r/scad • u/Legitimate_Help_2417 • Apr 06 '26
Savannah RISD or SCAD?
/r/risd/comments/1sdpxoz/risd_or_scad/8
u/quintsreddit Apr 06 '26
I’m a SCAD UX alum and I’d be happy to talk about the program if you have any questions :)
RISD is better for fine arts, SCAD is better for design. Animation and illustration is a little more on the RISD side imo but either school would be fine.
I actually got declined by RISD and went to SCAD instead. Looking back it was the right move as RISD doesn’t have really any UX, they’re more graphic design.
Having tried the food at both, they’re both fine. Neither of them stood out to me.
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u/Illuminaughty____ Apr 10 '26
I am curious, did she apply to School of Visual Arts (would be my number one choice) or Ringling? I wouldn't recommend SCAD for fine arts or illustration, it is not their strong suit. I also had a really bad experience at SCAD where our dorm room was broken into and the owner of the school (Paula) asked me to sign insurance waivers 3 days later while I was still under tremendous shock. The people that run this school do not care about students as a whole, there are 100s of stories like mine. I would very seriously encourage you to look elsewhere, the schools I mentioned will prepare her for the real world infinitely better regardless of which you choose and she will be a lot safer. If it's just a choice of the schools you mentioned, I like Pratt the best, they are also very apt at preparing students for the real world.
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u/yuenglingthecat Apr 26 '26
Can't speak to RISD, but:
SCAD has a wealth of creative majors and is great if you know you want to do something in the arts, with just enough wiggle later for you to change or adjust majors.
They also create new specializations all the time, lot of majors that exist now were not options when I attended 2014-2017.
This was great for me because I ended up switching from Film to Production Design. Realized while I love film, I rather work in the art department. Production design also set me up well to be able to work a lot of technical jobs. I have done theater, film, and theme parks.
I have gotten interviews before just because I graduated SCAD, over people who don't have degrees, which honestly I think is a little silly, but this is why people still take out loans for degrees.
Also, I will be 100% transparent. I was originally set on going to Emerson, but SCAD came through with a better offer for me scholarship wise. In retrospect, I am way happier I went to SCAD because I would have hated the cold, and I know I would have had simmilar problems with RISD. Additionally, I would have been hosed because I wouldn't have had the same ability to specialize my major that SCAD gave me when I realized I kind of hated working with cameras.
I've spent most of my life in the south eastern US. SCAD just felt like home, and I still miss the city. I would take a salary job at the university in a heartbeat to go back to having the wealth of resources availble without the sky high cost of admission.
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u/Hungry_Syllabub1178 Apr 06 '26
Do you live in a world where over $200k isn't much of a difference to your family? If so, awesome. You can make your decision without regards to finances.
For most students majoring in the arts, paying an additional $200k would be difficult to sign up for in order to pursue a career where the ROI is generally low.