Savannah College of Art and Design: A Confluence of Art, Design, and Innovation
The Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) stands as a prominent institution dedicated to fostering creativity, innovation, and professional excellence in the fields of art and design. With a global presence spanning locations in Savannah and Atlanta, Georgia; Lacoste, France; and online via SCADnow, SCAD offers a diverse range of programs and opportunities for students to pursue their passions and achieve their career aspirations. SCAD empowers students to customize a creative education tailored to their unique goals with 100 undergraduate and graduate degree programs across art, business, design, and STEM disciplines.
Historical Overview and Evolution
The Savannah College of Art and Design was legally incorporated on September 29, 1978, by Richard G. Rowan, Paula S. Wallace, May L. Poetter, and Paul E. Poetter. The university commenced classes in September 1979, with a modest initial enrollment of 71 students, supported by four staff members and seven faculty members. Initially, the school offered eight majors: ceramics, graphic design, historic preservation, textile design, interior design, painting, photography, and printmaking. The first graduate received a degree in May 1981, marking a significant milestone in the institution's early years. The following year, the first graduating class received degrees.
SCAD experienced substantial growth throughout the 1980s, with enrollment exceeding 500 students in 1982, 1,000 in 1986, and 2,000 in 1989. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, a rash of faculty suicides prompted a nervous reaction from school administrators. In 2002, SCAD expanded its international presence by establishing a study abroad location in Lacoste, France, providing programming for various academic departments. In 2005 the university opened a location in Midtown Atlanta that merged with the Atlanta College of Art in 2006. Richard Rowan served as president of the college from its inception in 1978 until April 2000, when SCAD's board of trustees promoted him to chancellor. Paula S. Wallace is the current president.
In June 2020, SCAD discontinued studies at its Hong Kong location, citing concerns about student safety and academic quality following the 2019-20 Hong Kong protests and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Accreditations and Recognitions
SCAD is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award bachelor's and master's degrees. The university confers Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Master of Architecture, Master of Arts, Master of Arts in Teaching, Master of Fine Arts, and Master of Urban Design degrees, as well as undergraduate and graduate certificates. The professional M.Arch. degree is accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board. The Master of Arts in Teaching degrees offered by SCAD are approved by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission. SCAD is licensed by the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education.
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SCAD is consistently recognized for its educational and professional excellence by various ranking organizations. In 2025, SCAD was ranked the No.1 design university in the Americas and Europe in the prestigious Red Dot Design Award Rankings and was also ranked in the top five universities globally.
Campus Locations and Facilities
The college campus includes 67 buildings throughout the grid-and-park system of downtown Savannah. SCAD's efforts to work with the city of Savannah to preserve its architectural heritage include restoring buildings for use as college facilities, for which it has been recognized by the American Institute of Architects, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Historic Savannah Foundation and the Victorian Society of America.
Located in Atlanta's Midtown, SCAD Atlanta includes classroom and exhibition space, computer labs, library, photography darkrooms, printmaking and sculpture studios, a dining hall, fitness center, swimming pool and residence hall. The SCAD Lacoste campus is made up of 15th- and 16th-century structures. The campus includes an art gallery, guest houses, computer lab and printmaking lab.
The college operates three libraries: Jen Library in Savannah, Georgia; ACA Library in Atlanta, Georgia; and Lacoste Library in Lacoste, France. The most notable of the group is Jen Library for the size of its collection. The Jen Library houses approximately 42,000 books, 11,000 bound volumes of periodicals, and 1,600 videotapes in an 85,000 square foot building. The building, itself, once served as a Maas Brothers department store before being acquired and repurposed by the university.
In April 2021, the college announced plans of expanding its film and digital media studio, which would make it the largest college movie studio in the country.
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Academic Programs and Curriculum
SCAD offers a comprehensive range of undergraduate and graduate degree programs across various disciplines, including:
- Industrial Design
- Fashion Design
- User Experience Design
- Fibers
- Accessory Design
- Furniture Design
- Interactive Design and Game Development
- Interior Design
- Architecture
- Film
- Digital Media
The future-minded SCAD curriculum engages professional-level technology and myriad advanced learning resources, affording students opportunities for internships, professional certifications, and real-world assignments with corporate partners through SCADpro, the university's renowned research lab and prototype generator. Experiential learning is a cornerstone of a SCAD education across our four global locations in Atlanta and Savannah, Ga.; Lacoste, France; and online via SCADnow.
Rankings and Distinctions
SCAD has earned top rankings for degree programs in interior design, architecture, film, fashion, digital media, and more. The university consistently receives accolades from reputable organizations, including:
- Red Dot Design Ranking: SCAD has been named the No. 1 design university in the Americas and Europe by the internationally acclaimed Red Dot Design Ranking.
- The Rookies: Ranked No. 1 by The Rookies.
- Art & Object: Ranked No. 1 by Art & Object.
- International Design Awards: Ranked No. 1 by International Design Awards.
- The Hollywood Reporter: Ranked No. 1 by The Hollywood Reporter.
- Variety
SCAD's No. 1 ranking reflects the university's preeminence and exceptional performance in the Red Dot Design Awards in the past five years, including top honors earned by its students. This year marks SCAD's most successful showing to date, with 48 students and alumni collectively receiving 23 awards, including three coveted Best of the Best distinctions. The award-winning concepts span an array of the university's top-ranked disciplines, including industrial design, fashion, user experience design, fibers, accessory design, furniture design, and interactive design and game development, illustrating how SCAD continues to powerfully shape the future of design across industries worldwide.
Student Life and Activities
In Fall 2023, SCAD enrolled more than 17,000 students (14,657 undergraduates; 2,918 postgraduates) from all 50 states and more than 110 countries. States and 100+ countries call SCAD home. As a SCAD Bee, you arrive with a hive all your own through SCAD Squads, unique communities complete with curated activities designed to nurture belonging. Students are “incredibly unique” and “eccentric” artists dedicated to “pushing their work into new, exciting forms.” This creates an “environment of constant exploration and creation” among an “open and accepting community.”
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SCAD provides a vibrant and engaging campus life with numerous opportunities for students to participate in extracurricular activities, including:
- 100+ interest, culture, religious, and professional clubs and organizations
- Premier fitness centers, group classes, and personal trainers
- Outdoor excursions, sports clubs, and intramural teams
- 24/7 in-person and on-call counselors + mindfulness spaces and workshops
- Social events throughout the year sponsored by SCADhome, student experience, student involvement, and more
The athletic teams of the SCAD Savannah campus are called the Bees. SCAD Savannah competes in 22 intercollegiate varsity sports. Men's sports include bowling, cross country, cycling, golf, lacrosse, soccer, swimming, tennis and track & field (indoor and outdoor); while women's sports include bowling, cross country, cycling, golf, lacrosse, soccer, swimming, tennis and track & field (indoor and outdoor); and co-ed sports include equestrian and eSports.
Career Opportunities and Alumni Success
Career success is woven into every fiber of the university, resulting in a superior alumni employment rate. A 2025 study found that 99% of recent SCAD graduates were employed, pursuing further education, or both within 12 months of graduation. SCAD champions students’ professional success from their first day of class to their first job - and beyond. Through dedicated resources, events, opportunities, individualized advising through the office for career and alumni success, and a network of more than 60,000 alumni - and the commitment pays off. Motivated students can work directly with global brands through SCADpro, the university's innovation design studio, connecting with Fortune 500 companies in real-world collaborations that pay off.
SCAD's Impact on Savannah
SCAD has had a significant impact on tourism in Savannah. In a report published by SCAD in 2018, the school claimed to have generated over $3 billion for the city and attracted 14.5 million visitors. A similar report by SCAD in 2020 claimed that the school’s Atlanta and Savannah campuses brought in $766.2 million in annual economic impact for the state.
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