Elms College vs. MCAD

Comparable Facts

Compare College of Our Lady of the Elms in Chicopee, MA with Minneapolis College of Art and Design in Minneapolis, MN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

College of Our Lady of the Elms is larger than MCAD based on total student enrollment (1,268 students vs. 831 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• College of Our Lady of the Elms is located in Chicopee, MA (Large Suburban setting); Minneapolis College of Art and Design is in Minneapolis, MN (Large City setting).
• College of Our Lady of the Elms is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Minneapolis College of Art and Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of Our Lady of the Elms 11:1; Minneapolis College of Art and Design 12:1.

Elms College vs. MCAD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Elms College or MCAD? 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 College of Our Lady of the Elms than MCAD ($19,870 vs. $30,305).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Minneapolis College of Art and Design are 14.4% lower than at College of Our Lady of the Elms ($13,360 vs. $15,605).
• Minneapolis College of Art and Design is 5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Elms College (about $2,159 more per year; $45,484.00 vs. $43,325.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 5% higher at MCAD than at College of Our Lady of the Elms (about $2,159 more per year; $45,484.00 vs. $43,325.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at College of Our Lady of the Elms as at Minneapolis College of Art and Design (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of Our Lady of the Elms students is 13.9% larger than aid received by Minneapolis College of Art and Design students ($33,794 vs. $29,682).

Elms College vs. MCAD Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Elms College or MCAD? 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 MCAD and Elms College.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at College of Our Lady of the Elms (1240) is the same as at MCAD (1240).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: College of Our Lady of the Elms 1150/1320; Minneapolis College of Art and Design 1130/1340.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsMinneapolis College of Art and Design 21/29.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Elms College - Test optional; MCAD - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: MCAD Apr 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Elms College students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at MCAD (3.29).
• Elms College has a higher acceptance rate (85.3%) than MCAD (48.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.9% at Elms College vs. 38.9% at MCAD.

Elms College vs. MCAD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Elms College and MCAD? 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).

• Minneapolis College of Art and Design's six-year graduation rate (70%) is higher than College of Our Lady of the Elms's (58%).
• Graduates from College of Our Lady of the Elms earn a median of about $4,800 more per year than MCAD graduates about ten years after starting college ($46,300 vs. $41,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, College of Our Lady of the Elms graduates have a $750 lower median loan debt than MCAD graduates ($25,000 vs. $25,750).
• Among borrowers, Elms College graduates have an estimated $8 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than MCAD graduates ($258 vs. $266).
• More MCAD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Elms College students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 61%)

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.