Savannah College of Art and Design
Savannah, Georgia · Private Nonprofit · 83.0% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 26/100 · Below Benchmark
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) earns a 26 ROI score and the Below Benchmark tier rating, a result driven by an unusually heavy cost structure colliding with the inherently weak earnings outcomes of arts careers. Sticker tuition is $41,630 but the net price is a striking $49,430 - significantly above sticker, reflecting how full COA (with housing, supplies, and Savannah's living costs) outstrips institutional aid. Four-year cost is $197,720. Average earnings six years out are just $32,700, climbing modestly to a median $45,954 by year ten. The 0.769 debt-to-earnings ratio and 30.8-year payback period reflect a program portfolio dominated by graphic design, film, fine arts, and theatre - fields where median graduate earnings are structurally low. The bright spot: 69.4 percent completion is strong (a 77 sub-score), reflecting the focused, vocationally-committed student body. Human-Computer Interaction earns a B+ grade, the only standout. SCAD is a high-cost specialist school where ROI math depends heavily on which program a student enters.
How Savannah College of Art and Design scores under our methodology
These are the College Scorecard measures that pull this school's CampusROI score down. They describe the published figures, not the quality of the education, and they are our reading of the data. Check them against your own aid offer and intended major.
- ROI Score26/100 - Below Benchmark tier of our scale (below 45). For context, 38% of the schools we score reach 60 or higher.
- Payback period30.8 years - The median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
Savannah College of Art and Design
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $41,630/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $41,630/yr |
| Average net price | $49,430/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $197,720 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $45,954 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $32,700 |
| Median debt at graduation | $25,148 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $267 |
| Estimated payback period | 30.8 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 69.4% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 15,243 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $41,630/year, which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $49,430/year, or roughly $197,720 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $44,858/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $52,147/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $25,148, which works out to about $267 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($32,700) and comes to 0.77, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $44,858 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $45,198 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $48,668 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $51,558 |
| $110,001+ | $52,147 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Lowest-income families pay $44,858 net annually - an extraordinary lift, roughly $179,000 over four years against $32,700 six-year earnings. For Pell-eligible students outside the HCI pipeline, debt-to-earnings is 1.141 in Graphic Communications and 1.126 in Film/Video and Photographic Arts. Aggressive merit scholarship pursuit is essential.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income brackets pay $45,198 ($30K-$48K), $48,668 ($48K-$75K), and $51,558 ($75K-$110K) - nearly $200K over four years for these families.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Higher-income families pay $52,147 net annually - approximately $209,000 over four years. With median 10-year earnings under $46K, the math is exceptionally weak unless the student lands in HCI or a high-demand applied design specialty. SCAD operates as a luxury credential for affluent creative families; the financial logic only works for full-pay students who can absorb the loss in exchange for the brand and connections.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Savannah College of Art and Design with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Design and Applied Arts | $45,923 | F |
| Graphic Communications | $43,058 | F |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $41,651 | F |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $64,076 | C |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $35,177 | F |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $41,153 | F |
| Apparel and Textiles | $55,925 | D |
| Architectural Sciences and Technology | $64,052 | C+ |
| Human Computer Interaction | $113,397 | B+ |
| Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians | $26,064 | F |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Human Computer Interaction
Human-Computer Interaction is SCAD's standout program, with 45 graduates posting first-year earnings of $83,500 climbing to $113,397 by year four - exceptional outcomes. Median debt of $24,500 yields a 0.293 debt-to-earnings ratio and a B+ ROI grade. Career paths flow into product design, UX research, and design leadership at major tech companies. This is the program where SCAD's price tag is actually justifiable.
Design and Applied Arts
Design and Applied Arts is SCAD's flagship-volume program, with 755 graduates - the largest cohort - and concerning outcomes: $23,400 first-year earnings rising to $45,923 by year four. Median debt of $27,000 produces a 1.154 debt-to-earnings ratio and an F ROI grade. Despite SCAD's marketing strength in design, the typical graduate's earnings simply do not justify the cost; students should target the higher-paid corners of design (UX, product) rather than general design tracks.
Graphic Communications
Graphic Communications graduates 524 students - among SCAD's largest programs - with $23,451 first-year and $43,058 four-year earnings. Median debt of $26,748 produces a 1.141 debt-to-earnings ratio and an F ROI grade. The financial picture is among the weakest on campus despite SCAD's reputation in graphic design; students should weigh whether the brand premium offsets the structural earnings ceiling in this field.
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
Film/Video and Photographic Arts graduates 361 students with $23,976 first-year and $41,651 four-year earnings. Median debt of $27,000 produces a 1.126 debt-to-earnings ratio and an F ROI grade. SCAD's film program has reputational pull but the data show typical graduates earn far less than the program's marketing suggests.
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
Drama and Theatre Arts graduates 220 students with $20,532 first-year and $35,177 four-year earnings. Median debt of $27,000 produces a 1.315 debt-to-earnings ratio and an F ROI grade. The financial case here is among the weakest on campus; performing arts is a vocation that requires a clear-eyed cost-benefit assessment, particularly at SCAD's price point.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 61.5% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 65.3% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 60.6% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 63.8% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Savannah College of Art and Design’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 83.0% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 490-610 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 540-660 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 21-28 |
| Enrollment | 15,243 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 18.8% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $10,950 |
SCAD admits 83 percent of applicants - broadly accessible. SAT mid-50 percent ranges run 490-610 in Math and 540-660 in Reading; ACT Composite spans 21-28. The wide ranges and high admit rate reflect that admissions selection at SCAD is heavily portfolio-based rather than test-driven. The strong 69.4 percent completion rate signals that students who enroll are typically committed to their creative discipline.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Savannah College of Art and Design (this school) | 26 | $49,430 | $45,954 |
| Maryland Institute College of Art | 29 | $42,729 | $45,212 |
| Massachusetts College of Art and Design | 29 | $24,100 | $43,582 |
| California College of the Arts | 27 | $53,909 | $49,414 |
| Ringling College of Art and Design | 27 | $57,742 | $43,325 |
| Cleveland Institute of Art | 23 | $29,208 | $42,509 |
Who Thrives Here
SCAD fits creatively-focused students who have specific career trajectories in animation, film, gaming, fashion, advertising, or design and who can either secure substantial aid or absorb the cost. Strongest student outcomes flow to Human-Computer Interaction graduates (B+ ROI grade, $113K four-year earnings). Students entering film, fine arts, drama, or graphic design face F-grade ROI math and should be honest with themselves about long-term earnings expectations.
The Verdict: Below Benchmark Under Our Scoring
Under our methodology, Savannah College of Art and Design scores 26/100, which falls in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At a net price of $49,430 per year, with typical graduate earnings of $45,954 ten years after entry, we estimate the payback period at about 30.8 years. In our view that makes the financial case a hard one to make on the numbers alone, but those numbers are averages: your major, your aid package and what you want from a degree all change the picture, so run your own numbers before you commit.
What it has going for it: its 69.4% graduation rate. What to keep an eye on: weak earnings relative to cost, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.77 (median across the schools we score: 0.61), a three-year loan repayment rate of 65.3% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%), a long payback period.
Median debt of $25,148 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $32,700 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.77. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. Your major - and how much you borrow - really matters.
Savannah College of Art and Design: Common Questions
Is Savannah College of Art and Design worth it?
In our view, the financial case is a hard one to make on the numbers alone. Savannah College of Art and Design scores 26/100 on our ROI scale, in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At $49,430 a year after aid against $45,954 in typical earnings ten years out, we estimate the payback period at about 30.8 years. Your major and aid package can change the picture, so run your own numbers.
How much does Savannah College of Art and Design cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $49,430 a year, or roughly $197,720 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Savannah College of Art and Design graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $45,954 ten years after enrolling, roughly $4,154 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Savannah College of Art and Design?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 30.8 years for Savannah College of Art and Design. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Savannah College of Art and Design graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $25,148, against average earnings of $32,700 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.77. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. How much you borrow really matters.
What is the graduation rate at Savannah College of Art and Design?
The six-year graduation rate is 69.4%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.