ISU vs. MIAD

Deciding between Illinois 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.

Illinois State University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • ISU Normal, IL
  • MIAD Milwaukee, WI
  • Setting
  • ISU Small City
  • MIAD Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • ISU 21,546
  • MIAD 838
  • Type
  • ISU Public 4 Year
  • MIAD Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ISU #502
  • MIAD
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ISU -
  • MIAD -
  • Status
  • ISU Non-profit
  • MIAD Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ISU
  • MIAD

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ISU $16,144
  • MIAD $43,743
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ISU $28,210
  • MIAD $43,743
  • Room & Board
  • ISU $11,754
  • MIAD $10,955
  • Average Net Price
  • ISU $21,369
  • MIAD $27,579
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ISU $12,974
  • MIAD $26,015
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ISU 96%
  • MIAD 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ISU 21,573
  • MIAD 1,039
  • Admitted
  • ISU 19,017
  • MIAD 629
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ISU 88.2%
  • MIAD 60.5%
  • Enrolled
  • ISU 22.5%
  • MIAD 33.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • ISU 1100
  • MIAD 1040
  • Typical ACT score
  • ISU 24
  • MIAD 24
  • Average High School GPA
  • ISU 3.41
  • MIAD 3.08
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ISU B+
  • MIAD B
  • Admissions Standards
  • ISU Moderate
  • MIAD Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • ISU
  • MIAD Low
  • ACT Range
  • ISU 21/27
  • MIAD 20/28
  • SAT Range
  • ISU 990/1210
  • MIAD 940/1140
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ISU Test optional
  • MIAD Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • ISU Apr 1, 2027
  • MIAD Aug 31, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ISU 19:1
  • MIAD 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ISU
    • Business (20%)
    • Education (18%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)
    • Health Professions (6%)
    • Communication (5%)
  • MIAD
    • Visual and Performing Arts (87%)
    • Communications Technology (7%)
    • Architecture (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ISU 71%
  • MIAD 57%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ISU $49,000
  • MIAD $36,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ISU 74%
  • MIAD 59%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ISU $22,000
  • MIAD $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ISU $227
  • MIAD $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ISU 42%
  • MIAD 19%
  • % Women
  • ISU 58%
  • MIAD 81%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ISU Low
  • MIAD Medium
  • HBCU
  • ISU No
  • MIAD No
  • % White
  • ISU 77%
  • MIAD 68%
  • % Asian
  • ISU 2%
  • MIAD 4%
  • % Black
  • ISU 8%
  • MIAD 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • ISU 9%
  • MIAD 13%
  • % Native American
  • ISU 0%
  • MIAD 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ISU 0%
  • MIAD 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ISU 3%
  • MIAD 5%
  • % International
  • ISU 0%
  • MIAD 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ISU 0%
  • MIAD 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ISU 96%
  • MIAD 61%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ISU 3%
  • MIAD 37%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Illinois State University is larger than MIAD based on total student enrollment (21,546 students vs. 838 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Illinois State University is located in Normal, IL (Small City setting); Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design is in Milwaukee, WI (Large City setting).
  • Illinois 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: Illinois State University 19:1; Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design 11:1.

ISU vs. MIAD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ISU 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 Illinois State University than MIAD ($21,369 vs. $27,579).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design are 6.8% lower than at Illinois State University ($10,955 vs. $11,754).
  • Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design is 171% more expensive for in-state tuition than ISU (about $27,599 more per year; $43,743.00 vs. $16,144.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 55.1% higher at MIAD than at Illinois State University (about $15,533 more per year; $43,743.00 vs. $28,210.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design than at Illinois State University (100% vs. 96%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design students is 100.5% larger than aid received by Illinois State University students ($26,015 vs. $12,974).

ISU vs. MIAD Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ISU 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 ISU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Illinois State University (1100) is 60 points higher than at MIAD (1040).
  • Incoming ISU students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 24) as students at MIAD (24).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois State University 990/1210; Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design 940/1140.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois State University 21/27; Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design 20/28.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ISU - Test optional; MIAD - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: ISU Apr 1, 2027; MIAD Aug 31, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman ISU students have a 0.33 point higher average high school GPA (3.41) than students at MIAD (3.08).
  • ISU has a higher acceptance rate (88.2%) than MIAD (60.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 22.5% at ISU vs. 33.2% at MIAD.

ISU vs. MIAD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ISU 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).

  • Illinois State University's six-year graduation rate (71%) is higher than Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design's (57%).
  • Graduates from Illinois State University earn a median of about $13,000 more per year than MIAD graduates about ten years after starting college ($49,000 vs. $36,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Illinois State University graduates have a $5,000 lower median loan debt than MIAD graduates ($22,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, ISU graduates have an estimated $52 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than MIAD graduates ($227 vs. $279).
  • More ISU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MIAD students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 59%)

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.