SCAD vs. VSU

Deciding between Savannah College of Art and Design and Valdosta State 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
Valdosta State University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • SCAD Savannah, GA
  • VSU Valdosta, GA
  • Setting
  • SCAD Midsize City
  • VSU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • SCAD 18,550
  • VSU 10,262
  • Type
  • SCAD Private 4 Year
  • VSU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • SCAD #780
  • VSU #964
  • Religious Affiliation
  • SCAD -
  • VSU -
  • Status
  • SCAD Non-profit
  • VSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • SCAD
  • VSU
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • SCAD $41,630
  • VSU $6,124
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • SCAD $41,630
  • VSU $17,836
  • Room & Board
  • SCAD $18,123
  • VSU $9,530
  • Average Net Price
  • SCAD $50,821
  • VSU $11,144
  • Average Grant Aid
  • SCAD $12,884
  • VSU $10,206
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • SCAD 98%
  • VSU 93%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • SCAD 15,956
  • VSU 6,253
  • Admitted
  • SCAD 13,241
  • VSU 4,520
  • Acceptance Rate
  • SCAD 83%
  • VSU 72.3%
  • Enrolled
  • SCAD 26.4%
  • VSU 26%
  • Typical SAT score
  • SCAD 1150
  • VSU 1010
  • Typical ACT score
  • SCAD 24
  • VSU 19
  • Average High School GPA
  • SCAD 3.56
  • VSU 3.23
  • Typical High School Grades
  • SCAD A-
  • VSU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • SCAD Average
  • VSU Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • SCAD
  • VSU Low
  • ACT Range
  • SCAD 21/28
  • VSU 16/22
  • SAT Range
  • SCAD 1030/1270
  • VSU 920/1100
  • Submit Test Scores
  • SCAD Test optional
  • VSU Required
  • Application Deadline
  • SCAD
  • VSU Jun 15, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • SCAD 21:1
  • VSU 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • SCAD
    • Visual and Performing Arts (74%)
    • Communications Technology (13%)
    • Architecture (5%)
    • Work and Family Studies (3%)
    • Communication (3%)
  • VSU
    • Business (21%)
    • Education (17%)
    • Health Professions (10%)
    • English and Literature (8%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • SCAD 64%
  • VSU 43%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • SCAD $39,800
  • VSU $40,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • SCAD 55%
  • VSU 41%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • SCAD $27,000
  • VSU $25,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • SCAD $279
  • VSU $258
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • SCAD 30%
  • VSU 31%
  • % Women
  • SCAD 70%
  • VSU 69%
  • Racial Diversity
  • SCAD High
  • VSU High
  • HBCU
  • SCAD No
  • VSU No
  • % White
  • SCAD 54%
  • VSU 51%
  • % Asian
  • SCAD 5%
  • VSU 1%
  • % Black
  • SCAD 12%
  • VSU 36%
  • % Hispanic
  • SCAD 9%
  • VSU 5%
  • % Native American
  • SCAD 1%
  • VSU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • SCAD 0%
  • VSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • SCAD 0%
  • VSU 3%
  • % International
  • SCAD 15%
  • VSU 3%
  • % Unknown Race
  • SCAD 4%
  • VSU 0%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • SCAD 17%
  • VSU 73%
  • % Out-of-State
  • SCAD 70%
  • VSU 26%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Savannah College of Art and Design is larger than VSU based on total student enrollment (18,550 students vs. 10,262 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

SCAD vs. VSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SCAD or VSU? 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 Valdosta State University than SCAD ($11,144 vs. $50,821).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Valdosta State University are 47.4% lower than at Savannah College of Art and Design ($9,530 vs. $18,123).
  • Savannah College of Art and Design is 579.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than VSU (about $35,506 more per year; $41,630.00 vs. $6,124.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 133.4% higher at SCAD than at Valdosta State University (about $23,794 more per year; $41,630.00 vs. $17,836.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Savannah College of Art and Design than at Valdosta State University (98% vs. 93%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Savannah College of Art and Design students is 26.2% larger than aid received by Valdosta State University students ($12,884 vs. $10,206).

SCAD vs. VSU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Savannah College of Art and Design (1150) is 140 points higher than at VSU (1010).
  • Incoming SCAD students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (24 vs. 19 at VSU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Savannah College of Art and Design 1030/1270; Valdosta State University 920/1100.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Savannah College of Art and Design 21/28; Valdosta State University 16/22.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SCAD - Test optional; VSU - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: VSU Jun 15, 2027.
  • Enrolled freshman SCAD students have a 0.33 point higher average high school GPA (3.56) than students at VSU (3.23).
  • SCAD has a higher acceptance rate (83%) than VSU (72.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 26.4% at SCAD vs. 26% at VSU.

SCAD vs. VSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SCAD and VSU? 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 Valdosta State University's (43%).
  • Graduates from Valdosta State University earn a median of about $500 more per year than SCAD graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,300 vs. $39,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Valdosta State University graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than SCAD graduates ($25,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, VSU graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SCAD graduates ($258 vs. $279).
  • More SCAD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former VSU students, three years after graduation. (55% vs. 41%)

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.