Madison College vs. MIAD

Comparable Facts

Compare Madison Area Technical College in Madison, WI with Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design in Milwaukee, WI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Madison Area Technical College is larger than MIAD based on total student enrollment (13,641 students vs. 838 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Madison Area Technical College is located in Madison, WI (Midsize City setting); Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design is in Milwaukee, WI (Large City setting).
• Madison Area Technical College 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: Madison Area Technical College 14:1; Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design 11:1.

Madison College vs. MIAD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Madison College 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 Madison Area Technical College than MIAD ($13,284 vs. $27,579).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design are 38.3% lower than at Madison Area Technical College ($10,955 vs. $17,760).
• Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design is 778.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Madison College (about $38,766 more per year; $43,743.00 vs. $4,977.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 502.9% higher at MIAD than at Madison Area Technical College (about $36,488 more per year; $43,743.00 vs. $7,255.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design than at Madison Area Technical College (100% vs. 36%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design students is 343% larger than aid received by Madison Area Technical College students ($26,015 vs. $5,872).

Madison College vs. MIAD Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Madison College 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 Madison College.

• Madison Area Technical College reports an open admissions policy.
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsMilwaukee Institute of Art & Design 940/1140.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsMilwaukee Institute of Art & Design 20/28.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Madison College - Open admission; MIAD - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Madison College Sep 30, 2026; MIAD Aug 31, 2027.

Madison College vs. MIAD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Madison College 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).

• Graduates from Madison Area Technical College earn a median of about $1,700 more per year than MIAD graduates about ten years after starting college ($37,700 vs. $36,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Madison Area Technical College graduates have a $14,000 lower median loan debt than MIAD graduates ($13,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Madison College graduates have an estimated $145 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than MIAD graduates ($134 vs. $279).
• More MIAD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Madison College students, three years after graduation. (59% vs. 46%)

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.