Minneapolis College of Art and Design vs American Conservatory Theater
Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD) and American Conservatory Theater (ACT) are two esteemed institutions offering distinct educational experiences in the arts. MCAD, a private art and design college, boasts a 90% acceptance rate and is renowned for its rigorous fine arts programs, with popular majors including Illustration, Graphic Design, and Photography. ACT, a prestigious theater conservatory, has a highly selective 10% acceptance rate and specializes in training aspiring actors, with a focus on classical theater and contemporary performance. While MCAD's student body is predominantly female (70%), ACT's student population is more evenly distributed, with a 55% female and 45% male ratio. Both institutions boast impressive graduation rates, with MCAD at 68% and ACT at 85%. To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison table below, highlighting key differences between these two esteemed institutions.
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![]() American Conservatory Theater |
![]() Minneapolis College of Art and Design |
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Overview |
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Location | San Francisco, California | Minneapolis, Minnesota |
Campus setting | City: Large | City: Large |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 77.0% | |
![]() |
No | No |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | N/A | 65.5% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$90
Graduate:
$90
|
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) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Not required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Not required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $51,676 | $55,702 |
Average net price | $28,520 | |
Tuition | $30,235 | $41,344 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$5,980
Meal plan:
$1,200
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
100.0%
Average amount $25,957 |
|
Students receiving federal student loan |
96.0%
Average amount $5,416 |
|
Students taking out private loans |
20.0%
Average amount $15,914 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
11
Men 45.5% Women 54.5% |
675
Men 31.6% Women 68.4% |
Graduate students |
13
Men 46.2% Women 53.8% |
100
Men 22.0% Women 78.0% |
Racial/ethnic diversity | N/A |
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 |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 6:1 | 9:1 |
Institutional accreditation | N/A | Higher Learning Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 100.0% | 66.2% |
Dropout rate | N/A | 18.6% |
Transferred out | N/A | 15.2% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (Master's Degrees)
|
Film/Video and Photographic Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
Design and Applied Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
Fine and Studio Arts (Master's Degrees)
Graphic Communications (Bachelor's Degrees)
Fine and Studio Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
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