Savannah College of Art and Design

Key Highlights

• Private nonprofit institution founded in Savannah in 1978
• Accredited to award bachelor’s and master’s degrees
• One university offering degrees in Savannah, Atlanta, and through SCADnow
• Savannah is SCAD’s largest location

Student Life & Environment

Student life in Savannah is shaped by an urban, distributed campus. Academic buildings, residence halls, dining venues, galleries, theaters, fitness spaces, and student services are located across different parts of the city, so daily routines can involve traveling between facilities rather than remaining within a traditional campus boundary. SCAD’s Bee Line buses connect university buildings and continue after class hours. SafeRide provides late-night drop-offs from open SCAD buildings to residences within designated Savannah areas, and students may use SCAD Bike Share without charge. SCADhome manages residence life and housing. Residential communities are intended to support learning and social connection, but housing is subject to availability. The 2026–2027 fee schedule lists multiple Savannah residence-hall configurations, ranging from shared suites and studios to private bedrooms in apartment-style units. Meal plans vary substantially in the number of meals and dining dollars included, so students should match a plan to both their residence and expected habits. Beyond housing, SCAD reports organized opportunities involving student interaction, leadership, community service, wellness, and student organizations. Savannah students also have access to university health and mental-health support, dining, athletics, exhibitions, and institutional events. Because facilities are dispersed, prospective students should consider transportation routes, evening schedules, and the distance between their likely residence and major-specific buildings when evaluating fit.

Location & Surroundings

SCAD Savannah is integrated into the fabric of Savannah rather than concentrated behind campus gates. The university reports nearly 70 historic and renovated facilities across its largest location. This arrangement gives students direct access to the city’s architecture, public spaces, galleries, cultural events, and tourism economy, but it also makes route planning part of everyday student life. Many facilities sit in or near the historic downtown area, while some specialized spaces, residences, and athletic facilities are farther away. SCAD’s Bee Line bus network, SafeRide service, bike-share program, and registered student parking help connect these locations. Students bringing a car must register it with the university, while those relying on buses should examine current routes and operating times in relation to their class schedules. Savannah is a coastal Georgia city with a warm climate and a visually distinctive historic district. For creative students, the urban setting can function as subject matter and professional context, particularly in architecture, preservation, film, photography, and design. The tradeoff is that this is a city-based experience: noise, tourism, weather, transportation time, and off-campus living costs may matter more than at a compact residential campus. A visit should include both academic buildings and likely housing areas.

Costs & Career Outcomes

For 2026–2027, SCAD lists full-time undergraduate tuition of $42,975 for three quarters and 45 credit hours. Its estimated undergraduate cost of attendance for a student in SCAD housing is $67,386, including estimated food and housing, transportation, books and supplies, miscellaneous personal expenses, and federal loan fees. The corresponding graduate estimate is $68,526, with $43,965 in tuition. These are planning estimates rather than a guaranteed bill, and studio materials, equipment choices, travel, health coverage, and housing selection can change actual spending. SCAD publishes institutional scholarships based on academic achievement, overall achievement, and other qualifications. Portfolios may strengthen scholarship consideration even though they are not required for undergraduate admission. U.S. citizens and eligible noncitizens seeking federal aid should follow the 2026–2027 FAFSA process; international students must plan without U.S. federal or state aid. Students should compare grants and scholarships with the full multiyear cost, renewal conditions, and any effect of moving out of SCAD housing. Career support includes an assigned career adviser, résumé and portfolio guidance, interview preparation, job and internship listings, workshops, and recruitment events. SCAD reports that a 2026 institutional study found 99% of recent graduates were employed, pursuing further education, or both within 12 months. This is a combined outcome produced by SCAD, not a salary measure or a guarantee of field-specific employment. Prospective students should request the underlying report and seek program-level outcomes, internship access, debt estimates, and starting-pay evidence when judging return on investment.