SCAD vs. Salem College

Comparable Facts

Compare Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, GA with Salem College in Winston-Salem, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Savannah College of Art and Design is larger than Salem College based on total student enrollment (18,550 students vs. 549 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Savannah College of Art and Design is located in Savannah, GA (Midsize City setting); Salem College is in Winston-Salem, NC (Midsize City setting).
• Savannah College of Art and Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Salem College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Savannah College of Art and Design 21:1; Salem College 9:1.

SCAD vs. Salem College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SCAD or Salem College? 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 Salem College than SCAD ($18,668 vs. $50,821).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Salem College are 24.4% lower than at Savannah College of Art and Design ($13,710 vs. $18,123).
• Savannah College of Art and Design is 23% more expensive for in-state tuition than Salem College (about $7,782 more per year; $41,630.00 vs. $33,848.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 23% higher at SCAD than at Salem College (about $7,782 more per year; $41,630.00 vs. $33,848.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Salem College than at Savannah College of Art and Design (100% vs. 98%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Salem College students is 132.9% larger than aid received by Savannah College of Art and Design students ($30,001 vs. $12,884).

SCAD vs. Salem College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SCAD or Salem College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Salem College and SCAD.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Savannah College of Art and Design (1150) is the same as at Salem College (1150).
• Incoming SCAD students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (24 vs. 19 at Salem College).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Savannah College of Art and Design 1030/1270; Salem College 1066/1243.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Savannah College of Art and Design 21/28; Salem College 16/22.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SCAD - Test optional; Salem College - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman SCAD students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (3.56) than students at Salem College (3.3).
• SCAD has a higher acceptance rate (83%) than Salem College (76.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 26.4% at SCAD vs. 7.9% at Salem College.

SCAD vs. Salem College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SCAD and Salem College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Savannah College of Art and Design's six-year graduation rate (64%) is higher than Salem College's (53%).
• Graduates from Savannah College of Art and Design earn a median of about $4,800 more per year than Salem College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,800 vs. $35,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Salem College and SCAD graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Salem College and SCAD graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($279 vs. $279).
• More SCAD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Salem College 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.