SCAD vs. AMU

Deciding between Savannah College of Art and Design and Ave Maria University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Savannah College of Art and Design
Ave Maria University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • SCAD Savannah, GA
  • AMU Ave Maria, FL
  • Setting
  • SCAD Midsize City
  • AMU Distant Rural
  • Total enrollment
  • SCAD 18,550
  • AMU 1,423
  • Type
  • SCAD Private 4 Year
  • AMU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • SCAD #780
  • AMU #625
  • Religious Affiliation
  • SCAD -
  • AMU Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • SCAD Non-profit
  • AMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • SCAD
  • AMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • SCAD $41,630
  • AMU $30,198
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • SCAD $41,630
  • AMU $30,198
  • Room & Board
  • SCAD $18,123
  • AMU $14,432
  • Average Net Price
  • SCAD $50,821
  • AMU $25,294
  • Average Grant Aid
  • SCAD $12,884
  • AMU $20,936
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • SCAD 98%
  • AMU 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • SCAD 15,956
  • AMU 2,689
  • Admitted
  • SCAD 13,241
  • AMU 1,113
  • Acceptance Rate
  • SCAD 83%
  • AMU 41.4%
  • Enrolled
  • SCAD 26.4%
  • AMU 32.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • SCAD 1150
  • AMU 1130
  • Typical ACT score
  • SCAD 24
  • AMU 24
  • Average High School GPA
  • SCAD 3.56
  • AMU 3.6
  • Typical High School Grades
  • SCAD A-
  • AMU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • SCAD Average
  • AMU Average
  • Applicant Competition
  • SCAD
  • AMU Low
  • ACT Range
  • SCAD 21/28
  • AMU 21/28
  • SAT Range
  • SCAD 1030/1270
  • AMU 1018/1240
  • Submit Test Scores
  • SCAD Test optional
  • AMU Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • SCAD
  • AMU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • SCAD 21:1
  • AMU 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • SCAD
    • Visual and Performing Arts (74%)
    • Communications Technology (13%)
    • Architecture (5%)
    • Work and Family Studies (3%)
    • Communication (3%)
  • AMU
    • Theology and Religious Vvocations (22%)
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • English and Literature (12%)
    • Philosophy and Religious Studies (11%)
    • Biology (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • SCAD 64%
  • AMU 41%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • SCAD $39,800
  • AMU N/A
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • SCAD 55%
  • AMU 53%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • SCAD $27,000
  • AMU $22,428
  • Median Loan Payment
  • SCAD $279
  • AMU $231

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • SCAD 30%
  • AMU 48%
  • % Women
  • SCAD 70%
  • AMU 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • SCAD High
  • AMU Medium
  • HBCU
  • SCAD No
  • AMU No
  • % White
  • SCAD 54%
  • AMU 61%
  • % Asian
  • SCAD 5%
  • AMU 3%
  • % Black
  • SCAD 12%
  • AMU 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • SCAD 9%
  • AMU 15%
  • % Native American
  • SCAD 1%
  • AMU 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • SCAD 0%
  • AMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • SCAD 0%
  • AMU 0%
  • % International
  • SCAD 15%
  • AMU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • SCAD 4%
  • AMU 13%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • SCAD 17%
  • AMU 28%
  • % Out-of-State
  • SCAD 70%
  • AMU 70%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • SCAD Yes
  • AMU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • SCAD No
  • AMU No
  • Meal Plan
  • SCAD Yes
  • AMU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • SCAD No
  • AMU Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • SCAD No
  • AMU No

Comparable Facts

Compare Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, GA with Ave Maria University in Ave Maria, FL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Savannah College of Art and Design is larger than AMU based on total student enrollment (18,550 students vs. 1,423 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Savannah College of Art and Design is located in Savannah, GA (Midsize City setting); Ave Maria University is in Ave Maria, FL (Distant Rural setting).
  • Savannah College of Art and Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Ave Maria University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Savannah College of Art and Design 21:1; Ave Maria University 17:1.

SCAD vs. AMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SCAD or AMU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Ave Maria University than SCAD ($25,294 vs. $50,821).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ave Maria University are 20.4% lower than at Savannah College of Art and Design ($14,432 vs. $18,123).
  • Savannah College of Art and Design is 37.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than AMU (about $11,432 more per year; $41,630.00 vs. $30,198.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 37.9% higher at SCAD than at Ave Maria University (about $11,432 more per year; $41,630.00 vs. $30,198.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ave Maria University than at Savannah College of Art and Design (100% vs. 98%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Ave Maria University students is 62.5% larger than aid received by Savannah College of Art and Design students ($20,936 vs. $12,884).

SCAD vs. AMU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SCAD or AMU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between AMU and SCAD.

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Savannah College of Art and Design (1150) is 20 points higher than at AMU (1130).
  • Incoming SCAD students have the same typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate; 24) as students at AMU (24).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Savannah College of Art and Design 1030/1270; Ave Maria University 1018/1240.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Savannah College of Art and Design 21/28; Ave Maria University 21/28.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SCAD - Test optional; AMU - Test-free.
  • Enrolled freshman AMU students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at SCAD (3.56).
  • SCAD has a higher acceptance rate (83%) than AMU (41.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 26.4% at SCAD vs. 32.8% at AMU.

SCAD vs. AMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SCAD and AMU? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

  • Savannah College of Art and Design's six-year graduation rate (64%) is higher than Ave Maria University's (41%).
  • Graduates from Savannah College of Art and Design have median earnings of about $39,800 about ten years after starting college (College Scorecard). Comparable earnings data is not available for AMU.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Ave Maria University graduates have a $4,572 lower median loan debt than SCAD graduates ($22,428 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, AMU graduates have an estimated $48 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SCAD graduates ($231 vs. $279).
  • More SCAD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AMU students, three years after graduation. (55% vs. 53%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.