College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
Back to Colleges

Savannah College of Art and Design

Savannah, GA 15,243 Undergrads 68.7% Grad Rate
Share
Total Cost
$66,008
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$50,165
After Aid
Median Earnings
$50,729
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$50,165
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$50,729
Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$51,635
Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate68.7%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age21.0
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients21.4%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time87.9%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS56.1%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
83.0%
SAT Avg
1,173
SAT Reading
25th: 540-75th: 660
SAT Math
25th: 490-75th: 610
ACT Composite
25th: 21-75th: 28

ROI Sensitivity Analysis
Assuming 4 Years to Graduation

This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.

Lifetime Value Added (NPV)

Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$453k
-$17k
-$33k
Median Cost$50k/yr
+$273k
-$197k
-$214k
Full Cost$66k/yr
+$216k
-$254k
-$271k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$50k/yr
Never
-118%
Full Cost$66k/yr
Never
-114%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the median earnings five years after graduating, with four years of 2% raises taken out.
  • Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
  • Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
  • NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.

Social Impact ROINew

Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.

Donor Return-116%

Gov. Pell Grant ROINew

Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.

Taxpayer Return-95%

Program ROI Analysis

These figures are medians for past graduates who received federal aid. Your cost and pay will differ. Run your own numbers in the Guided ROI Interview →

Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $33,711
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $40,334
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$55,925
Natl Median: $57,640
Lifetime Value Added
-$162k
Median Debt
$22,733
Earnings (4yr)
$64,052
Natl Median: $70,074
Lifetime Value Added
-$96k
Median Debt
$23,500
Earnings (4yr)
$26,064
Natl Median: $44,889
Lifetime Value Added
-$419k
Median Debt
$23,833
Earnings (4yr)
$45,923
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
-$246k
Median Debt
$23,167
Earnings (4yr)
$35,177
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$339k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$128,600
Natl Median: $64,926
Lifetime Value Added
+$397k
Median Debt
$23,291
Earnings (4yr)
$41,651
Natl Median: $43,765
Lifetime Value Added
-$283k
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$41,153
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$287k
Median Debt
$23,833
Earnings (4yr)
$43,058
Natl Median: $43,283
Lifetime Value Added
-$270k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,728
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$113,397
Natl Median: $50,526
Lifetime Value Added
+$282k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $88,451
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$22,156
Earnings (4yr)
$64,076
Natl Median: $50,497
Lifetime Value Added
-$96k
Median Debt
$22,000
Earnings (4yr)
$48,189
Natl Median: $48,471
Lifetime Value Added
-$227k

Master's Degrees

Architectural History, Criticism, and Conservation
MastCIP: 0408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,042
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$77,917
Natl Median: $77,466
Lifetime Value Added
-$44k
Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management
MastCIP: 5010
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$51,406
Natl Median: $59,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$287k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$56,591
Natl Median: $64,808
Lifetime Value Added
-$237k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$103,650
Natl Median: $121,855
Lifetime Value Added
+$181k
Median Debt
$81,999
Earnings (4yr)
$65,866
Natl Median: $70,073
Lifetime Value Added
-$151k
Median Debt
$47,833
Earnings (4yr)
$47,617
Natl Median: $49,978
Lifetime Value Added
-$324k
Median Debt
$78,283
Earnings (4yr)
$53,996
Natl Median: $51,486
Lifetime Value Added
-$262k
Median Debt
$57,850
Earnings (4yr)
$40,129
Natl Median: $49,079
Lifetime Value Added
-$397k
Median Debt
$64,969
Earnings (4yr)
$51,962
Natl Median: $57,810
Lifetime Value Added
-$282k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$61,169
Natl Median: $64,496
Lifetime Value Added
-$194k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $122,873
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$42,464
Earnings (4yr)
$81,814
Natl Median: $75,972
Lifetime Value Added
-$10k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$66,625
Natl Median: $55,035
Lifetime Value Added
-$144k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,897
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate (for undergraduate programs) or a median bachelor's degree holder (for graduate programs), accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.

For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate decision moving forward. Note that the institution's average undergraduate net price is used as a proxy for annual cost, which may differ from actual graduate tuition. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.

Completers Only: Federal median earnings data strictly reflects outcomes for students who successfully graduated. Students who do not complete their degree typically earn significantly less and face higher risks of debt default.