CAU vs. SCAD

Should I go to Clark Atlanta University or Savannah College of Art and Design? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if CAU or SCAD is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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Clark Atlanta University vs. Savannah College of Art and Design comparison
Clark Atlanta University Savannah College of Art and Design College 3 College 4
Clark Atlanta University Savannah College of Art and Design
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Overview

 CAU SCAD
Location Atlanta, GA Savannah, GA
Setting Large City Midsize City
Enrollment 4,000 16,414
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #971 #765
Religious Affiliation United Methodist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website cau.edu scad.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 CAU SCAD
Tuition (In State) $21,948 $39,105
Tuition (Out of State) $21,948 $39,105
Room & Board $10,982 $15,594
Avg Net Price $30,015 $45,976
Avg Grant Aid $9,431 $13,157
% Receiving Grant Aid 83% 98%

Admission

 CAU SCAD
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 16,153 14,387
Admitted 9,088 11,759
Acceptance Rate 56.3% 81.7%
Enrolled % 12.7% 29.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.28 3.56
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Challenging
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 16/20 20/28
SAT Range 880/1120 1060/1280
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Apr 1, 2024

Academics

 CAU SCAD
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 20:1
Popular Majors
  • Communication (26%)
  • Business (21%)
  • Psychology (11%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • English and Literature (5%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (74%)
  • Communications Technology (13%)
  • Architecture (5%)
  • Work and Family Studies (3%)
  • Communication (3%)

Outcomes

 CAU SCAD
Graduation Rate 41% 64%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $38,400 $39,800
Making Student Loan Payments 30% 55%
Median Student Loan Debt $31,000 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $320 $279

Diversity

 CAU SCAD
% Men 24% 30%
% Women 76% 70%
Racial Diversity Very Low High
HBCU Yes No
% White 0% 54%
% Black 84% 12%
% Hispanic 0% 9%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 0%
% International 2% 15%
% Unknown Race 13% 4%

Students

 CAU SCAD
% In-State 27% 16%
% Out-of-State 72% 72%

Campus

 CAU SCAD
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required Yes No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Savannah College of Art and Design is larger than than CAU based on total student enrollment (16,414 students vs. 4,000 students)

CAU vs. SCAD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CAU or SCAD?

  • Savannah College of Art and Design is 78.2% more expensive to attend than CAU for in-state tuition ($39,105.00 vs. $21,948.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 78.2% higher at SCAD than Clark Atlanta University ($39,105.00 vs. $21,948.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Clark Atlanta University than SCAD ($30,015 vs. $45,976)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Clark Atlanta University are 42% lower than costs at Savannah College of Art and Design ($10,982 vs. $15,594)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Savannah College of Art and Design than Clark Atlanta University (98% vs. 83%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Savannah College of Art and Design students is 39.5% larger than aid received Clark Atlanta University ($13,157 vs. $9,431)

CAU vs. SCAD Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CAU or SCAD? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between SCAD or CAU .

  • The average SAT score at Savannah College of Art and Design (1064) is 214 points higher than at CAU (850)
  • Incoming SCAD students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at CAU (18)
  • Accepted freshman SCAD students have a 0.28 point higher average high school GPA (3.56) than students at CAU (3.28)
  • SCAD has a higher acceptance rate (81.7%) than CAU (56.3%)

CAU vs. SCAD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, CAU or SCAD? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between SCAD and CAU.

  • The graduation rate at SCAD is higher than Clark Atlanta University (64% vs. 41%)
  • Graduates from Savannah College of Art and Design earn on average $1,400 more per year than CAU graduates after ten years. ($39,800 vs. $38,400)
  • Savannah College of Art and Design students graduate with a $4,000 lower median federal student loan debt than CAU graduates. ($27,000 vs. $31,000)
  • SCAD graduates are paying $41 less per month on federal student loans than CAU graduates. ($279 vs. $320)
  • More SCAD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CAU students, three years after graduation. (55% vs. 30%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/