You may open a SCAD acceptance letter feeling excited, then wonder: “Is the tuition figure the amount I will actually pay?” Usually, it is not. Savannah College of Art and Design tuition is only one part of the budget. Housing, meals, art supplies, transportation, health-related charges, and personal expenses can raise the annual cost considerably.
For the 2026–27 academic year, full-time undergraduate tuition at SCAD is $42,975 for three quarters, based on 45 credit hours. However, SCAD estimates that an undergraduate living in university housing may need a total annual budget of about $68,691 before financial aid. Understanding the difference between tuition, billed charges, and estimated living expenses can help families compare offers and avoid unexpected costs.
How Much Is Savannah Art and Design Tuition?
For 2026–27, full-time undergraduate students taking three courses, or 15 credit hours, per quarter pay $14,325 in quarterly tuition. Attending for the fall, winter, and spring quarters brings annual undergraduate tuition to $42,975.
Students attending at a lower enrollment level pay according to their course load:
- Three courses or 15 credit hours per quarter: $14,325
- Two courses or 10 credit hours per quarter: $9,550
- One course or five credit hours per quarter: $4,775
- Individual credit-hour rate: $955
Graduate tuition is slightly higher. A graduate student taking 15 credit hours per quarter pays $14,655 quarterly, or $43,965 for three quarters. The graduate rate is $977 per credit hour.
Because SCAD operates on a quarter system, its billing structure may look different from that of a semester-based college. Families should compare annual totals rather than assuming one quarterly charge represents a semester. Current figures and housing options are available on the university’s official undergraduate tuition and fees page.
Required Fees for New and Continuing Students
New students should plan for a $100 online application fee and a one-time $500 enrollment fee. Both are nonrefundable and nontransferable. Students applying for university housing also pay a $750 SCADhome application fee before their first housing quarter. Published annual residence-hall prices include that housing application fee.
All Savannah campus students are charged an annual student health fee of $125. This supports access to HiveHealth, although additional charges may apply for some services. International students may also be charged $1,417 for the university’s student health insurance plan unless they meet the requirements for an exemption.
Program-specific expenses can add to the final bill. Studio courses may require specialized tools, software, equipment, printing, protective gear, or materials that are not fully covered by tuition. Costs can differ substantially by major and project. Prospective students exploring material-intensive creative work may find it helpful to read about the art, training, and career path of glassblowing when considering how studio supplies and equipment fit into an art-school budget.
Housing and Meal Plan Costs in Savannah
SCAD Savannah housing prices for 2026–27 vary by residence hall, room type, occupancy, and access to a kitchen. Published annual rates generally range from about $10,065 for a shared triple-occupancy room to $18,849 for certain private apartments. A shared room is normally less expensive than a private bedroom or apartment.
Meal plans also vary. Annual plans range from approximately $1,530 to $6,750, depending on the number of meals and dining dollars included. Not every student will need the largest plan, so comparing dining habits with each option can prevent unnecessary spending.
For financial aid planning, SCAD estimates $19,407 for food and university housing for an undergraduate attending three quarters. The school’s estimated 2026–27 undergraduate cost of attendance for a student living in SCAD housing includes:
- Tuition: $42,975
- Food and housing: $19,407
- Transportation: $1,614
- Books, course materials, equipment, and supplies: $2,034
- Miscellaneous personal expenses: $2,595
- Estimated federal loan fees: $66
- Total estimated cost of attendance: $68,691
This cost of attendance is a planning estimate, not necessarily the amount SCAD will bill directly. A student who spends less on transportation or personal items may have a lower real-world cost. Conversely, expensive supplies, travel, or a private housing arrangement can push the total higher.
What Financial Aid Is Available?
SCAD financial aid may include institutional scholarships, federal and state grants, work-study, and student or parent loans. Scholarships and grants are generally the most valuable forms of assistance because they do not normally require repayment.
SCAD scholarships
Incoming undergraduate students are considered for academic scholarships after admission. Applicants can improve their consideration for achievement-based assistance by submitting an achievement profile, résumé, portfolio, or audition when appropriate, even when a portfolio is not required for admission.
Undergraduate institutional scholarships are typically distributed across three quarters. To remain eligible, recipients generally must stay enrolled, contribute positively to the university community, and maintain at least a 3.0 GPA. Graduate scholarship recipients generally need a minimum 3.25 GPA.
Housing decisions can affect an undergraduate scholarship. If a student accepts an award calculated for university housing and later moves off campus, SCAD states that the scholarship may be reduced to 70% of its original on-campus amount. Students should ask for a revised financial aid estimate before changing housing arrangements.
Grants and federal aid
Eligible U.S. citizens and noncitizens should submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. SCAD’s federal school code is 015022. The FAFSA helps determine eligibility for federal grants, work-study, and loans, as well as certain need-based university awards.
Possible grant assistance includes the Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, and SCAD Student Grant. Georgia residents may also qualify for programs such as HOPE, Zell Miller, or the Georgia Tuition Equalization Grant, subject to each program’s requirements and current funding.
How to Estimate Your Actual SCAD Cost
The most useful number is net price: the total estimated cost minus scholarships and grants. Loans may reduce what is due immediately, but they do not lower the underlying cost because borrowed money generally must be repaid with interest.
Before enrolling, build a personalized budget and compare it with the financial aid offer. Include:
- Tuition and mandatory fees
- Your selected residence hall and meal plan
- Supplies required for your intended major
- Travel to and from Savannah
- Personal and health-related expenses
- Scholarships and grants you can keep each year
- The amount you may need to borrow
Also check whether each scholarship is renewable and what GPA, enrollment, housing, or academic-progress rules apply. A strong first-year award is most helpful when it continues throughout the degree.
Is SCAD Tuition Worth the Cost?
The answer depends on the student’s financial aid package, chosen program, career goals, and expected borrowing. Savannah art and design tuition represents a substantial investment, so families should compare the full cost of attendance with other schools rather than focusing only on the published tuition rate.
For 2026–27, an undergraduate should begin with $42,975 in tuition and then add realistic housing, food, supply, transportation, and personal costs. Applying early for aid, submitting strong scholarship materials, choosing housing carefully, and limiting unnecessary borrowing can make the final cost more manageable.
