SCAD vs. UTC

Comparable Facts

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

Savannah College of Art and Design is larger than UTC based on total student enrollment (18,550 students vs. 11,775 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Savannah College of Art and Design is located in Savannah, GA (Midsize City setting); The University of Tennessee Chattanooga is in Chattanooga, TN (Midsize City setting).
• Savannah College of Art and Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. The University of Tennessee Chattanooga is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Savannah College of Art and Design 21:1; The University of Tennessee Chattanooga 18:1.

SCAD vs. UTC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SCAD or UTC? 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 The University of Tennessee Chattanooga than SCAD ($15,347 vs. $50,821).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The University of Tennessee Chattanooga are 30.5% lower than at Savannah College of Art and Design ($12,604 vs. $18,123).
• The University of Tennessee Chattanooga is 298% more expensive for in-state tuition than SCAD (about $1,490 more per year; $1,990.00 vs. $500.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 298% higher at UTC than at Savannah College of Art and Design (about $1,490 more per year; $1,990.00 vs. $500.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Savannah College of Art and Design than at The University of Tennessee Chattanooga (98% vs. 92%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Savannah College of Art and Design students is 28.4% larger than aid received by The University of Tennessee Chattanooga students ($12,884 vs. $10,038).

SCAD vs. UTC Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Savannah College of Art and Design (1150) is 40 points higher than at UTC (1110).
• Incoming SCAD students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (24 vs. 23 at UTC).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Savannah College of Art and Design 1030/1270; The University of Tennessee Chattanooga 1013/1210.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Savannah College of Art and Design 21/28; The University of Tennessee Chattanooga 20/26.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SCAD - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional); UTC - Required to be considered for admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: UTC May 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman UTC students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.61) than students at SCAD (3.56).
• SCAD has a higher acceptance rate (83%) than UTC (81.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 26.4% at SCAD vs. 29.2% at UTC.

SCAD vs. UTC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SCAD and UTC? 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 The University of Tennessee Chattanooga's (39%).
• Graduates from The University of Tennessee Chattanooga earn a median of about $800 more per year than SCAD graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,600 vs. $39,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, The University of Tennessee Chattanooga graduates have a $6,208 lower median loan debt than SCAD graduates ($20,792 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, UTC graduates have an estimated $65 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SCAD graduates ($214 vs. $279).
• More UTC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SCAD students, three years after graduation. (56% vs. 55%)

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.