CCAD vs. UWM

Comparable Facts

Compare Columbus College of Art & Design in Columbus, OH with University of Wisconsin Milwaukee in Milwaukee, WI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Wisconsin Milwaukee is larger than CCAD based on total student enrollment (22,450 students vs. 916 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Columbus College of Art & Design is located in Columbus, OH (Large City setting); University of Wisconsin Milwaukee is in Milwaukee, WI (Large City setting).
• Columbus College of Art & Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Columbus College of Art & Design 10:1; University of Wisconsin Milwaukee 17:1.

CCAD vs. UWM Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CCAD or UWM? 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 University of Wisconsin Milwaukee than CCAD ($16,263 vs. $31,801).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbus College of Art & Design are 2% lower than at University of Wisconsin Milwaukee ($11,450 vs. $11,684).
• Columbus College of Art & Design is 292.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than UWM (about $30,427 more per year; $40,825.00 vs. $10,398.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 82.3% higher at CCAD than at University of Wisconsin Milwaukee (about $18,427 more per year; $40,825.00 vs. $22,398.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Columbus College of Art & Design than at University of Wisconsin Milwaukee (100% vs. 91%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Columbus College of Art & Design students is 262.4% larger than aid received by University of Wisconsin Milwaukee students ($23,000 vs. $6,347).

CCAD vs. UWM Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CCAD or UWM? 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 UWM and CCAD.

• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsUniversity of Wisconsin Milwaukee 19/24.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CCAD - Test-free; UWM - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: UWM Sep 1, 2026.
• UWM has a higher acceptance rate (90.7%) than CCAD (67.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 32.1% at CCAD vs. 23.8% at UWM.

CCAD vs. UWM Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CCAD and UWM? 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).

• Columbus College of Art & Design's six-year graduation rate (64%) is higher than University of Wisconsin Milwaukee's (40%).
• Graduates from University of Wisconsin Milwaukee earn a median of about $8,000 more per year than CCAD graduates about ten years after starting college ($46,100 vs. $38,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Wisconsin Milwaukee graduates have a $2,042 lower median loan debt than CCAD graduates ($24,958 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, UWM graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CCAD graduates ($258 vs. $279).
• More CCAD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UWM students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 62%)

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.