Education & Workforce

Pre-K-12 Public Education
The District’s enrollment is 35,000 students. There are 58 schools across the public-school system including 21 elementary schools, 9 K-8 schools, 8 middle schools, 11 high schools, and a virtual academy for students in grades 1–11. The district also supports 5 charter schools and 8 alternative educational centers. The School District continues to improve educational offerings through facility improvements under the Educational Special Purpose Local Option Sales tax. ESPLOST V was approved in March 2025. SCCPSS has steadily improved the graduation rate to meet or exceed the state average for the past 10 years. The current graduation rate stands at 87.1% (SY 24=25). For more information, please visit sccpss.com

Higher Education: Colleges, Universities and Technical Schools
Over 78,000 students are enrolled in the 16 institutions of higher learning in and around the Savannah area. While several of these schools have a long-term record of producing work-ready graduates who contribute to the region, others are recent newcomers attracted to the demands for advanced learning created by Savannah’s vibrant and growing economy.

Georgia Southern University (GSU): Georgia Southern University, a public Carnegie Doctoral/R2 institution founded in 1906, offers approximately 149 different degree programs serving more than 29,633 students through 10 colleges on three campuses in Statesboro, Savannah, Hinesville and online instruction. A leader in higher education in southeast Georgia with expert faculty, the University is focused on public impact research and engaging learning opportunities through knowledge and know-how that prepare our students to take ownership of their lives, careers and communities. Visit GeorgiaSouthern.edu.

Savannah State University: Established in 1890, Savannah State University (SSU) – a four-year institution – is one of the University System of Georgia’s longest-standing institutions. It is also the oldest public historically black college or university (HBCU) in Georgia and the oldest institution of higher learning in the historic city of Savannah. SSU has a diverse student body of approximately 3,100. It offers 30 undergraduate degree majors and five graduate degree programs in four colleges – Business Administration, Sciences and Technology, and Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, and Education. The institution also offers distinctive programs such as Forensic Science, International Business, Marine Sciences, and Homeland Security and Emergency Management. SSU hosts one of only 15 Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) units at an HBCU. Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, the university and its research programs regularly attract major grants from federal agencies and private institutions. www.savannahstate.edu

Coastal Georgia Center: Operated by Savannah State University, the Coastal Georgia Center offers a convenient location in historic downtown Savannah with a professional environment for students enrolled in graduate-level courses in business, public administration and social work. The center is an outreach component of the University System of Georgia, promoting economic development and provides space for meetings, seminars and regional conferences. https://savannahstate.edu/campus/coastal-georgia-center/

Georgia Tech Savannah: The Savannah campus of Georgia Tech provides professional education to the Southeastern part of Georgia working in partnership with industry and K-12 outreach. It also is the home to many components of Georgia Tech which include the Center for Education Integrating Science, Mathematics and Computing (CEISMC), the Enterprise Innovation Institute, the Georgia Manufacturing Extension Partnership (GaMEP), the APEX Accelerators, and the Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC). The Savannah Campus has an applied research component to its mission working with industry to help solve problems in Supply Chain, Advanced Manufacturing, Aerospace, and Resiliency just to name a few areas. The GT Savannah Campus works with local, regional and national/international business and citizens for impact in the region. savannah.gatech.edu

SCAD: The University for Creative Careers
SCAD is a private, nonprofit, accredited university, offering 100 graduate and undergraduate degree programs across locations in Atlanta and Savannah, Georgia; Lacoste, France; and online via SCADnow. SCAD enrolls more than 18,500 undergraduate and graduate students from more than 110 countries. The future-minded SCAD curriculum engages professional-level technology and myriad advanced learning resources, affording students opportunities for internships, professional certifications, and real-world assignments with corporate partners through SCADpro, the university’s renowned research lab and prototype generator. SCAD also has earned top rankings for degree programs in interior design, architecture, film, fashion, digital media, and more. Career success is woven into every fiber of the university, resulting in a superior alumni employment rate. According to a recent study, 99% of SCAD graduates were employed, pursuing further education, or both within 12 months of graduation. SCAD provides students and alumni with ongoing career support through personal coaching, alumni programs, a professional presentation studio, and more. Visit www.scad.edu

Savannah Technical College (STC)
Savannah Technical College serves Coastal Georgia with quality, market-driven technical education with campus locations in Chatham, Effingham and Liberty Counties. Serving more than 10,000 credit and non-credit students annually, Savannah Tech offers nearly 150 different instructional programs in Aviation Technology, Business and Professional Services, Industrial
Technology, and Health Sciences in addition to Adult Education classes, industry-specific training and continuing education. The College serves as an economic and community development partner for the region, offering corporate and customized training and assessment programs for business and industry. Savannah Technical College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award the associate degree, diplomas, and technical certificates of credit. For more information, contact 1866 Southern Lane Decatur, GA 30033, by calling 404-679-4500, or by visiting SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).

Saint Leo University
Founded in 1889, Saint Leo offers several programs at its Savannah Education Center. According to U.S. News & World Report, Saint Leo has been named one of the best regional colleges in the South, and it is an accredited top Catholic university in the nation. The Savannah campus offers an Associate Degree program for Arts, Bachelor’s Degree programs for both Arts and Sciences, and Master’s for Sciences and Business Administration. www.saintleo.edu

South University
South University’s Savannah campus dates from 1899, when Dr. John Draughon established Draughon’s Practical Business College in Savannah. A four-year institution accredited by SACS, it offers associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s and Doctoral degree programs in the Colleges of Arts and Sciences, Health Professions, Business, and Nursing. Several locations are established in the nation alongside accessible, fully online degree programs as well. southuniversity.edu

Several additional institutions of higher learning have opened advanced degree and certificate programs in metro Savannah:
• Embry-Riddle offers associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees in management of technical operations, aircraft maintenance, aviation maintenance management and professional aeronautics. Their Savannah campus, located near Pooler, is the world’s pre-eminent university for aviation and aerospace education. www.erau.edu

• Columbia College has campuses open at Hunter Army Airfield and Ft. Stewart. Columbia College is a private, nonprofit institution accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. It provides associate and bachelor’s degree programs to military personnel and working adults. www.ccis.edu

• Galen College of Nursing has its Main Campus in Kentucky and instructional sites in 12 states, including the new Pooler, Georgia campus at 500 Mosaic Circle. The college offers two-year associate degrees in nursing, along with online RN to BSN, MSN, and DNP programs that provide varied pathways for nursing students. www.galencollege.edu