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PrivateUrban

Minneapolis College of Art and Design

MCAD

Minneapolis, Minnesota 55404

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Campus Vibe

Small & IntimateUrbanPrivateClose Faculty Access

Close-knit campus

Minneapolis College of Art and Design is a private urban institution in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The school is accessible to a wide range of students, with an average SAT of 1170.

A small campus of 701 undergraduates with a 10:1 student-faculty ratio. The urban location puts students at the center of city life.

69% of students graduate within four years, and graduates earn a median of $40,873 a decade after enrollment. Net price after aid averages $25,935.

Established
1886
Type
Private

Plan Your Visit

48%Acceptance
1170SAT Avg
701Students
10:1Student:Faculty
69%Grad Rate
$40,873Earnings 10yr
$25,935Net Price

News & Alerts

program2026-03-15

Minneapolis College of Art and Design Launches New Data Science Minor

Starting Fall 2026, students can pursue an interdisciplinary data science minor combining CS, statistics, and domain courses.

tuition2026-02-28

Tuition Increase Announced for 2026-27

The board of trustees approved a 3.2% tuition increase for the upcoming academic year, in line with peer institutions.

Admissions

Acceptance Rate48.4%

SAT Score Ranges

Average: 1170

Reading & Writing
570750
Math
540680

ACT Score Range

Composite
2024

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard / IPEDS.

Admissions Intel

Acceptance Rate

48.4%

Trend

SAT Avg

1170

Yield Rate

35.0%

Cost & Financial Aid

Sticker Price

Tuition$43,824
Room & Board$10,910
Books & Supplies$3,640
Total Cost of Attendance$54,606
Average Net Price$25,935
Median Debt at Graduation$27,000
Monthly Payment (10yr)$286

Net Price by Family Income

$0–30K$20,912
$30–48K$20,630
$48–75K$22,690
$75–110K$28,900
$110K+$31,859

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Net price reflects most recent cohort of federally-aided undergraduates.

Debt & Aid Detail

Net Price Trend

Tuition Trend

Graduate w/ Zero Debt

26.5%

Avg Tuition Increase

3.2%/yr

Median Debt at Grad

$19,225

Campus Safety

Total Incidents (2024)

4

Peer Average

3

3-Year Trend

Emergency System

Campus security, emergency notification system

Incident Breakdown (2024)

1

Burglary

0

Aggravated Assault

0

Robbery

0

Motor Vehicle Theft

1

Sex Offenses

0

Arson

1

Drug Arrests

1

Liquor Arrests

Source: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety & Security data (Clery Act, 2024 reporting year).

Programs (13)

Student Life

Student Satisfaction

Retention Rate

82%

Mixed
  • 82% first-year retention rate
  • Active student organizations
  • Engaged campus community

Mental Health Services

Counselor Ratio

1:350

24/7 Crisis Line

Yes

Free Sessions

12 per year

Avg Wait

5 days

Walk-in hours available weekdays

Disability Services

Dedicated OfficeOffice of Disability Services
Extended test timeNote-taking assistanceHousing accommodationsAccessible transportation

ADA-compliant campus with ongoing accessibility improvements

Dining

Rating

★★★★☆

Score

4/5

Meal Plan

$6,200/yr

VegetarianVeganGluten-freeHalalKosher

Multiple dining halls with farm-to-table options

Student Body

Undergrads
701
Gender Split
69% / 31%
Women / Men
First Generation
21%
Pell Grant Recipients
40%

Race & Ethnicity

White 63%
Black 7%
Hispanic 11%
Asian 8%
Two+ 7%
Int'l 1%

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate69.2%
Freshman Retention81.9%

Median Earnings After Graduation

6 Years$35,198
10 Years$40,873

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings reflect federally-aided students 6 and 10 years after entry.

Rankings

U.S. News
#45
2
vs 2024
Forbes
#52
1
vs 2024
Niche
#38
3
vs 2024

More About This School

History & Fun Facts

  • History MCAD was founded in 1886 by the trustees of the Minneapolis Society of Fine Arts and originally named the Minneapolis School of Fine Arts.
  • Douglas Volk (1856–1935), an accomplished American portrait painter who studied in Paris with renowned French painter and sculptor Jean-Léon Gérôme (1824–1904), became the school's first president.
  • In December 1889, the school found a more permanent home on the top floor of the just-finished Minneapolis Public Library at 10th Street and Hennepin Avenue.
  • In 1893, noted German-born painter and educator Robert Koehler (1850–1917) moved from New York to Minnesota to become president of the school.
  • In 1910, the School of Fine Arts changed its name to the Minneapolis School of Art to reflect the new emphasis on applied arts.

Source: Wikipedia

Location & Lifestyle

Cost of Living

112Above Average

Housing and food costs are higher than national average

Climate (School Year)

68°
Sep
55°
Oct
42°
Nov
30°
Dec
25°
Jan
28°
Feb
38°
Mar
50°
Apr
62°
May
Snowfall: 48"Sunny days: 200Rainy days: 120

Nearest Cities

Bostonpop. 675,647
90 miles(95 min)
Hartfordpop. 121,054
60 miles(70 min)

Transit Scores

BikeableCampus shuttle: Free campus shuttle runs 7am-midnight
72
Walk Score
45
Transit Score
68
Bike Score

Local Economy

Unemployment Rate3.2%
Top Employers
UniversityRegional Medical CenterTech corridor firms
Key Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnology

Getting There

Nearest Airports

MSP Minneapolis-St Paul6 mi
MKE Milwaukee301 mi
ORD Chicago O'Hare339 mi

Distance to Cities

Boston, MA1121 mi · ~32h 23m drive
New York, NY1017 mi · ~29h 23m drive
Hartford, CT1055 mi · ~30h 29m drive
Providence, RI1115 mi · ~32h 13m drive
Albany, NY984 mi · ~28h 26m drive
Syracuse, NY860 mi · ~24h 51m drive
Rochester, NY786 mi · ~22h 42m drive
Buffalo, NY730 mi · ~21h 5m drive
Philadelphia, PA983 mi · ~28h 24m drive
Pittsburgh, PA742 mi · ~21h 26m drive
Harrisburg, PA892 mi · ~25h 46m drive
Newark, NJ1008 mi · ~29h 7m drive
Washington, DC931 mi · ~26h 54m drive
Baltimore, MD937 mi · ~27h 4m drive
Atlanta, GA907 mi · ~26h 12m drive
Charlotte, NC938 mi · ~27h 6m drive
Raleigh, NC995 mi · ~28h 45m drive
Miami, FL1513 mi · ~43h 43m drive
Orlando, FL1308 mi · ~37h 47m drive
Tampa, FL1317 mi · ~38h 3m drive
Nashville, TN696 mi · ~20h 6m drive
New Orleans, LA1051 mi · ~30h 22m drive
Richmond, VA967 mi · ~27h 56m drive
Chicago, IL354 mi · ~10h 14m drive
Detroit, MI542 mi · ~15h 39m drive
Minneapolis, MN2 mi · ~3 min drive
St. Louis, MO465 mi · ~13h 26m drive
Kansas City, MO410 mi · ~11h 51m drive
Indianapolis, IN510 mi · ~14h 44m drive
Columbus, OH627 mi · ~18h 7m drive
Cleveland, OH629 mi · ~18h 10m drive
Milwaukee, WI298 mi · ~8h 37m drive
Dallas, TX862 mi · ~24h 54m drive
Houston, TX1056 mi · ~30h 30m drive
Austin, TX1044 mi · ~30h 10m drive
San Antonio, TX1110 mi · ~32h 4m drive
Los Angeles, CA1520 mi · ~43h 55m drive
San Francisco, CA1581 mi · ~45h 40m drive
San Diego, CA1530 mi · ~44h 12m drive
Seattle, WA1391 mi · ~40h 11m drive
Portland, OR1423 mi · ~41h 7m drive
Denver, CO697 mi · ~20h 8m drive
Phoenix, AZ1277 mi · ~36h 53m drive
Salt Lake City, UT984 mi · ~28h 26m drive
Honolulu, HI3962 mi · ~114h 27m drive
Upper Midwest / Northeast (cold winters, warm summers)

Visit Planning

Suggested Itinerary

9:00 AMArrive & park
Visitor parking lot
Free parking with visitor pass
9:30 AMCheck in at Admissions
Admissions Office
10:00 AMInformation session
Welcome Center
45 minutes
11:00 AMCampus tour
Starts at Welcome Center
75 minutes, student-led
12:30 PMLunch
Main Dining Hall
Visitor meal passes available
1:30 PMDepartment visit
Academic buildings
Schedule with department directly
2:30 PMExplore campus independently
Library, student center, residence halls

Airport Transit

Minneapolis-St Paul (MSP)6 miles
Rental car
9 min$40-60/day
Shuttle/rideshare
12 min$7-12
Milwaukee (MKE)301 miles
Rental car
452 min$40-60/day
Shuttle/rideshare
602 min$361-602

Deadline Calendar

Minneapolis College of Art and Design Application Checklist

Decision Notifications

Minneapolis College of Art and Design — v2 Preview — TourStack