SCAD Performing Arts

The Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) occupies a unique position in the landscape of American performing arts education as a comprehensive art and design university that offers BFA and MFA programs in Performing Arts alongside more than 40 other degree programs spanning visual arts, design, film, architecture, and creative industries. SCAD was founded in 1978 in Savannah, Georgia, and has grown into one of the largest art and design universities in the world, with campuses in Savannah and Atlanta that collectively enroll thousands of students across its programs. The Performing Arts program benefits enormously from SCAD's identity as a creative ecosystem — acting students collaborate daily with peers in film and television, sound design, production design, animation, and other disciplines, creating a cross-disciplinary training experience that is impossible to replicate at traditional theater schools. Notable alumni from the broader SCAD performing arts community include Kayli Carter (A Complete Unknown), DeRon Horton (Dear White People, American Horror Story), and Chad Morton, a writer on Abbott Elementary. SCAD's institutional resources are substantial, with ongoing investment in state-of-the-art facilities including the recently opened SCADshow, a performance venue with a 700-seat main stage and 130-seat intimate theater featuring industry-leading projection and sound technology. The Atlanta campus's 20th anniversary in 2024-25 coincided with an expansion that made the BFA in Acting available at both locations, giving students the choice between Savannah's charming historic arts community and Atlanta's booming entertainment industry.

In 2025, SCAD's Performing Arts program operates as a professionally oriented training track within a creative university environment that is unlike any other institution offering actor training. The BFA program covers acting technique, voice, movement, on-camera work, and the specialized skills needed for modern performance, but what truly distinguishes SCAD is the constant cross-disciplinary exposure — acting students routinely collaborate with film students on set, work with sound designers on audio projects, and perform in productions where the design elements are created by students in world-class visual arts and design programs. The Atlanta campus places students directly in one of America's hottest film and television production markets, with Georgia's generous 30% tax credit attracting major studio productions from Marvel and Netflix to Tyler Perry Studios and numerous independent projects, creating internship and professional opportunities that students can access during their training. The Savannah campus offers a different experience — an artistically vibrant, architecturally stunning small city where SCAD's presence defines the cultural landscape and students are immersed in a concentrated creative community. SCAD has invested heavily in performance facilities, with the SCADshow venue providing a professional-grade performance space that elevates student productions. The program also operates a professionally run casting office for students and alumni, connecting trained performers directly with professional opportunities in Georgia's entertainment industry. The combination of acting training with exposure to film production, design, and technology creates graduates who understand the collaborative nature of the entertainment industry from multiple perspectives.

Admission to SCAD's Performing Arts program follows the university's standard application process, with an overall acceptance rate of approximately 82%. Applicants submit a portfolio or audition that is reviewed alongside standard academic credentials including transcripts, test scores (optional), and letters of recommendation. The BFA Acting audition typically requires monologues and may include additional exercises depending on campus and program. SCAD's admissions approach reflects the university's philosophy of access and opportunity — the acceptance rate is higher than many peer institutions, meaning admission is more attainable for students who demonstrate genuine talent and potential. Approximately 92% of SCAD students receive some form of grants or scholarships, with average awards of approximately $12,540, reflecting the university's commitment to making arts education financially accessible. Academic scholarships are automatically reviewed based on GPA, and additional achievement scholarships are available for students who submit portfolios or resumes demonstrating exceptional accomplishment. The SCAD Challenge competition offers additional scholarship opportunities for winners. Students can apply to either the Savannah or Atlanta campus, or indicate interest in both locations, allowing them to choose the environment that best suits their training goals and career ambitions.

The BFA curriculum provides training in acting technique, voice and speech, movement, on-camera work, and the specialized skills needed for contemporary professional performance, structured within a program that emphasizes cross-disciplinary collaboration as a core principle rather than an occasional supplement. Acting students take core performing arts courses alongside studios where they work with film students, sound designers, and production designers on collaborative projects that mirror the real-world entertainment industry. The program includes dedicated on-camera training that prepares students for film and television auditions and on-set work — a particular strength given the Atlanta campus's proximity to active film production. The MFA program provides advanced training for actors seeking graduate-level development, with the flexibility to specialize in areas of interest within the broader performing arts curriculum. Performance opportunities span departmental productions, collaborative projects with other SCAD departments, and external professional work facilitated by SCAD's casting office. The SCADshow venue and other performance spaces provide professional-quality environments for student work. SCAD's international programs, including campuses and study-abroad opportunities in multiple countries, provide global perspective for performing arts students. The program's integration with SCAD's career services and alumni network connects graduates with professional opportunities across the entertainment and creative industries.

SCAD attracts performing arts students who are drawn to the school's uniquely creative, interdisciplinary environment and who want to develop as actors within a broader community of artists, designers, and creative professionals. The student body is remarkably diverse — SCAD enrolls students from all 50 states and over 100 countries — creating a cultural richness that informs the artistic work and prepares students for the global entertainment industry. The program is particularly appealing to actors who are interested in screen work, as the Atlanta campus's location in the heart of Georgia's film production boom provides proximity to professional opportunities that most schools cannot match. Alumni like Kayli Carter and DeRon Horton have found professional success in film and television, and SCAD's growing presence in the entertainment industry is reflected in the fact that 137 SCAD alumni and students contributed to 2025 Oscar-nominated films. The Savannah campus attracts students who prefer a more intimate, arts-focused community, while the Atlanta campus draws those who want direct access to a major entertainment market. SCAD's emphasis on professional preparation — including its in-house casting offices and career services — ensures that students graduate with not just training but also the professional connections and industry awareness needed to launch their careers. The cross-disciplinary relationships students build with filmmakers, designers, and other creative professionals during their time at SCAD often lead to collaborative professional projects after graduation.

Tuition at SCAD for the 2025-2026 academic year is approximately $41,630 for undergraduate students and $42,620 for graduate students (approximately $936 per credit hour), with no differential between in-state and out-of-state students as SCAD is a private institution. The total cost of attendance including housing, meals, and personal expenses is approximately $66,008 for on-campus students and $62,549 for off-campus students. SCAD is committed to making its education accessible, with approximately 92% of students receiving some form of grants or scholarships averaging $12,540 per year. Academic scholarships are automatically reviewed based on GPA, and additional achievement scholarships are available through portfolio submission and the SCAD Challenge competition. Compared to other private university performing arts programs — NYU Tisch exceeds $104,000 in total cost, Carnegie Mellon runs $67,560 in tuition alone, and Chapman is approximately $65,000 — SCAD's tuition is somewhat lower, particularly when scholarship support is factored in. The Savannah cost of living is very affordable by national standards, and even the Atlanta campus offers living costs significantly lower than New York or Los Angeles. Students should complete the FAFSA at least 60 days before their first quarter to maximize financial aid eligibility, and should explore all available SCAD scholarship opportunities to reduce their net cost.

SCAD is an excellent choice for actors who want to train within a uniquely creative, interdisciplinary environment and who see their careers extending across film, television, and media-integrated performance rather than exclusively in traditional theater. If you are drawn to screen acting and want to train near one of America's most active film production markets, SCAD's Atlanta campus offers proximity and professional access that few programs can match. The program is particularly well-suited for actors who value collaboration with filmmakers, designers, and other creative professionals, and who want to graduate understanding the full ecosystem of entertainment production. Actors whose primary ambition is Broadway or classical theater should consider dedicated theater programs like Juilliard, Carnegie Mellon, or NYU Tisch that have stronger connections to the New York theater world. For actors who want screen-focused training at a more selectively admissions program, Chapman or USC in Southern California offer alternatives with different strengths. If you want SCAD's interdisciplinary approach but at a lower cost, consider public university programs in Georgia that may provide Georgia Film Academy connections at in-state tuition rates.

Take full advantage of SCAD's cross-disciplinary opportunities by collaborating with film students on their projects from your first year — working on student films will build your on-camera skills, your demo reel, and professional relationships with emerging filmmakers who may become your future creative partners. If you are choosing between campuses, select Atlanta if your primary career goal is screen work and you want direct access to professional film and television production, and Savannah if you want a more focused, community-oriented arts experience. Use SCAD's professionally run casting office actively — register early, stay in contact, and treat every opportunity they present as a chance to build your professional resume during your training years. Build a strong on-camera demo reel during your time at SCAD by leveraging the film and television resources around you — this reel will be essential when you enter the professional market. Explore SCAD's international programs and study-abroad opportunities, as international experience broadens your artistic perspective and your professional network. Apply for every scholarship opportunity SCAD offers, including the SCAD Challenge competition, as the cumulative impact of multiple awards can meaningfully reduce your net cost over four years.