SCAD vs. Spelman

Deciding between Savannah College of Art and Design and Spelman College? 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
Spelman College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • SCAD Savannah, GA
  • Spelman Atlanta, GA
  • Setting
  • SCAD Midsize City
  • Spelman Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • SCAD 18,550
  • Spelman 3,417
  • Type
  • SCAD Private 4 Year
  • Spelman Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • SCAD #780
  • Spelman #271
  • Religious Affiliation
  • SCAD -
  • Spelman -
  • Status
  • SCAD Non-profit
  • Spelman Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • SCAD
  • Spelman

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • SCAD $41,630
  • Spelman $31,556
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • SCAD $41,630
  • Spelman $31,556
  • Room & Board
  • SCAD $18,123
  • Spelman $18,091
  • Average Net Price
  • SCAD $50,821
  • Spelman $40,354
  • Average Grant Aid
  • SCAD $12,884
  • Spelman $10,614
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • SCAD 98%
  • Spelman 96%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • SCAD 15,956
  • Spelman 12,023
  • Admitted
  • SCAD 13,241
  • Spelman 2,990
  • Acceptance Rate
  • SCAD 83%
  • Spelman 24.9%
  • Enrolled
  • SCAD 26.4%
  • Spelman 23.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • SCAD 1150
  • Spelman 1210
  • Typical ACT score
  • SCAD 24
  • Spelman 25
  • Average High School GPA
  • SCAD 3.56
  • Spelman 3.75
  • Typical High School Grades
  • SCAD A-
  • Spelman A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • SCAD Average
  • Spelman Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • SCAD
  • Spelman High
  • ACT Range
  • SCAD 21/28
  • Spelman 22/29
  • SAT Range
  • SCAD 1030/1270
  • Spelman 1108/1320
  • Submit Test Scores
  • SCAD Test optional
  • Spelman Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • SCAD
  • Spelman Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • SCAD 21:1
  • Spelman 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • SCAD
    • Visual and Performing Arts (74%)
    • Communications Technology (13%)
    • Architecture (5%)
    • Work and Family Studies (3%)
    • Communication (3%)
  • Spelman
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Psychology (20%)
    • Biology (14%)
    • English and Literature (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • SCAD 64%
  • Spelman 77%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • SCAD $39,800
  • Spelman $51,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • SCAD 55%
  • Spelman 47%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • SCAD $27,000
  • Spelman $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • SCAD $279
  • Spelman $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • SCAD 30%
  • Spelman 5%
  • % Women
  • SCAD 70%
  • Spelman 95%
  • Racial Diversity
  • SCAD High
  • Spelman Extremely Low
  • HBCU
  • SCAD No
  • Spelman Yes
  • % White
  • SCAD 54%
  • Spelman 0%
  • % Asian
  • SCAD 5%
  • Spelman 0%
  • % Black
  • SCAD 12%
  • Spelman 96%
  • % Hispanic
  • SCAD 9%
  • Spelman 0%
  • % Native American
  • SCAD 1%
  • Spelman 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • SCAD 0%
  • Spelman 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • SCAD 0%
  • Spelman 2%
  • % International
  • SCAD 15%
  • Spelman 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • SCAD 4%
  • Spelman 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • SCAD 17%
  • Spelman 21%
  • % Out-of-State
  • SCAD 70%
  • Spelman 78%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Savannah College of Art and Design is larger than Spelman based on total student enrollment (18,550 students vs. 3,417 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Savannah College of Art and Design is located in Savannah, GA (Midsize City setting); Spelman College is in Atlanta, GA (Large City setting).
  • Savannah College of Art and Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Spelman College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Savannah College of Art and Design 21:1; Spelman College 11:1.

SCAD vs. Spelman Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SCAD or Spelman? 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 Spelman College than SCAD ($40,354 vs. $50,821).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Spelman College are 0.2% lower than at Savannah College of Art and Design ($18,091 vs. $18,123).
  • Savannah College of Art and Design is 31.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Spelman (about $10,074 more per year; $41,630.00 vs. $31,556.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 31.9% higher at SCAD than at Spelman College (about $10,074 more per year; $41,630.00 vs. $31,556.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Savannah College of Art and Design than at Spelman College (98% vs. 96%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Savannah College of Art and Design students is 21.4% larger than aid received by Spelman College students ($12,884 vs. $10,614).

SCAD vs. Spelman Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SCAD or Spelman? 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 Spelman and SCAD.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Spelman College (1210) is 60 points higher than at SCAD (1150).
  • Incoming Spelman students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (25 vs. 24 at SCAD).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Savannah College of Art and Design 1030/1270; Spelman College 1108/1320.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Savannah College of Art and Design 21/28; Spelman College 22/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SCAD - Test optional; Spelman - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Spelman Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Spelman students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at SCAD (3.56).
  • SCAD has a higher acceptance rate (83%) than Spelman (24.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 26.4% at SCAD vs. 23.6% at Spelman.

SCAD vs. Spelman Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SCAD and Spelman? 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).

  • Spelman College's six-year graduation rate (77%) is higher than Savannah College of Art and Design's (64%).
  • Graduates from Spelman College earn a median of about $11,500 more per year than SCAD graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,300 vs. $39,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Spelman College and SCAD graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, Spelman 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 Spelman students, three years after graduation. (55% vs. 47%)

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.