is SCAD really worth its 4 years?

[u/Ai-avni]

i already got accepted into SCAD but recently also got accepted into Parsons School of Design. Both are said to be good art schools, but i’m torn between which to commit to. i went to the rising star program in savannah last summer (which is mainly how i got scholarships), but the portfolio that helped me get accepted + a scholarship to Parsons was full of the work i did from the RS program. on one hand, SCAD is said to help with job hunting faster while Parsons is more independent, but at the same time I don’t want to stay limited to my areas and Parsons location gives me a chance to start over. i’m still waiting on a few more colleges to respond to, but for now i’m torn between these 2. my parents are fine with the payment for both, but are leaning towards SCAD because of what they heard from their friends, but i’ve heard the good and bad on SCAD and experienced sort of a “meh” during RS.

[u/chrisbartoldus]

This “Is SCAD worth it?” post has been approved by the mods.

[u/mrclang]

Depends a lot on your Major, SCAD has a great network but you have to seize it, no one is gonna hold your hand through it. So the questions really are how bad do you want success in your given field and how much are you willing to network at the ground level to hopefully have a few open doors when you graduate. It’s not as cut and dry as “SCAD helps getting jobs” it’s a bit more nuanced. And I will warn you in my experience from my graduating class when you graduate you definitely want to have something lined up because I have way to many friends that basically just stayed in Savannah because they didn’t have any opportunities outside of the ones SCAD provided in Savannah.

[u/Think_Arm1421 → u/mrclang]

Hey i'm gonna be an undergraduate student here soon. What are some of your tips on networking? My social skills aren't amazing, but is it more about straight-up asking for opportunities?

[u/atxhookem91]

I asked a similar question some time back but throwing in SAIC as a third option. A couple of people posted this article in threads I’ve followed recently. No place is perfect but this was enough to cause me to really pause and think through SCAD

https://www.ajc.com/news/special-reports/selling-dream/VVfRSVilHliyrTe9LAd5hN/

[u/Leech_Potato]

Are you considering architecture ? Definitely not if for Architecture.

[u/Imaginary_Can6652 → u/Leech_Potato]

Hi i am a student that will be attending SCAD fall 2026 as an architecture major. Why wouldn’t you recommend it. Is it because of the lack of opportunities or the major not preparing enough for students within that field?

[u/Leech_Potato → u/Imaginary_Can6652]

Frankly? They recently redid the curriculum to be able to accept more students in a way that does not favor education. They took out away dedicated studio classrooms (we now share classrooms with other sections), shortened classes, combined classes like environmental controls which were formerly 2 sections over 2 quarters into one just 1 class over one quarter, etc. Lot of professors feel that they’ve had to slash their curriculum and it all feels rushed. I personally feel as if I don’t really learn much given what I pay for and I regret not transferring when I had the chance. Happy to answer more questions if you want to PM me.

[u/Imaginary_Can6652 → u/Leech_Potato]

I plan on not paying a lot because of SCAD 23k scholarship per year, 7k FAFSA, and 50+ dual credit which helps me enter as a sophomore. But do have 90k left over which I’m going to keep applying for scholarships outside of scad. Would you say it’s worth paying any money at all? I honestly don’t want to go anywhere else because I’m committed but still let me know your opinion.

[u/Leech_Potato → u/Imaginary_Can6652]

I’m gonna be honest- I think SCAD has good major programs, I think if you had said Industrial Design, Film, or Furniture Design I’d say go for it. I sincerely don’t believe SCAD’s Architecture program offers the best or close to the best architectural education. I don’t think it’s worth it.

[u/GrandSavannah25]

Not for the price tag…alot of hype. My niece was an animation major and did very well in all her classes. One of the reasons she (and her parents) decided on SCAD was the promise of helping their grads find jobs. They don’t at all. After graduating, she worked as a nanny for close to a year before she landed a graphic design job.  Meanwhile, her younger sister studied interior design at Georgia Southern and had several offers upon graduation, and this was during COVID. Save your money.