CSU vs. MIAD

Deciding between Chicago State University and Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Chicago State University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • CSU Chicago, IL
  • MIAD Milwaukee, WI
  • Setting
  • CSU Large City
  • MIAD Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • CSU 2,238
  • MIAD 838
  • Type
  • CSU Public 4 Year
  • MIAD Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • CSU #814
  • MIAD
  • Religious Affiliation
  • CSU -
  • MIAD -
  • Status
  • CSU Non-profit
  • MIAD Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • CSU
  • MIAD

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • CSU $12,754
  • MIAD $43,743
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • CSU $12,754
  • MIAD $43,743
  • Room & Board
  • CSU $11,550
  • MIAD $10,955
  • Average Net Price
  • CSU $10,441
  • MIAD $27,579
  • Average Grant Aid
  • CSU $18,194
  • MIAD $26,015
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • CSU 99%
  • MIAD 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • CSU 10,638
  • MIAD 1,039
  • Admitted
  • CSU 4,602
  • MIAD 629
  • Acceptance Rate
  • CSU 43.3%
  • MIAD 60.5%
  • Enrolled
  • CSU 3.8%
  • MIAD 33.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • CSU 860
  • MIAD 1040
  • Typical ACT score
  • CSU 17
  • MIAD 24
  • Average High School GPA
  • CSU 3.18
  • MIAD 3.08
  • Typical High School Grades
  • CSU B+
  • MIAD B
  • Admissions Standards
  • CSU Extremely Easy
  • MIAD Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • CSU Low
  • MIAD Low
  • ACT Range
  • CSU 15/19
  • MIAD 20/28
  • SAT Range
  • CSU 750/963
  • MIAD 940/1140
  • Submit Test Scores
  • CSU Test-free
  • MIAD Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • CSU
  • MIAD Aug 31, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • CSU 9:1
  • MIAD 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • CSU
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (31%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Psychology (13%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Education (7%)
  • MIAD
    • Visual and Performing Arts (87%)
    • Communications Technology (7%)
    • Architecture (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • CSU 21%
  • MIAD 57%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • CSU $38,300
  • MIAD $36,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • CSU 25%
  • MIAD 59%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • CSU $31,250
  • MIAD $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • CSU $323
  • MIAD $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • CSU 30%
  • MIAD 19%
  • % Women
  • CSU 70%
  • MIAD 81%
  • Racial Diversity
  • CSU Very Low
  • MIAD Medium
  • HBCU
  • CSU No
  • MIAD No
  • % White
  • CSU 3%
  • MIAD 68%
  • % Asian
  • CSU 1%
  • MIAD 4%
  • % Black
  • CSU 75%
  • MIAD 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • CSU 8%
  • MIAD 13%
  • % Native American
  • CSU 0%
  • MIAD 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • CSU 0%
  • MIAD 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • CSU 0%
  • MIAD 5%
  • % International
  • CSU 2%
  • MIAD 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • CSU 12%
  • MIAD 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • CSU 70%
  • MIAD 61%
  • % Out-of-State
  • CSU 28%
  • MIAD 37%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • CSU Yes
  • MIAD Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • CSU No
  • MIAD No
  • Meal Plan
  • CSU Yes
  • MIAD Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • CSU Yes
  • MIAD No
  • Daycare Facility
  • CSU Yes
  • MIAD No

Comparable Facts

Compare Chicago State University in Chicago, IL with Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design in Milwaukee, WI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Chicago State University is larger than MIAD based on total student enrollment (2,238 students vs. 838 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Chicago State University is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design is in Milwaukee, WI (Large City setting).
  • Chicago State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Chicago State University 9:1; Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design 11:1.

CSU vs. MIAD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CSU or MIAD? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Chicago State University than MIAD ($10,441 vs. $27,579).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design are 5.2% lower than at Chicago State University ($10,955 vs. $11,550).
  • Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design is 243% more expensive for in-state tuition than CSU (about $30,989 more per year; $43,743.00 vs. $12,754.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 243% higher at MIAD than at Chicago State University (about $30,989 more per year; $43,743.00 vs. $12,754.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design than at Chicago State University (100% vs. 99%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design students is 43% larger than aid received by Chicago State University students ($26,015 vs. $18,194).

CSU vs. MIAD Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CSU or MIAD? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between MIAD and CSU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (1040) is 180 points higher than at CSU (860).
  • Incoming MIAD students have a 7 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (24 vs. 17 at CSU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Chicago State University 750/963; Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design 940/1140.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Chicago State University 15/19; Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design 20/28.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CSU - Test-free; MIAD - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: MIAD Aug 31, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman CSU students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.18) than students at MIAD (3.08).
  • MIAD has a higher acceptance rate (60.5%) than CSU (43.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 3.8% at CSU vs. 33.2% at MIAD.

CSU vs. MIAD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CSU and MIAD? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design's six-year graduation rate (57%) is higher than Chicago State University's (21%).
  • Graduates from Chicago State University earn a median of about $2,300 more per year than MIAD graduates about ten years after starting college ($38,300 vs. $36,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design graduates have a $4,250 lower median loan debt than CSU graduates ($27,000 vs. $31,250).
  • Among borrowers, MIAD graduates have an estimated $44 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CSU graduates ($279 vs. $323).
  • More MIAD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CSU students, three years after graduation. (59% vs. 25%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.