Laurie Larson Campus Director & Dean of Academic Affairs and Operations | Linkedin
Laurie Larson Campus Director & Dean of Academic Affairs and Operations | Linkedin
Of the eight institutions in the county, Savannah College of Art and Design was the only one that provided detailed enrollment data at the time.
At least 14,387 people applied to Chatham County colleges in the 2022-23 school year.
NCES data shows that among them, around 31,587 students enrolled in the universities, including 26,054 in undergraduate and 5,533 in graduate programs. In total 6.7% of undergraduates transferred from another college or university.
The reported undergraduate student body is comprised mostly of white (40.1%) and Black or African American (32.3%) students.
Among the institutions that provided disclosed enrollment data, Savannah College of Art and Design stood out with the largest enrollment at the time, welcoming 16,414 students.
U.S. college enrollment has been in a downward trend since peaking at around 18.1 million students in 2010. Recent increases offered some relief, but experts project a steeper decline in 2025.
This decline is likely due to two main factors. First, the pool of young adults is shrinking as birth rates have fallen nearly 23% between 2007 and 2022. Second, the rising cost of higher education, including skyrocketing student loan debt. A 2023 Wall Street Journal report shows that more than half of Americans think a four-year degree is not worth the cost.
NCES shows that enrollment data was not available for two institutions in Chatham County, including Strayer University-Savannah Campus and Columbia College - Hunter Army Airfield.
Some educational data is based on estimates. Shifting demographics among student populations can sometimes result in gender totals which do not equal 100%.
| Institution | # of Applicants | # of Admitted Students | Total Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strayer University-Savannah Campus | -- | -- | -- |
| Columbia College - Hunter Army Airfield | -- | -- | -- |
| Savannah State University | -- | -- | 2,945 |
| South University-Savannah Online | -- | -- | 7,707 |
| South University-Savannah | -- | -- | 722 |
| Empire Beauty School-Savannah | -- | -- | 157 |
| Savannah Technical College | -- | -- | 3,642 |
| Savannah College of Art and Design | 14,387 | 11,797 | 16,414 |
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