IWU vs. MCAD

Deciding between Illinois Wesleyan University and Minneapolis College of Art and 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 Wesleyan University
Minneapolis College of Art and Design

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • IWU Bloomington, IL
  • MCAD Minneapolis, MN
  • Setting
  • IWU Small City
  • MCAD Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • IWU 1,582
  • MCAD 831
  • Type
  • IWU Private 4 Year
  • MCAD Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • IWU #157
  • MCAD
  • Religious Affiliation
  • IWU -
  • MCAD -
  • Status
  • IWU Non-profit
  • MCAD Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • IWU
  • MCAD

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • IWU $57,704
  • MCAD $45,484
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • IWU $57,704
  • MCAD $45,484
  • Room & Board
  • IWU $13,370
  • MCAD $13,360
  • Average Net Price
  • IWU $28,644
  • MCAD $30,305
  • Average Grant Aid
  • IWU $42,181
  • MCAD $29,682
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • IWU 100%
  • MCAD 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • IWU 9,558
  • MCAD 854
  • Admitted
  • IWU 3,757
  • MCAD 414
  • Acceptance Rate
  • IWU 39.3%
  • MCAD 48.5%
  • Enrolled
  • IWU 12.3%
  • MCAD 38.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • IWU 1230
  • MCAD 1240
  • Typical ACT score
  • IWU 27
  • MCAD 25
  • Average High School GPA
  • IWU 3.86
  • MCAD 3.29
  • Typical High School Grades
  • IWU A
  • MCAD B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • IWU Difficult
  • MCAD Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • IWU High
  • MCAD Low
  • ACT Range
  • IWU 25/30
  • MCAD 21/29
  • SAT Range
  • IWU 1120/1340
  • MCAD 1130/1340
  • Submit Test Scores
  • IWU Test optional
  • MCAD Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • IWU
  • MCAD Apr 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • IWU 12:1
  • MCAD 12:1
  • Popular Majors
  • IWU
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
  • MCAD
    • Visual and Performing Arts (73%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Communications Technology (9%)
    • Precision Production Trades (3%)
    • Communication (3%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • IWU 82%
  • MCAD 70%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • IWU $60,500
  • MCAD $41,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • IWU 87%
  • MCAD 74%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • IWU $27,000
  • MCAD $25,750
  • Median Loan Payment
  • IWU $279
  • MCAD $266

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • IWU 50%
  • MCAD 29%
  • % Women
  • IWU 50%
  • MCAD 71%
  • Racial Diversity
  • IWU Medium
  • MCAD Medium
  • HBCU
  • IWU No
  • MCAD No
  • % White
  • IWU 71%
  • MCAD 59%
  • % Asian
  • IWU 4%
  • MCAD 7%
  • % Black
  • IWU 4%
  • MCAD 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • IWU 7%
  • MCAD 6%
  • % Native American
  • IWU 0%
  • MCAD 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • IWU 0%
  • MCAD 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • IWU 3%
  • MCAD 3%
  • % International
  • IWU 9%
  • MCAD 3%
  • % Unknown Race
  • IWU 2%
  • MCAD 16%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • IWU 80%
  • MCAD 55%
  • % Out-of-State
  • IWU 15%
  • MCAD 45%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, IL with Minneapolis College of Art and Design in Minneapolis, MN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Illinois Wesleyan University is larger than MCAD based on total student enrollment (1,582 students vs. 831 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Illinois Wesleyan University is located in Bloomington, IL (Small City setting); Minneapolis College of Art and Design is in Minneapolis, MN (Large City setting).
  • Illinois Wesleyan University 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: Illinois Wesleyan University 12:1; Minneapolis College of Art and Design 12:1.

IWU vs. MCAD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IWU 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 Illinois Wesleyan University than MCAD ($28,644 vs. $30,305).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Minneapolis College of Art and Design are 0.1% lower than at Illinois Wesleyan University ($13,360 vs. $13,370).
  • Illinois Wesleyan University is 26.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than MCAD (about $12,220 more per year; $57,704.00 vs. $45,484.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 26.9% higher at IWU than at Minneapolis College of Art and Design (about $12,220 more per year; $57,704.00 vs. $45,484.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Illinois Wesleyan University as at Minneapolis College of Art and Design (100% vs. 100%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois Wesleyan University students is 42.1% larger than aid received by Minneapolis College of Art and Design students ($42,181 vs. $29,682).

IWU vs. MCAD Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, IWU 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 IWU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Minneapolis College of Art and Design (1240) is 10 points higher than at IWU (1230).
  • Incoming IWU students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (27 vs. 25 at MCAD).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois Wesleyan University 1120/1340; Minneapolis College of Art and Design 1130/1340.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois Wesleyan University 25/30; Minneapolis College of Art and Design 21/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: IWU - Test optional; MCAD - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: MCAD Apr 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman IWU students have a 0.57 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at MCAD (3.29).
  • MCAD has a higher acceptance rate (48.5%) than IWU (39.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.3% at IWU vs. 38.9% at MCAD.

IWU vs. MCAD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for IWU 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).

  • Illinois Wesleyan University's six-year graduation rate (82%) is higher than Minneapolis College of Art and Design's (70%).
  • Graduates from Illinois Wesleyan University earn a median of about $19,000 more per year than MCAD graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,500 vs. $41,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Minneapolis College of Art and Design graduates have a $1,250 lower median loan debt than IWU graduates ($25,750 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, MCAD graduates have an estimated $13 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than IWU graduates ($266 vs. $279).
  • More IWU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MCAD students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 74%)

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.