MLC vs. MCAD

Should I go to Martin Luther College or Minneapolis College of Art and Design? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if MLC or MCAD is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
Add a college to compare up to four schools

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

St Olaf Wheaton College Minnesota WLC University of Minnesota-Rochester ISU University of Missouri-Columbia
Martin Luther College vs. Minneapolis College of Art and Design comparison
Martin Luther College Minneapolis College of Art and Design College 3 College 4
Martin Luther College Minneapolis College of Art and Design
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

 MLC MCAD
Location New Ulm, MN Minneapolis, MN
Setting Remote Town Large City
Enrollment 880 821
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website mlc-wels.edu mcad.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 MLC MCAD
Tuition (In State) $17,420 $42,110
Tuition (Out of State) $17,420 $42,110
Room & Board $6,880 $7,290
Avg Net Price $22,293 $28,443
Avg Grant Aid $6,301 $26,025
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 100%

Admission

 MLC MCAD
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 215 668
Admitted 180 380
Acceptance Rate 83.7% 56.9%
Enrolled % 78.9% 42.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.56 3.29
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Challenging Challenging
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 20/27 19/27
SAT Range 1051/1316 1170/1380
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Apr 1, 2025

Academics

 MLC MCAD
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (67%)
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (33%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (73%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Communications Technology (9%)
  • Precision Production Trades (3%)
  • Communication (3%)

Outcomes

 MLC MCAD
Graduation Rate 73% 70%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $38,000 $41,500
Making Student Loan Payments 89% 74%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,125 $25,750
Median Loan Payment $239 $266

Diversity

 MLC MCAD
% Men 47% 31%
% Women 53% 69%
Racial Diversity Extremely Low High
HBCU No No
% White 93% 59%
% Black 1% 4%
% Hispanic 1% 6%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 3%
% International 2% 3%
% Unknown Race 0% 16%

Students

 MLC MCAD
% In-State 20% 61%
% Out-of-State 78% 34%

Campus

 MLC MCAD
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes No
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Martin Luther College is larger than than MCAD based on total student enrollment (880 students vs. 821 students)

MLC vs. MCAD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MLC or MCAD?

  • Minneapolis College of Art and Design is 141.7% more expensive to attend than MLC for in-state tuition ($42,110.00 vs. $17,420.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 141.7% higher at MCAD than Martin Luther College ($42,110.00 vs. $17,420.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Martin Luther College than MCAD ($22,293 vs. $28,443)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Martin Luther College are 6% lower than costs at Minneapolis College of Art and Design ($6,880 vs. $7,290)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Minneapolis College of Art and Design than Martin Luther College (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Minneapolis College of Art and Design students is 313% larger than aid received Martin Luther College ($26,025 vs. $6,301)

MLC vs. MCAD Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, MLC or MCAD? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between MCAD or MLC .

  • The average SAT score at Martin Luther College (1145) is 49 points higher than at MCAD (1096)
  • Incoming MLC students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at MCAD (24)
  • Accepted freshman MLC students have a 0.27 point higher average high school GPA (3.56) than students at MCAD (3.29)
  • MLC has a higher acceptance rate (83.7%) than MCAD (56.9%)

MLC vs. MCAD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, MLC or MCAD? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between MCAD and MLC.

  • The graduation rate at MLC is higher than Minneapolis College of Art and Design (73% vs. 70%)
  • Graduates from Minneapolis College of Art and Design earn on average $3,500 more per year than MLC graduates after ten years. ($41,500 vs. $38,000)
  • Martin Luther College students graduate with a $2,625 lower median federal student loan debt than MCAD graduates. ($23,125 vs. $25,750)
  • MLC graduates are paying $27 less per month on federal student loans than MCAD graduates. ($239 vs. $266)
  • More MLC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MCAD students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 74%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/