The college will permanently close on Sept. 30. Students like Hannah Grabhorn are now trying to figure out what's next.

ATLANTA — Right now, students at the Art Institute of Atlanta are scrambling to figure out their next steps. On Friday, the college emailed students it was among eight locations permanently closing on Sept. 30.

"A culmination of events over the past decade, both external and internal to the campus operations, has forced the closure of this system of colleges," the email read. "Most notably, the colleges, which already were dealing with the legacy challenges that arose under prior ownership, were unable to absorb the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic had."

Hannah Grabhorn had studied game art and design there for two years. She was disappointed to learn she couldn't finish her dream degree there.

"Thursday was when we had our last classes. We turned in finals. I set up my classes for next quarter," she said. "Friday at 3 p.m., they sent an email out saying everything was shut down. No warning."

She said she was aware of the institute's past troubles but had hoped it wouldn't affect her years later. The email changed everything.

"I thought I had my next two years set in stone, and now it's up in limbo," she said. "The school is not cheap and being in debt for a degree I don't have is a a little much."

Grabhorn plans on working for the next few months as she applies to other schools, such as the Savannah College of Art and Design. She's not sure whether her credits will transfer.

"Luckily, we'll have a few months to work towards the next step because we're on the quarter system and all of the other schools are on semesters," she said. "The lack of warning was the hardest part."

According to The Art Institute's website, the following schools will permanently close on Sept. 30: 

• Miami International University of Art & Design 
• The Art Institute of Atlanta
• The Art Institute of Austin, a branch of The Art Institute of Houston 
• The Art Institute of Dallas, a branch of Miami International University of Art & Design
• The Art Institute of Houston
• The Art Institute of San Antonio, a branch of The Art Institute of Houston  
• The Art Institute of Tampa, a branch of Miami International University of Art & Design
• The Art Institute of Virginia Beach, a branch of The Art Institute of Atlanta

Students were provided with details on how to get their transfer papers, and the school said it's working with partners to help with possible transfers. A link is also available for student loan help from the government.

"Due to the timing of this decision, The Art Institutes have not had sufficient time to engage with other colleges and universities in their respective markets to sign formal agreements for students to transfer and continue their studies elsewhere," the email read. "The Art Institutes are working with state agencies and The Art Institutes' accrediting agency, Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to identify appropriate academic transfer opportunities for students affected by this closure."