SCAD vs. Coastal Carolina

Comparable Facts

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

Savannah College of Art and Design is larger than Coastal Carolina based on total student enrollment (18,550 students vs. 11,348 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

SCAD vs. Coastal Carolina Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SCAD or Coastal Carolina? 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 Coastal Carolina University than SCAD ($14,379 vs. $50,821).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Coastal Carolina University are 33% lower than at Savannah College of Art and Design ($12,146 vs. $18,123).
• Savannah College of Art and Design is 177.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Coastal Carolina (about $320 more per year; $500.00 vs. $180.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 177.8% higher at SCAD than at Coastal Carolina University (about $320 more per year; $500.00 vs. $180.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Savannah College of Art and Design than at Coastal Carolina University (98% vs. 94%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Savannah College of Art and Design students is 27.7% larger than aid received by Coastal Carolina University students ($12,884 vs. $10,087).

SCAD vs. Coastal Carolina Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Savannah College of Art and Design (1150) is 10 points higher than at Coastal Carolina (1140).
• Incoming SCAD students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (24 vs. 23 at Coastal Carolina).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Savannah College of Art and Design 1030/1270; Coastal Carolina University 1050/1220.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Savannah College of Art and Design 21/28; Coastal Carolina University 21/26.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SCAD - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional); Coastal Carolina - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional).
• Accepted freshman Coastal Carolina students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.72) than students at SCAD (3.56).
• SCAD has a higher acceptance rate (83%) than Coastal Carolina (75.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 26.4% at SCAD vs. 16.9% at Coastal Carolina.

SCAD vs. Coastal Carolina Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SCAD and Coastal Carolina? 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 Coastal Carolina University's (46%).
• Graduates from Coastal Carolina University earn a median of about $2,400 more per year than SCAD graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,200 vs. $39,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Coastal Carolina University graduates have a $2,070 lower median loan debt than SCAD graduates ($24,930 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Coastal Carolina graduates have an estimated $22 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SCAD graduates ($257 vs. $279).
• More SCAD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Coastal Carolina students, three years after graduation. (55% vs. 54%)

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.