MCAD vs. Lawrence

Deciding between Minneapolis College of Art and Design and Lawrence University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Minneapolis College of Art and Design
Lawrence University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • MCAD Minneapolis, MN
  • Lawrence Appleton, WI
  • Setting
  • MCAD Large City
  • Lawrence Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • MCAD 831
  • Lawrence 1,417
  • Type
  • MCAD Private 4 Year
  • Lawrence Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • MCAD
  • Lawrence #202
  • Religious Affiliation
  • MCAD -
  • Lawrence -
  • Status
  • MCAD Non-profit
  • Lawrence Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • MCAD
  • Lawrence

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • MCAD $45,484
  • Lawrence $56,982
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • MCAD $45,484
  • Lawrence $56,982
  • Room & Board
  • MCAD $13,360
  • Lawrence $12,165
  • Average Net Price
  • MCAD $30,305
  • Lawrence $27,161
  • Average Grant Aid
  • MCAD $29,682
  • Lawrence $42,688
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • MCAD 100%
  • Lawrence 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • MCAD 854
  • Lawrence 3,270
  • Admitted
  • MCAD 414
  • Lawrence 2,091
  • Acceptance Rate
  • MCAD 48.5%
  • Lawrence 63.9%
  • Enrolled
  • MCAD 38.9%
  • Lawrence 16.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • MCAD 1240
  • Lawrence 1310
  • Typical ACT score
  • MCAD 25
  • Lawrence 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • MCAD 3.29
  • Lawrence 3.52
  • Typical High School Grades
  • MCAD B+
  • Lawrence A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • MCAD Difficult
  • Lawrence Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • MCAD Low
  • Lawrence Low
  • ACT Range
  • MCAD 21/29
  • Lawrence 24/31
  • SAT Range
  • MCAD 1130/1340
  • Lawrence 1200/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • MCAD Test optional
  • Lawrence Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • MCAD Apr 1, 2027
  • Lawrence Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • MCAD 12:1
  • Lawrence 7:1
  • Popular Majors
  • MCAD
    • Visual and Performing Arts (73%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Communications Technology (9%)
    • Precision Production Trades (3%)
    • Communication (3%)
  • Lawrence
    • Visual and Performing Arts (26%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • MCAD 70%
  • Lawrence 77%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • MCAD $41,500
  • Lawrence $45,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • MCAD 74%
  • Lawrence 76%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • MCAD $25,750
  • Lawrence $27,350
  • Median Loan Payment
  • MCAD $266
  • Lawrence $282

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • MCAD 29%
  • Lawrence 48%
  • % Women
  • MCAD 71%
  • Lawrence 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • MCAD Medium
  • Lawrence Medium
  • HBCU
  • MCAD No
  • Lawrence No
  • % White
  • MCAD 59%
  • Lawrence 70%
  • % Asian
  • MCAD 7%
  • Lawrence 5%
  • % Black
  • MCAD 4%
  • Lawrence 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • MCAD 6%
  • Lawrence 7%
  • % Native American
  • MCAD 1%
  • Lawrence 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • MCAD 0%
  • Lawrence 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • MCAD 3%
  • Lawrence 4%
  • % International
  • MCAD 3%
  • Lawrence 10%
  • % Unknown Race
  • MCAD 16%
  • Lawrence 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • MCAD 55%
  • Lawrence 28%
  • % Out-of-State
  • MCAD 45%
  • Lawrence 62%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • MCAD Yes
  • Lawrence Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • MCAD No
  • Lawrence No
  • Meal Plan
  • MCAD No
  • Lawrence Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • MCAD No
  • Lawrence No
  • Daycare Facility
  • MCAD No
  • Lawrence No

Comparable Facts

Compare Minneapolis College of Art and Design in Minneapolis, MN with Lawrence University in Appleton, WI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Lawrence University is larger than MCAD based on total student enrollment (1,417 students vs. 831 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Minneapolis College of Art and Design is located in Minneapolis, MN (Large City setting); Lawrence University is in Appleton, WI (Small City setting).
  • Minneapolis College of Art and Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Lawrence University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Minneapolis College of Art and Design 12:1; Lawrence University 7:1.

MCAD vs. Lawrence Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MCAD or Lawrence? 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 Lawrence University than MCAD ($27,161 vs. $30,305).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lawrence University are 8.9% lower than at Minneapolis College of Art and Design ($12,165 vs. $13,360).
  • Lawrence University is 25.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than MCAD (about $11,498 more per year; $56,982.00 vs. $45,484.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 25.3% higher at Lawrence than at Minneapolis College of Art and Design (about $11,498 more per year; $56,982.00 vs. $45,484.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Minneapolis College of Art and Design as at Lawrence University (100% vs. 100%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Lawrence University students is 43.8% larger than aid received by Minneapolis College of Art and Design students ($42,688 vs. $29,682).

MCAD vs. Lawrence Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, MCAD or Lawrence? 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 Lawrence and MCAD.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Lawrence University (1310) is 70 points higher than at MCAD (1240).
  • Incoming Lawrence students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (27 vs. 25 at MCAD).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Minneapolis College of Art and Design 1130/1340; Lawrence University 1200/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Minneapolis College of Art and Design 21/29; Lawrence University 24/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: MCAD - Test optional; Lawrence - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: MCAD Apr 1, 2027; Lawrence Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Lawrence students have a 0.23 point higher average high school GPA (3.52) than students at MCAD (3.29).
  • Lawrence has a higher acceptance rate (63.9%) than MCAD (48.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 38.9% at MCAD vs. 16.8% at Lawrence.

MCAD vs. Lawrence Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MCAD and Lawrence? 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).

  • Lawrence University's six-year graduation rate (77%) is higher than Minneapolis College of Art and Design's (70%).
  • Graduates from Lawrence University earn a median of about $4,100 more per year than MCAD graduates about ten years after starting college ($45,600 vs. $41,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Minneapolis College of Art and Design graduates have a $1,600 lower median loan debt than Lawrence graduates ($25,750 vs. $27,350).
  • Among borrowers, MCAD graduates have an estimated $16 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Lawrence graduates ($266 vs. $282).
  • More Lawrence graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MCAD students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 74%)

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.