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 86% 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 | 86% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Georgia | 65.40% |
How many of the estimated 2306 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 54% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 68% of the students had graduated and after eight years 70% of this class completed their degree.
Any student who completes their bachelor's degree within six years is considered to have graduated on time, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. This makes the offical SCAD graduation rate 68%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1837 | 54% |
| Six Years | 2306 | 68% |
| Eight Years | 44 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 1030 | 30% |
The non-completers rate is anyone who is not still enrolled at the institution after eight years. Both transfer students and drop-outs could be included in this group.
Approximately 1030 students or 30% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1030 students who did not complete their degree?
5 are still enrolled.
514 transferred to another institution.
SCAD lost contact with the remaining 502 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 5 | 0.5% |
| Transferred | 514 | 49.9% |
| Dropped Out | 502 | 48.7% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 53% |
| Asian | 78% |
| Black / African-American | 58% |
| Hawaiian | 56% |
| Hispanic | 72% |
| International | 77% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 100% |
| Unknown | 72% |
| White | 71% |
First-time, full-time students under the age of 25 are much more likely to graduate in four years. Some schools cater to mostly traditional students while others cater to 'non-traditional' students. So called 'non-traditional' students include part-time students or those who may be returning after an absense. It is common for part-time and/or adult students to take longer to graduate.
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.
Comparing the graduation rates of the specific cohorts below can be more revealing than the overall graduation rates.
First-time / full-time students at Savannah College of Art and Design represent 67.82% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the SCAD graduation rate was 71%, and by the eight year mark, 72% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 37.92% after four years, 46.43% after six years, and 47.82% after eight years.
| Completions | SCAD | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 57% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 71% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 72% | 47.82% |
640 first-time / full-time students or 28% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
7 are still enrolled.
353 transferred to another institution.
SCAD lost contact with the remaining 280 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 7 | 1.09% |
| Transferred | 353 | 55.16% |
| Dropped Out | 280 | 43.75% |
First-time / part-time students at Savannah College of Art and Design represent 4.05% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the SCAD graduation rate was 49%, and by the eight year mark, 53% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 14.37% after four years, 21.59% after six years, and 23.72% after eight years.
| Completions | SCAD | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 12% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 49% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 53% | 23.72% |
64 first-time / part-time students or 47% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
23 transferred to another institution.
SCAD lost contact with the remaining 40 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 1.56% |
| Transferred | 23 | 35.94% |
| Dropped Out | 40 | 62.50% |
Returning / full-time students at Savannah College of Art and Design represent 23.32% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the SCAD graduation rate was 69%, and by the eight year mark, 70% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 53.83% after six years, and 55.07% after eight years.
| Completions | SCAD | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 69% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 70% | 55.07% |
234 non first-time / part-time students or 30% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
112 transferred to another institution.
SCAD lost contact with the remaining 120 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 0.85% |
| Transferred | 112 | 47.86% |
| Dropped Out | 120 | 51.28% |
Returning / part-time students at Savannah College of Art and Design represent 4.82% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the SCAD graduation rate was 43%, and by the eight year mark, 44% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 30.46% after four years, 36.03% after six years, and 37.80% after eight years.
| Completions | SCAD | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 26% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 43% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 44% | 37.80% |
92 non first-time / part-time students or 56% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
4 are still enrolled.
26 transferred to another institution.
SCAD lost contact with the remaining 62 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 4 | 4.35% |
| Transferred | 26 | 28.26% |
| Dropped Out | 62 | 67.39% |
