MCAD vs. MSOE

Should I go to Minneapolis College of Art and Design or Milwaukee School of Engineering? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if MCAD or MSOE 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. 

IIT Wisconsin Michigan Tech Marquette University Rose-Hulman Purdue UIC ISU Bradley Florida Tech Minnesota Iowa
Minneapolis College of Art and Design vs. Milwaukee School of Engineering comparison
Minneapolis College of Art and Design Milwaukee School of Engineering College 3 College 4
Minneapolis College of Art and Design Milwaukee School of Engineering
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

 MCAD MSOE
Location Minneapolis, MN Milwaukee, WI
Setting Large City Large City
Enrollment 821 2,729
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #243
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website mcad.edu msoe.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 MCAD MSOE
Tuition (In State) $42,110 $44,601
Tuition (Out of State) $42,110 $44,601
Room & Board $7,290 $12,494
Avg Net Price $28,443 $25,661
Avg Grant Aid $26,025 $31,850
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

 MCAD MSOE
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 668 5,478
Admitted 380 3,477
Acceptance Rate 56.9% 63.5%
Enrolled % 42.1% 19.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.29 3.65
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Very High
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 19/27 24/30
SAT Range 1170/1380 1160/1405
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Apr 1, 2025 Sep 1, 2024

Academics

 MCAD MSOE
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Visual and Performing Arts (73%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Communications Technology (9%)
  • Precision Production Trades (3%)
  • Communication (3%)
  • Engineering (66%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Engineering Technology (7%)
  • Communication (1%)

Outcomes

 MCAD MSOE
Graduation Rate 70% 57%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,500 $68,900
Making Student Loan Payments 74% 83%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,750 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $266 $279

Diversity

 MCAD MSOE
% Men 31% 71%
% Women 69% 29%
Racial Diversity High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 59% 66%
% Black 4% 2%
% Hispanic 6% 5%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 3% 13%
% Unknown Race 16% 8%

Students

 MCAD MSOE
% In-State 61% 58%
% Out-of-State 34% 38%

Campus

 MCAD MSOE
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

  • Milwaukee School of Engineering is larger than than MCAD based on total student enrollment (2,729 students vs. 821 students)

MCAD vs. MSOE Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MCAD or MSOE?

  • Milwaukee School of Engineering is 5.9% more expensive to attend than MCAD for in-state tuition ($44,601.00 vs. $42,110.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 5.9% higher at MSOE than Minneapolis College of Art and Design ($44,601.00 vs. $42,110.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Milwaukee School of Engineering than MCAD ($25,661 vs. $28,443)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Minneapolis College of Art and Design are 71.4% lower than costs at Milwaukee School of Engineering ($7,290 vs. $12,494)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Minneapolis College of Art and Design as Milwaukee School of Engineering (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Milwaukee School of Engineering students is 22.4% larger than aid received Minneapolis College of Art and Design ($31,850 vs. $26,025)

MCAD vs. MSOE Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Milwaukee School of Engineering (1248) is 152 points higher than at MCAD (1096)
  • Incoming MSOE students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (28) than students at MCAD (24)
  • Accepted freshman MSOE students have a 0.36 point higher average high school GPA (3.65) than students at MCAD (3.29)
  • MSOE has a higher acceptance rate (63.5%) than MCAD (56.9%)

MCAD vs. MSOE Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, MCAD or MSOE? 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 MSOE and MCAD.

  • The graduation rate at MCAD is higher than Milwaukee School of Engineering (70% vs. 57%)
  • Graduates from Milwaukee School of Engineering earn on average $27,400 more per year than MCAD graduates after ten years. ($68,900 vs. $41,500)
  • Minneapolis College of Art and Design students graduate with a $1,250 lower median federal student loan debt than MSOE graduates. ($25,750 vs. $27,000)
  • MCAD graduates are paying $13 less per month on federal student loans than MSOE graduates. ($266 vs. $279)
  • More MSOE graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MCAD students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 74%)

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