MCAD vs. Lafayette College

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

MCAD Lafayette College
Location Minneapolis, MN Easton, PA
Setting Large City Large Suburban
Enrollment 824 2,764
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #66
Religious Affiliation - Presbyterian Church (USA) - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website mcad.edu lafayette.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

MCAD Lafayette College
Tuition (In State) $43,374 $61,482
Tuition (Out of State) $43,374 $61,482
Room & Board $10,910 $18,640
Avg Net Price $27,031 $34,728
Avg Grant Aid $27,729 $44,126
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 52%

Admission

MCAD Lafayette College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 885 9,874
Admitted 428 3,107
Acceptance Rate 48.4% 31.5%
Enrolled % 39.5% 22.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.29 3.53
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Average Exceptional
Applicant Competition Low High
ACT Range 20/24 30/33
SAT Range 1110/1430 1340/1490
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 Jan 15, 2025

Academics

MCAD Lafayette College
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 10:1
Popular Majors
  • Visual and Performing Arts (73%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Communications Technology (9%)
  • Precision Production Trades (3%)
  • Communication (3%)
  • Social Sciences (33%)
  • Engineering (19%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • English and Literature (8%)

Outcomes

MCAD Lafayette College
Graduation Rate 70% 88%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,500 $81,000
Making Student Loan Payments 74% 91%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,750 $26,000
Median Loan Payment $266 $268

Diversity

MCAD Lafayette College
% Men 4% 0%
% Women 10% 0%
Racial Diversity High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 59% 67%
% Black 4% 5%
% Hispanic 6% 6%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 3% 9%
% Unknown Race 16% 7%

Students

MCAD Lafayette College
% In-State 65% 13%
% Out-of-State 33% 79%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Lafayette College is larger than than MCAD based on total student enrollment (2,764 students vs. 824 students)

MCAD vs. Lafayette College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MCAD or Lafayette College?

  • Lafayette College is 41.7% more expensive to attend than MCAD for in-state tuition ($61,482.00 vs. $43,374.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 41.7% higher at Lafayette College than Minneapolis College of Art and Design ($61,482.00 vs. $43,374.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Minneapolis College of Art and Design than Lafayette College ($27,031 vs. $34,728)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Minneapolis College of Art and Design are 70.9% lower than costs at Lafayette College ($10,910 vs. $18,640)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Minneapolis College of Art and Design than Lafayette College (100% vs. 52%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Lafayette College students is 59.1% larger than aid received Minneapolis College of Art and Design ($44,126 vs. $27,729)

MCAD vs. Lafayette College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Lafayette College (1294) is 198 points higher than at MCAD (1096)
  • Incoming Lafayette College students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at MCAD (24)
  • Accepted freshman Lafayette College students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.53) than students at MCAD (3.29)
  • MCAD has a higher acceptance rate (48.4%) than Lafayette College (31.5%)

MCAD vs. Lafayette College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, MCAD or Lafayette 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 Lafayette College and MCAD.

  • The graduation rate at Lafayette College is higher than Minneapolis College of Art and Design (88% vs. 70%)
  • Graduates from Lafayette College earn on average $39,500 more per year than MCAD graduates after ten years. ($81,000 vs. $41,500)
  • Minneapolis College of Art and Design students graduate with a $250 lower median federal student loan debt than Lafayette College graduates. ($25,750 vs. $26,000)
  • MCAD graduates are paying $2 less per month on federal student loans than Lafayette College graduates. ($266 vs. $268)
  • More Lafayette College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MCAD students, three years after graduation. (91% vs. 74%)

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