Minneapolis College of Art and Design vs American Academy of Art College

Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD) and American Academy of Art College (AAAC) stand out as prominent institutions offering specialized art and design education. While both colleges share a commitment to fostering creativity and artistic expression, they differ in several key aspects. MCAD boasts a lower acceptance rate, indicating a more selective admissions process, while AAAC offers a more open admissions policy. In terms of student body demographics, MCAD has a larger undergraduate population and a higher percentage of female students compared to AAAC. Regarding academic offerings, MCAD features a broader range of majors, including fine arts, design, and media arts, while AAAC focuses primarily on visual arts and design. Additionally, MCAD has a higher graduation rate, suggesting a stronger emphasis on student success and completion. To help you make an informed decision about your art education journey, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison table that delves into these differences and more. Explore the table to discover which college aligns best with your aspirations and
American Academy of Art College logo

American Academy of Art College

Minneapolis College of Art and Design logo

Minneapolis College of Art and Design

Overview

Location Chicago, Illinois Minneapolis, Minnesota
Campus setting City: Large City: Large
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (For Profit) Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 70.0% 77.0%
Common app member Yes No
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate Open Admission 65.5%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $50

Graduate: $50
SAT range N/A N/A
ACT range N/A N/A
Students submitting SAT score
Students submitting ACT score
Total number of applicants 638
Total number of admissions given out 418
Admitted students who chose to enroll 163
Yield rate 39.0%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) Not required N/A
High school GPA N/A Required
Recommendation letters N/A Required
High school transcript N/A Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) N/A Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $47,236 $55,702
Average net price $22,406 $28,520
Tuition $35,800 $41,344
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $5,980

Meal plan: $1,200
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

67.0%
Average amount $19,206
100.0%
Average amount $25,957
Students receiving federal student loan 70.0%
Average amount $6,159
96.0%
Average amount $5,416
Students taking out private loans 15.0%
Average amount $13,425
20.0%
Average amount $15,914

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 145
Men 31.7% Women 68.3%
675
Men 31.6% Women 68.4%
Graduate students N/A 100
Men 22.0% Women 78.0%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Low
Out-of-state students N/A 44.4%
International students N/A 4.1%
Campus local/setting City: Large City: Large
Dormitory capacity N/A 288
First year students are required to live on campus? N/A No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from N/A Minnesota Wisconsin Illinois Iowa South Dakota

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Communications Technology
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Communications Technology
  • Business
  • Communication and Journalism
  • Precision Production
Students to faculty ratio 6:1 9:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission Higher Learning Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 56.9% 66.2%
Dropout rate 29.3% 18.6%
Transferred out 12.1% 15.2%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Design and Applied Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $22,434
  • Year 2: $23,719
  • Year 3: $28,522
Fine and Studio Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $23,217
  • Year 2: $19,866
  • Year 3: $23,771
Film/Video and Photographic Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $25,967
  • Year 3: $34,987
Design and Applied Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $23,412
  • Year 2: $25,967
  • Year 3: $34,268
Fine and Studio Arts (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $25,993
  • Year 2: $28,236
  • Year 3: $28,847
Graphic Communications (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $20,090
  • Year 2: $18,771
  • Year 3: $26,963
Fine and Studio Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $23,098
  • Year 2: $22,192
  • Year 3: $25,223
Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $24,078
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A

Compare Similar Colleges

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