“I am on my way to my dream career because of SCAD,” a student proclaimed in the information session video that preceded my tour. That statement resonated as I walked through creative spaces, admired the impressive artwork on display, and learned about the career development opportunities students regularly encounter. Building careers in art and design felt inevitable here.  

Despite operating for fewer than 50 years, SCAD has become one of the nation’s largest design schools, with 17,500 students, over 100 degree programs (21 of which are STEM-designated), and campuses in Savannah, Atlanta, and Lacoste, France. If you are curious about the degrees students earn, check out the majors list online. The most popular majors tend to be graphic design, animation, illustration, digital communication and media, film/video production, and fashion design. 

Academic experience: “Learn now what you will need to know in the future.” 

Regardless of students’ intended fields, the curriculum emphasizes practical experience. They will “learn now what they will need to know in the future,” one tour guide shares. The faculty consists of professors who bring an impressive list of connections and accolades – including best-selling productions as well as Oscar, Emmy, and Peabody awards.

One major highlight of the student experience is the yearly SCADpro collaborative design studio. Open to upper-level students, these industry-sponsored projects allow participants to act as designers and researchers, solving problems or answering questions for professional partners. Previous industry partners have included Delta Airlines, Sam Edelman, NASA, and Uber. The intended learning outcome is that students not only build on their professional networks, but also develop solutions to complex and real-world challenges. 

In addition to the emphasis on art and design, SCAD provides a well-rounded curriculum that features required general education courses in math, humanities, social sciences, etc. Additionally, all students, regardless of major, take foundational art classes in drawing and design. Not only will SCAD students graduate with impressive portfolios, they will also leave with a firm academic base – making them competitive to future employers. 

Living in Savannah: “SCAD is downtown Savannah, and downtown Savannah is SCAD.”

While Savannah is just one of the campuses housing SCAD programs, it is the largest and oldest, housing 11,000 students. If you register for a tour, your guide will likely modify your tour to consist of the building for your intended area of study. On my own tour, we stopped by Hamilton Hall (home to the acting and production majors) and Fahm Hall (jewelry). 

The Savannah campus is two miles long and one mile wide. It is located in the middle of the city, so students will have no choice but to immerse themselves in the vibrant city scene. Entertainment-wise, Savannah offers all the amenities of a major city from restaurants and museums to boutique shopping and public transportation options. SCAD and the city also partner on a variety of events, including the SCAD Savannah Film Festival, SCAD AnimationFest, SCADstyle (and more!). Evidently, the SCAD learning environment extends well outside the classroom and into the city – or as one tour guide states, “SCAD is downtown Savannah, and downtown Savannah is SCAD.” 

Feel free to learn more about the SCAD Atlanta and SCAD Lacoste campuses, which have their own vibes to them. Students can study at any of the campuses as long as their program allows it. 

Similar to numerous colleges/universities, SCAD students are required to live on campus for their first year. After that, they are free to seek out apartments or reside in college-owned upperclassmen residences. First year students have two living options: the Hive and Turner House. Living on campus includes standard meal plan policies. For students considering bringing their cars to campus, this is possible; however, our tour guide recommended leaving them behind as on-campus parking can be challenging and there is a 24/7 bus line. In fact, much of our tour involved riding the SCAD bus. 

Even though classwork takes up much of students’ time, the SCAD admissions team made sure to describe the other ways to get involved. Opportunities include athletics, wellness, and community service. You can learn more about other student organizations on the website. 

Final takeaways 

Upon finishing my tour of SCAD, the phrase that came to mind was “practical artistic”. There is no doubt that students will be able to enjoy four years of uninterrupted art creation. At the same time, they will also build on those important (but sometimes overlooked) skills of networking and critical thinking. If that sounds like the ideal combination, SCAD could be the place for you. 

SCAD Summer Seminars

Interested in attending SCAD but still have a few years before it is time to submit your application? Check out the many SCAD Summer Seminars available to high school students. 

Admissions Fast Facts 

• Enrollment: 17,500
• Schedule: Quarter system
• Deadlines: Rolling admissions (recommended that students apply at least 30 days before their intended entry term)
  • Note: students can apply to start in any quarter: fall, winter, spring, or summer
• Admission rate: 84%
• Portfolio required? No, but encouraged for specific scholarship consideration 
• Common App accepted? Yes, but recommended to apply through the SCAD application as essays are not required
• Standardized test policy: Test optional (UNLESS intending to major in architecture)
  • ACT range: 21-28 
  • SAT range: 1050-1280
    • SAT math range: 500-610
    • SAT verbal range: 550-670
• Average classroom size: 20
• Student to faculty ratio: 20:1