MCAD vs. Dakota State

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

 MCAD Dakota State
Location Minneapolis, MN Madison, SD
Setting Large City Distant Town
Enrollment 824 3,508
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #813
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website mcad.edu dsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 MCAD Dakota State
Tuition (In State) $43,374 $7,616
Tuition (Out of State) $43,374 $10,718
Room & Board $10,910 $8,990
Avg Net Price $27,031 $19,115
Avg Grant Aid $27,729 $5,263
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 87%

Admission

 MCAD Dakota State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 885 988
Admitted 428 967
Acceptance Rate 48.4% 97.9%
Enrolled % 39.5% 40.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.29 3.33
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Average Challenging
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 20/24 20/26
SAT Range 1110/1430 1020/1340
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

 MCAD Dakota State
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 19:1
Popular Majors
  • Visual and Performing Arts (73%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Communications Technology (9%)
  • Precision Production Trades (3%)
  • Communication (3%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (28%)
  • Business (25%)
  • Education (22%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (3%)

Outcomes

 MCAD Dakota State
Graduation Rate 70% 34%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,500 $42,200
Making Student Loan Payments 74% 67%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,750 $23,500
Median Loan Payment $266 $242

Diversity

 MCAD Dakota State
% Men 4% 12%
% Women 10% 4%
Racial Diversity High Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 59% 84%
% Black 4% 4%
% Hispanic 6% 4%
% Native American 1% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 3% 1%
% Unknown Race 16% 1%

Students

 MCAD Dakota State
% In-State 65% 56%
% Out-of-State 33% 38%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Dakota State University is larger than than MCAD based on total student enrollment (3,508 students vs. 824 students)

MCAD vs. Dakota State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MCAD or Dakota State?

  • Minneapolis College of Art and Design is 469.5% more expensive to attend than Dakota State for in-state tuition ($43,374.00 vs. $7,616.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 304.7% higher at MCAD than Dakota State University ($43,374.00 vs. $10,718.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Dakota State University than MCAD ($19,115 vs. $27,031)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Dakota State University are 21.4% lower than costs at Minneapolis College of Art and Design ($8,990 vs. $10,910)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Minneapolis College of Art and Design than Dakota State University (100% vs. 87%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Minneapolis College of Art and Design students is 426.9% larger than aid received Dakota State University ($27,729 vs. $5,263)

MCAD vs. Dakota State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Minneapolis College of Art and Design (1096) is 49 points higher than at Dakota State (1047)
  • Incoming MCAD students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at Dakota State (23)
  • Accepted freshman Dakota State students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.33) than students at MCAD (3.29)
  • Dakota State has a higher acceptance rate (97.9%) than MCAD (48.4%)

MCAD vs. Dakota State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, MCAD or Dakota State? 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 Dakota State and MCAD.

  • The graduation rate at MCAD is higher than Dakota State University (70% vs. 34%)
  • Graduates from Dakota State University earn on average $700 more per year than MCAD graduates after ten years. ($42,200 vs. $41,500)
  • Dakota State University students graduate with a $2,250 lower median federal student loan debt than MCAD graduates. ($23,500 vs. $25,750)
  • Dakota State graduates are paying $24 less per month on federal student loans than MCAD graduates. ($242 vs. $266)
  • More MCAD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Dakota State students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 67%)

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