Gordon vs. SCAD

Comparable Facts

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

Savannah College of Art and Design is larger than Gordon based on total student enrollment (18,550 students vs. 3,179 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Gordon State College is located in Barnesville, GA (Distant Town setting); Savannah College of Art and Design is in Savannah, GA (Midsize City setting).
• Gordon State College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Savannah College of Art and Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Gordon State College 20:1; Savannah College of Art and Design 21:1.

Gordon vs. SCAD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Gordon or SCAD? 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 Gordon State College than SCAD ($7,807 vs. $50,821).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Gordon State College are 42.4% lower than at Savannah College of Art and Design ($10,444 vs. $18,123).
• Gordon State College is 102.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than SCAD (about $512 more per year; $1,012.00 vs. $500.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 102.4% higher at Gordon than at Savannah College of Art and Design (about $512 more per year; $1,012.00 vs. $500.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Savannah College of Art and Design than at Gordon State College (98% vs. 89%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Savannah College of Art and Design students is 99.4% larger than aid received by Gordon State College students ($12,884 vs. $6,462).

Gordon vs. SCAD Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Savannah College of Art and Design (1150) is 140 points higher than at Gordon (1010).
• Incoming SCAD students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (24 vs. 19 at Gordon).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Gordon State College 890/1130; Savannah College of Art and Design 1030/1270.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Gordon State College 15/24; Savannah College of Art and Design 21/28.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Gordon - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional); SCAD - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional).
• Gordon has a higher acceptance rate (85.9%) than SCAD (83%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 36.1% at Gordon vs. 26.4% at SCAD.

Gordon vs. SCAD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Gordon and SCAD? 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).

• Graduates from Savannah College of Art and Design earn a median of about $5,700 more per year than Gordon graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,800 vs. $34,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Gordon State College graduates have a $9,500 lower median loan debt than SCAD graduates ($17,500 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Gordon graduates have an estimated $99 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SCAD graduates ($180 vs. $279).
• More SCAD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Gordon students, three years after graduation. (55% vs. 26%)

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.