Minneapolis College of Art and Design vs Cornell
Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD) and Cornell University stand as distinct institutions of higher learning, each offering unique educational experiences. MCAD, a private art and design college, fosters creativity and innovation in its students, while Cornell, an Ivy League research university, provides a comprehensive education across a wide range of disciplines. With acceptance rates of 78% and 10%, respectively, MCAD offers a more accessible admissions process compared to Cornell's highly selective approach. While MCAD's student body primarily focuses on art and design, Cornell's diverse student population pursues a variety of majors, including engineering, business, and the humanities. Furthermore, MCAD's smaller size allows for personalized attention and a close-knit community, while Cornell's larger student body provides ample opportunities for collaboration and networking. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover more distinctions between these two esteemed institutions and determine which aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
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![]() Cornell University |
![]() Minneapolis College of Art and Design |
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Overview |
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Location | Ithaca, New York | Minneapolis, Minnesota |
Campus setting | City: Small | 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 | 97.0% | 77.0% |
![]() |
Yes | No |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 8.7% | 65.5% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$80
Graduate:
$105
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Undergraduate:
$50
Graduate:
$50
|
SAT range | 1450 - 1560 | N/A |
ACT range | 33 - 35 | N/A |
Students submitting SAT score | 41.0% | |
Students submitting ACT score | 20.0% | |
Total number of applicants | 67,380 | 638 |
Total number of admissions given out | 5,852 | 418 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 3,718 | 163 |
Yield rate | 63.5% | 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) | Required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $80,287 | $55,702 |
Average net price | $24,262 | $28,520 |
Tuition | $60,286 | $41,344 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$9,962
Meal plan:
$6,434
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Room/dormitory:
$5,980
Meal plan:
$1,200
|
Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
50.0%
Average amount $52,674 |
100.0%
Average amount $25,957 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
26.0%
Average amount $3,924 |
96.0%
Average amount $5,416 |
Students taking out private loans |
16.0%
Average amount $8,357 |
20.0%
Average amount $15,914 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
15,503
Men 46.1% Women 53.9% |
675
Men 31.6% Women 68.4% |
Graduate students |
10,079
Men 51.0% Women 49.0% |
100
Men 22.0% Women 78.0% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
|
Low
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Out-of-state students | 64.3% | 44.4% |
International students | 24.4% | 4.1% |
Campus local/setting | City: Small | City: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 7,422 | 288 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | New York California New Jersey Florida Pennsylvania | 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 | 9:1 | 9:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Middle States Commission on Higher Education | Higher Learning Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 94.1% | 66.2% |
Dropout rate | 5.2% | 18.6% |
Transferred out | N/A | 15.2% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Law (Doctoral Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Computer Science (Master's Degrees)
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Master's Degrees)
Operations Research (Master's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Systems Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Human Resources Management and Services (Master's Degrees)
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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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