Understanding the Cost of Attendance at Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD)

Planning for college expenses is a crucial part of the application process. Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) is a popular choice for students pursuing art and design degrees. This article provides a detailed breakdown of the cost of attendance at SCAD, including tuition, fees, room and board, and other expenses, as well as available financial aid options. By understanding these costs and aid opportunities, prospective students can effectively manage their college finances.

Tuition and Fees

The annual tuition to attend Savannah College of Art and Design is $40,095. The cost is the same for both in-state and out-of-state students. Compared with the national average cost of tuition of $46,950, Savannah College of Art and Design is cheaper. These figures include both tuition and fees, also referred to as the sticker price. SCAD's tuition & fees has increased from $34,970 (2015) to $41,630 (2025), and the rate of tuition increase is 19.04% over the past 10 years. Fees differ by institution and may fund library services, student gym facilities, student centers, technology resources and campus health centers.

Room and Board

On-campus room and board is provided by the school at a cost of $17,493 per academic year. If living on-campus, students should budget for $4,224 in additional living expenses. Estimated cost for SCAD housing and meal plan. Actual costs may vary. The living costs including room, board, and other living expenses have increased 24.88% when a student lives on-campus facilities and 22.49% when living-off campus from the year 2015 to 2025.

Total Cost of Attendance

As you’re comparing costs of different institutions, also consider the total cost and the net price. The total cost is the sticker price, plus the cost of food and housing, books and supplies, and transportation and personal expenses. At Savannah College of Art and Design, the total cost is $66,008. The cost of attending the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) includes tuition, room and board, as well as additional fees like supplies, health services, and technology fees. In total, you can expect a cost of around $55,790 per year to attend SCAD, inclusive of tuition, room, board, and other fees. It's important to note that these figures are approximate and may change in the coming years.

Additional Expenses

Beyond tuition and room and board, students should also budget for:

Read also: Savannah Christian Value

Books and Supplies: $2,043 per year. The cost of purchasing books & supplies which are required/recommended for courses $2,061, and it has increased 1.78% from the year 2015 to 2025.
Personal Expenses: $2,595 per year. Estimated costs for other personal expenses, such as health care, entertainment, and other life needs.
Transportation: $1,719 per year. Estimated costs for personal transportation, such as flights, taxis, and automobile expenses.

The books, course materials, equipment, miscellaneous personal expenses, and transportation budget components are not paid directly to SCAD; they are components that federal regulations require SCAD to include in determining financial aid eligibility.

Net Price and Financial Aid

The average reported annual net price for Savannah College of Art and Design for students receiving grants or scholarship aid was $46,524 in 2019/2020. The net price provides a more realistic estimate of the true cost of attending Savannah College of Art and Design, once common grants and scholarships have been taken into account. It's important to note that your net price will fluctuate based on factors such as family income, assets and individual financial need. Financial aid is only available to those who qualify.

Financial Aid Statistics

98% of full-time undergrad Savannah College of Art and Design received financial aid in the form of grants, scholarships, fellowships from the institution or from Federal, State or local government agencies in fall 2023.
This aid averaged $13,243 per student during the 2019/2020 school year.
The average need-based scholarship or grant awarded to first-year students at Savannah College of Art and Design was $15,666.
Additionally, 52% of first-year students received need-based financial aid.
The average non-need-based scholarship or grant awarded to first-year students at Savannah College of Art and Design - excluding any athletic scholarships, if applicable - was $11,964.
Savannah College of Art and Design met 36% of its students’ financial aid need.

Types of Financial Aid

Financial aid can include grants, loans, scholarships and work-study jobs. Financial aid packages vary depending on your financial need. Most colleges determine financial need based on your FAFSA.

Grants and Scholarships: Grant and scholarship aid does not need to be paid back. Scholarships are a type of funding that you don’t need to pay back. Need-based scholarships take a student’s financial status into account. Merit-based scholarships are awarded to students for academic or athletic achievement. You might also qualify for a scholarship based on your community service involvement, unique hobbies or traits, your personal background, or a parent’s employer or military affiliation.
Pell Grants: The average Pell Grant awarded for 2019/2020 was $5,220. To apply for a Pell Grant to attend Savannah College of Art and Design, the first step is to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Federal Student Loans: Federal Student Loans are not grants and must be repaid with interest. The median federal loan debt among borrowers who completed their undergraduate degree is $25,148. The median monthly federal loan payment (if it were repaid over 10 years at 5.05% interest) for student federal loan borrowers who graduated is $267.
Need-Based Self-Help Aid: Need-based self-help aid includes federal loans and work-study. The average need-based self-help aid awarded to first-year students was $3,220.

Student Loan Debt

How much student loan debt you accumulate can affect your financial life long after college ends. Ideally, your total student loan debt should fall below your anticipated starting salary once you graduate. At Savannah College of Art and Design, the median federal loan debt among borrowers who completed their undergraduate degree is $25,148. Additionally, 16% of graduating students at Savannah College of Art and Design took out private loans. Students with private loans had an average of $76,328 in private loan debt at graduation. Average Total Indebtedness of 2024 Graduating Class $48,721 Graduating students who have borrowed (any loan type, 2024) 46%

Loan Repayment

To gauge a more realistic picture of what it really could cost you out of pocket to go to Savannah College of Art and Design, we've modeled a ten year student loan with an original principal value of $186,096. The loan balance of $186,096 is a four year multiple of the $46,524 average net price. This is a estimate of what you could owe upon graduation if you were to qualify for average financial aid and what a degree really may cost. Should you not qualify for financial aid, you may owe significantly more when you graduate. Based on these assumptions, a monthly repayment of $2,116 could be required to pay off your student loan. Please note that financial aid is not guaranteed and is only available for qualifying students.

Read also: SSU Legacy

Additional Financial Considerations

Working While in School: Working while in school can help lessen the burden of your student loans. Schools offer work-study programs to those who qualify and campus jobs to students looking to earn money in their free time.
Study Abroad Programs: All students commencing a study abroad program will automatically be enrolled in the SCAD student insurance plan. Cost for this coverage will be added to your bill each quarter. Participants are responsible for tuition, program fees, travel expenses, and all personal expenses, including meals, during weekend excursions. Travel scholarships in varying amounts are awarded to qualified students who have been accepted to participate in SCAD study abroad programs. Students may apply for financial aid toward SCAD Lacoste.

Understanding the Cost of Attendance

The cost of attendance is an estimate of the types of expenses you can anticipate annually. Cost of attendance includes tuition but also considers estimated living and educational expenses that you may need to fund. The cost of attendance does not represent what a student will actually pay to the university. Adjustments to a student’s cost of attendance allowances may be considered by the financial aid office for certain additional costs, such as child or dependent care, disability-related expenses, and the one-time purchase of a computer.

Long-Term Cost Trends

Cost of Attendance (COA) Trends The total cost of attendance (COA), including tuition & fees, books & supplies costs, and living costs, increased by 25.55% from 2015 ($52,577). For the current academic year 2024-2025, SCAD's COA is $66,008, which is increased by 2.60% from last year. The following table and chart show changes to SCAD's COA over the past 10 years. Tuition & Fees Changes The tuition & fees have increased 19.04% for the last 10 years , and the 2025 tuition & fees are $41,630. The following table and chart show the tuition & fees changes at Savannah College of Art and Design over last the 10 years. Books & Supplies Costs Changes The cost of purchasing books & supplies which are required/recommended for courses $2,061, and it has increased 1.78% from the year 2015 to 2025. Living Costs Changes The living costs including room, board, and other living expenses have increased 24.88% when a student lives on-campus facilities and 22.49% when living-off campus from the year 2015 to 2025.

Read also: Degree Programs at SCAD

tags: #savannah #college #of #art #and #design