating, students may reach out to info@iconcollective.edu with general questions. However, response times may be delayed, and no long-term communication or ongoing support is guaranteed.
Notice to I-20 International Students
Dear International Students,
As you may have seen, you were sent a previous message informing you of the unexpected, permanent closure on May 29 of Icon Collective. Please see that message for more details.
As you are international students on an F-1 visa, you have 15 days in which to do one of the following:
Transfer to another school.
Depart the country.
Apply for a change to another nonimmigrant status, such as a B2 Visitor, while you continue to work on acceptance to another school.
Please contact records@iconcollective.edu for any further information
For those in the Music Production program, California College of Music in Pasadena has agreed to accept credits from Icon Collective students for a comparable Music Production program at California College of Music. Like Icon, they are accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music and can issue I-20’s for international students. Their school website is ccmla.edu and contact info is as follows:
info@ccmla.edu
626-577-1751
42 S. Catalina Ave, Pasadena, CA 91106
Other schools within Los Angeles area with with I-20 eligibility and similar programs to those of Icon:
Musicians Institute- mi.edu
NASM accredited
6752 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, CA 90028
866-383-0468
323-462-1384
admissions@mi.edu
Los Angeles Film School
ACCSC accredited
6363 Sunset Blvd, Hollywood, CA 90028
323-860-0789
This list is not comprehensive and eligibility for transfer of credits is determined by the individual institutions.
