by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding SCAD retention and graduation rates. First year retention rates let you know how many first-time, full-time students students come back for their second year. Graduation rates tell you how many students complete their degree and how long it takes.
The percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year is tracked as the freshmen retention rate.
With 75% students making it past their freshmen year, SCAD has freshmen retention rates above the national average.
Nationwide, the average first to second year retention rate is 70.57%.
When looking at just colleges and universities in Georgia, the average is 65.40%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| SCAD | 75% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Georgia | 65.40% |
Of the 1,914 students in the class of 2015, how many completed their degree on time?
After four years 48% of the cohort graduated. After six years 62% had completed their degree, and 63% after eight years.
The official graduation rate of SCAD is 62%. This is the percentage of students who completed their degree within 150% of the published time. That means six years for a standard bachelor's degree program.
How long does it take to get a bachelor's degree at SCAD? The standard length of time for most students is 4.22 years.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1,507 | 49% |
| Six Years | 1,914 | 62% |
| Eight Years | 41 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 1,144 | 37% |
Approximately 1144 students or 37% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1144 students who did not complete their degree?
6 are still enrolled.
634 transferred to another institution.
SCAD lost contact with the remaining 498 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 6 | 0.5% |
| Transferred | 634 | 55.4% |
| Dropped Out | 498 | 43.5% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 64% |
| Asian | 72% |
| Black / African-American | 59% |
| Hawaiian | 100% |
| Hispanic | 74% |
| International | 87% |
| Unknown | 70% |
| White | 73% |
First-time, full-time students, under the age of 25 are known as traditional students. These students are more likely to graduate in four years than so called 'non-traditional' students that includes part-time students, transfer students, or adult learners. Some schools cater to non-traditional students and it may affect their overall graduation rates.
Traditional Students:
First-time, full-time students under the age of 25.
Non-Traditional Students:
Any student that is not first-time, full-time, and under the age of 25.
The majority of students at SCAD are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
How does this school do graduating the type of student you are most concerned bout?
First-time / full-time students at Savannah College of Art and Design represent 59% of the students in the class of 2015, and 60.92% of SCAD bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 48%, first-time students in the SCAD class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the SCAD graduation rate was 64%, and by the eight year mark, 65% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for first-time undergraduates attending classes full-time is 37.92% after four years, 46.43% after six years, and 47.82% after eight years.
| First-Time / Full-Time Completions | SCAD | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 48% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 64% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 65% | 47.82% |
640 first-time / full-time students or 35% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
6 are still enrolled.
405 transferred to another institution.
SCAD lost contact with the remaining 229 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 6 | 0.94% |
| Transferred | 405 | 63.28% |
| Dropped Out | 229 | 35.78% |
First-time / part-time students at Savannah College of Art and Design represent 1.58% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 35%, first-time, part-time students in the SCAD class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 35%.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for first-time undergraduates attending classes part-time is: 14.37% after four years, 21.59% after six years, 23.72% after eight years.
| First-Time / Part-Time Completions | SCAD | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 27% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 35% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 35% | 23.72% |
32 first-time / part-time students or 65% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
14 transferred to another institution.
SCAD lost contact with the remaining 17 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 3.13% |
| Transferred | 14 | 43.75% |
| Dropped Out | 17 | 53.13% |
1069 SCAD students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 34.44% of the students in the class of 2015.
Non first-time students could include transfer students or adults who have returned to school after an absense.
With a six year graduation rate of 64%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate higher than the national average for students in this category.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 66%.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for non first-time undergraduates attending classes full-time is: 49.57% after four years, 53.83% after six years, and 55.07% after eight years.
| Returning / Full-Time Completions | SCAD | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 64% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 66% | 55.07% |
366 non first-time / part-time students or 34% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
175 transferred to another institution.
SCAD lost contact with the remaining 188 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 0.82% |
| Transferred | 175 | 47.81% |
| Dropped Out | 188 | 51.37% |
153 SCAD students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 4.93% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 28%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate lower than the national average.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 31%.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for non first-time undergraduates attending classes part-time is: 36.03% after six years, 36.03% after eight years.
| Returning / Part-Time Completions | SCAD | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 28% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 31% | 37.80% |
106 non first-time / part-time students or 69% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
40 transferred to another institution.
SCAD lost contact with the remaining 64 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 1.89% |
| Transferred | 40 | 37.74% |
| Dropped Out | 64 | 60.38% |
