Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Savannah College of Art and Design #1420 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $17,561 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Savannah College of Art and Design in the 7.7 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Savannah College of Art and Design sits in the 9.3 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Savannah College of Art and Design #1420 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private university in Savannah, Georgia, Savannah College of Art and Design enrolls roughly 15,243 undergraduates. Retention is 86.3% and the six-year graduation rate is 69.4%, reflecting solid persistence and completion outcomes for a specialized arts institution. Where Savannah College of Art and Design performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Savannah College of Art and Design #1283 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $47,980, and they earn about $17,561 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Savannah College of Art and Design in the 7.7 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. This performance is notable for an institution whose degree portfolio centers on Visual & Performing Arts — a field where career trajectories often extend beyond the four-year mark and where creative professionals frequently build earnings over time through portfolio development, freelance work, and emerging opportunities. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. Savannah College of Art and Design sits in the 55.0 percentile for access and the 0.6 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. 18.8% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 17.6% are first-generation college students — modest shares reflecting the institution's private tuition structure and selective admissions posture. Mobility outcomes, measured by low-income graduate earnings and upward economic movement, place the institution in the 75.6 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions. For prospective students drawn to specialized arts training with demonstrated long-term financial payoff, Savannah College of Art and Design offers a distinctive value proposition: strong earnings beyond expectations paired with a focused, nationally recognized program portfolio.
Savannah College of Art and Design's published cost of attendance is $63,627. Net price by income band shows meaningful variation: low-income families pay approximately $44,858, middle-income families pay around $48,668, and higher-income families pay approximately $52,147. Azimuth ranks Savannah College of Art and Design #1417 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The affordability rank reflects both the headline sticker price and the debt load graduates carry: net price and sticker price can differ substantially, and understanding that gap matters when comparing institutions. Financial aid reaches a substantial share of the student body. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $25,148, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $99,784; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $47,980, median federal debt of $25,148 projects to a monthly payment of about $284 under standard ten-year repayment. In a downside earnings scenario anchored on lower-earning program clusters within SCAD's visual and performing arts portfolio, projected four-year earnings of $38,867 would stretch that same payment further as a share of income — a pattern worth exploring at the program level rather than the institutional average. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Savannah College of Art and Design is a strong fit for students pursuing careers in visual and performing arts who want a private nonprofit college experience in Savannah, GA. The institution's program mix is concentrated in Visual & Performing Arts, representing 51% of graduates. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $47,980, placing Savannah College of Art and Design in the 9.3 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $17,561 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 7.7 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution serves 18.8% of undergraduates who receive Pell Grants and 17.6% who are first-generation students. Published cost of attendance is $52,147, with median federal debt at graduation of $25,148. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 83.0% admit rate makes the application process selective, and the program mix favors creative fields over traditional academic disciplines. Students whose interests align with visual and performing arts will find specialized training aligned with their career goals.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the Savannah College Of Art And Design hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences Business Services
21 graduates
Human Computer Interaction
50 graduates
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication
322 graduates
Architectural Sciences and Technology
67 graduates
Apparel and Textiles
99 graduates
Savannah College of Art and Design's program mix centers on visual and performing arts — a portfolio shaped by the institution's identity as a specialized design and arts university. Design and Applied Arts is the largest program with 694 graduates, followed by Graphic Communications with 523 graduates, Film/Video and Photographic Arts with 330 graduates, Radio, Television, and Digital Communication with 322 graduates, and Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft with 172 graduates.
Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 2,546 students annually, the institution's strength lies in fields where creative and technical skills command market value. The earnings pattern reflects the specialized nature of arts and design education.
Human Computer Interaction leads with median earnings of $113,397 four years after enrollment, followed by Radio, Television, and Digital Communication at $64,076, Architectural Sciences and Technology at $64,052, Apparel and Textiles at $55,925, and Design and Applied Arts at $45,923. These earnings reflect early-career outcomes for graduates entering creative industries, design firms, media production, and related fields where portfolio strength and technical proficiency drive hiring and compensation.
Savannah College of Art and Design's program portfolio is concentrated in high-mobility creative pathways where graduates enter the workforce directly. The institution's dominant program families — Arts at 51% and Engineering at 3% — reflect a focused mission aligned with creative industries and design markets.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these creative and technical fields align with labor-market demand in media, design, and entertainment sectors.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Savannah College of Art and Design's published cost of attendance is $63,627. Net price by income band shows meaningful variation: low-income families pay approximately $44,858, middle-income families pay around $48,668, and higher-income families pay approximately $52,147.
Azimuth ranks Savannah College of Art and Design #1417 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The affordability rank reflects both the headline sticker price and the debt load graduates carry: [net price and sticker price can differ substantially](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/), and understanding that gap matters when comparing institutions.
Financial aid reaches a substantial share of the student body. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $25,148, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $99,784; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $47,980, median federal debt of $25,148 projects to a monthly payment of about $284 under standard ten-year repayment. In a downside earnings scenario anchored on lower-earning program clusters within SCAD's visual and performing arts portfolio, projected four-year earnings of $38,867 would stretch that same payment further as a share of income — a pattern worth exploring at the program level rather than the institutional average.
For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Savannah College of Art and Design earn median 4-year earnings of $47,980, placing the institution in the 9.3 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $17,561 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Savannah College of Art and Design in the 7.7 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Savannah College of Art and Design #1283 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Savannah College of Art and Design's concentration in visual and performing arts fields.
Design and Applied Arts is the largest program with 694 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $45,923, at 0.9x the national benchmark for the field. The Graphic Communications program graduates 523 students earning $43,058 four years after enrollment, while Film/Video and Photographic Arts delivers median earnings of $41,651 across 330 graduates.
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication and Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft round out the top programs, with graduates earning $64,076 and $35,177 respectively. These outcomes demonstrate that Savannah College of Art and Design's specialized focus in creative fields translates into solid long-term financial returns for graduates entering design, media, and arts-related careers.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The New School Similar quality tier (#36185 ranked) | NY | 63% | $52,901 | #36185 | Compare |
High Point University Similar quality tier in Southeast (#36195 ranked) | NC | 75% | $61,389 | #36195 | Compare |
Belmont University Similar quality tier in Southeast (#34943 ranked) | TN | 95% | $55,930 | #34943 | Compare |
Elon University Similar quality tier in Southeast (#33833 ranked) | NC | 66% | $74,545 | #33833 | Compare |
Columbia College Chicago Similar quality tier (#30597 ranked) | IL | 89% | $42,195 | #30597 | Compare |
