MCAD vs. Northland College

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

 MCAD Northland College
Location Minneapolis, MN Ashland, WI
Setting Large City Remote Town
Enrollment 824 485
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation - United Church of Christ - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website mcad.edu northland.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 MCAD Northland College
Tuition (In State) $43,374 $40,910
Tuition (Out of State) $43,374 $40,910
Room & Board $10,910 $11,100
Avg Net Price $27,031 $24,020
Avg Grant Aid $27,729 $30,355
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

 MCAD Northland College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 885 894
Admitted 428 642
Acceptance Rate 48.4% 71.8%
Enrolled % 39.5% 16%
Avg High School GPA 3.29 3.3
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Average Average
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 20/24 21/25
SAT Range 1110/1430 1096/1318
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 Northland College
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 8:1
Popular Majors
  • Visual and Performing Arts (73%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Communications Technology (9%)
  • Precision Production Trades (3%)
  • Communication (3%)
  • Natural Resources Conservation (23%)
  • Biology (22%)
  • Education (15%)
  • Physical Sciences (9%)
  • Business (8%)

Outcomes

 MCAD Northland College
Graduation Rate 70% 48%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,500 $34,900
Making Student Loan Payments 74% 73%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,750 $26,943
Median Loan Payment $266 $278

Diversity

 MCAD Northland College
% Men 4% 2%
% Women 10% 3%
Racial Diversity High Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 59% 83%
% Black 4% 1%
% Hispanic 6% 6%
% Native American 1% 2%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 3% 2%
% Unknown Race 16% 4%

Students

 MCAD Northland College
% In-State 65% 39%
% Out-of-State 33% 50%

Campus

 MCAD Northland 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 Northland College based on total student enrollment (824 students vs. 485 students)

MCAD vs. Northland College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MCAD or Northland College?

  • Minneapolis College of Art and Design is 6% more expensive to attend than Northland College for in-state tuition ($43,374.00 vs. $40,910.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 6% higher at MCAD than Northland College ($43,374.00 vs. $40,910.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northland College than MCAD ($24,020 vs. $27,031)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Minneapolis College of Art and Design are 1.7% lower than costs at Northland College ($10,910 vs. $11,100)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Minneapolis College of Art and Design as Northland College (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northland College students is 9.5% larger than aid received Minneapolis College of Art and Design ($30,355 vs. $27,729)

MCAD vs. Northland College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Northland College (1118) is 22 points higher than at MCAD (1096)
  • Incoming Northland College students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at MCAD (24)
  • Accepted freshman Northland College students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.3) than students at MCAD (3.29)
  • Northland College has a higher acceptance rate (71.8%) than MCAD (48.4%)

MCAD vs. Northland College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at MCAD is higher than Northland College (70% vs. 48%)
  • Graduates from Minneapolis College of Art and Design earn on average $6,600 more per year than Northland College graduates after ten years. ($41,500 vs. $34,900)
  • Minneapolis College of Art and Design students graduate with a $1,193 lower median federal student loan debt than Northland College graduates. ($25,750 vs. $26,943)
  • MCAD graduates are paying $12 less per month on federal student loans than Northland College graduates. ($266 vs. $278)
  • More MCAD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Northland College students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 73%)

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