MCAD vs. Aquinas College

Should I go to Minneapolis College of Art and Design or Aquinas College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if MCAD or Aquinas College 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.
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Minneapolis College of Art and Design vs. Aquinas College comparison
Minneapolis College of Art and Design Aquinas College College 3 College 4
Minneapolis College of Art and Design Aquinas College
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Overview

 MCAD Aquinas College
Location Minneapolis, MN Nashville, TN
Setting Large City Large City
Enrollment 821 342
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation - Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website mcad.edu aquinascollege.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 MCAD Aquinas College
Tuition (In State) $42,110 $21,350
Tuition (Out of State) $42,110 $21,350
Room & Board $7,290 $8,850
Avg Net Price $28,443 $20,892
Avg Grant Aid $26,025 $12,820
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

 MCAD Aquinas College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 668 245
Admitted 380 99
Acceptance Rate 56.9% 40.4%
Enrolled % 42.1% 33.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.29 3.55
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Difficult
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 19/27 21/28
SAT Range 1170/1380 1100/1370
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Required
Application Deadline Apr 1, 2025

Academics

 MCAD Aquinas College
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 0:1
Popular Majors
  • Visual and Performing Arts (73%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Communications Technology (9%)
  • Precision Production Trades (3%)
  • Communication (3%)
  • Health Professions (67%)
  • Business (24%)
  • Education (5%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (2%)
  • English and Literature (1%)

Outcomes

 MCAD Aquinas College
Graduation Rate 70% 38%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,500 $48,600
Making Student Loan Payments 74% 56%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,750 $20,500
Median Loan Payment $266 $211

Diversity

 MCAD Aquinas College
% Men 31% 0%
% Women 69% 0%
Racial Diversity High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 59% 69%
% Black 4% 6%
% Hispanic 6% 4%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 2%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 3% 4%
% Unknown Race 16% 9%

Students

 MCAD Aquinas College
% In-State 61% -
% Out-of-State 34% -

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Minneapolis College of Art and Design is larger than than Aquinas College based on total student enrollment (821 students vs. 342 students)

MCAD vs. Aquinas College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MCAD or Aquinas College?

  • Minneapolis College of Art and Design is 97.2% more expensive to attend than Aquinas College for in-state tuition ($42,110.00 vs. $21,350.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 97.2% higher at MCAD than Aquinas College ($42,110.00 vs. $21,350.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Aquinas College than MCAD ($20,892 vs. $28,443)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Minneapolis College of Art and Design are 21.4% lower than costs at Aquinas College ($7,290 vs. $8,850)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Minneapolis College of Art and Design as Aquinas College (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Minneapolis College of Art and Design students is 103% larger than aid received Aquinas College ($26,025 vs. $12,820)

MCAD vs. Aquinas College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Aquinas College (1115) is 19 points higher than at MCAD (1096)
  • Incoming MCAD students have at the same average ACT score (24) as students at Aquinas College (24)
  • Accepted freshman Aquinas College students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (3.55) than students at MCAD (3.29)
  • MCAD has a higher acceptance rate (56.9%) than Aquinas College (40.4%)

MCAD vs. Aquinas College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, MCAD or Aquinas College? 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 Aquinas College and MCAD.

  • The graduation rate at MCAD is higher than Aquinas College (70% vs. 38%)
  • Graduates from Aquinas College earn on average $7,100 more per year than MCAD graduates after ten years. ($48,600 vs. $41,500)
  • Aquinas College students graduate with a $5,250 lower median federal student loan debt than MCAD graduates. ($20,500 vs. $25,750)
  • Aquinas College graduates are paying $55 less per month on federal student loans than MCAD graduates. ($211 vs. $266)
  • More MCAD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Aquinas College students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 56%)

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