Minneapolis College of Art and Design vs San Francisco Art Institute (SFAI)

Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD) and San Francisco Art Institute (SFAI) stand out as two prominent art and design institutions, each offering unique educational experiences. MCAD, located in the vibrant city of Minneapolis, boasts a higher acceptance rate, making it a more accessible option for aspiring artists. SFAI, nestled in the heart of San Francisco, attracts a diverse student body, with a higher percentage of international students. While MCAD excels in programs like Illustration and Industrial Design, SFAI shines in Photography and New Genres. Explore our comprehensive comparison table to delve into further details, including graduation rates, tuition fees, and faculty-to-student ratios, to help you make an informed decision that aligns with your artistic aspirations and career goals.
Minneapolis College of Art and Design logo

Minneapolis College of Art and Design

San Francisco Art Institute logo

San Francisco Art Institute

Overview

Location Minneapolis, Minnesota San Francisco, California
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%
Common app member No No
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 65.5% 94.7%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $50

Graduate: $50
Undergraduate: $75

Graduate: $85
SAT range N/A N/A
ACT range N/A N/A
Students submitting SAT score
Students submitting ACT score
Total number of applicants 638 169
Total number of admissions given out 418 160
Admitted students who chose to enroll 163
Yield rate 39.0%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A
High school GPA Required N/A
Recommendation letters Required N/A
High school transcript Not required N/A
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required N/A

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $55,702
Average net price $28,520
Tuition $41,344
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $5,980

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

Financial Aid

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

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 675
Men 31.6% Women 68.4%
42
Men 50.0% Women 50.0%
Graduate students 100
Men 22.0% Women 78.0%
28
Men 32.1% Women 67.9%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Moderate
Out-of-state students 44.4% N/A
International students 4.1% N/A
Campus local/setting City: Large City: Large
Dormitory capacity 288 N/A
First year students are required to live on campus? No N/A
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from Minnesota Wisconsin Illinois Iowa South Dakota N/A

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Communications Technology
  • Business
  • Communication and Journalism
  • Precision Production
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Multidisciplinary Studies
  • Social Sciences
Students to faculty ratio 9:1 4:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission N/A

Outcome

Graduation rate 66.2% 31.8%
Dropout rate 18.6% 68.2%
Transferred out 15.2% N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
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
Film/Video and Photographic Arts (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: $32,786
Fine and Studio Arts (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $27,309
  • Year 2: $30,119
  • Year 3: $30,264
Film/Video and Photographic Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $22,116
  • Year 2: $28,381
  • Year 3: $29,237
Fine and Studio Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $24,494
  • Year 2: $22,420
  • Year 3: $16,882
Visual and Performing Arts, Other (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $16,008
  • Year 3: N/A

Compare Similar Colleges

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