Savannah College of Art and Design — ROI, Cost & Payback
Savannah College of Art and Design charges a net price of $49,430/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $197,720. Median earnings ten years after entry are $45,954, below the $48,360 high-school baseline, so on this institution-wide metric the degree does not clear its cost. Program choice is what changes that. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
On institution-wide earnings, Savannah College of Art and Design does not clear its cost — it ranks #53 of 100 Georgia colleges we track by ROI. The specific program you pick moves this more than the school average.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $49,430/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $197,720 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $45,954 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$2,406/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $25,148 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$245,840 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Savannah College of Art and Design's own numbers. Net price $49,430 × 4 years = $197,720 total. Median earnings $45,954 fall $2,406 short of the $48,360 high-school baseline, so the premium this formula divides by is not positive and no break-even year exists on institution-wide pay. A programme here earning $58,360 would clear the $197,720 bill in about 19.8 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do Savannah College of Art and Design students graduate with?
A median $25,148 in federal loans among completers, or 55% of the $45,954 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Savannah College of Art and Design students graduate?
69% finish their degree — 31% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $197,720 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $286,551 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Savannah College of Art and Design expensive compared with other Georgia colleges?
Its $49,430 net price runs $33,755 above the $15,675 median across the 100 Georgia colleges we profile, or $135,020 more across the full degree.