MCAD vs. Northwestern College

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

 MCAD Northwestern College
Location Minneapolis, MN Saint Paul, MN
Setting Large City Large Suburban
Enrollment 821 3,253
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #554
Religious Affiliation - Other Protestant - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website mcad.edu nwc.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 MCAD Northwestern College
Tuition (In State) $42,110 $34,490
Tuition (Out of State) $42,110 $34,490
Room & Board $7,290 $10,644
Avg Net Price $28,443 $25,704
Avg Grant Aid $26,025 $20,487
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

 MCAD Northwestern College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 668 1,349
Admitted 380 1,248
Acceptance Rate 56.9% 92.5%
Enrolled % 42.1% 31.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.29 3.58
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Challenging
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 19/27 21/28
SAT Range 1170/1380 1015/1311
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 Aug 1, 2025

Academics

 MCAD Northwestern College
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Visual and Performing Arts (73%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Communications Technology (9%)
  • Precision Production Trades (3%)
  • Communication (3%)
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (22%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Communication (10%)

Outcomes

 MCAD Northwestern College
Graduation Rate 70% 64%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,500 $41,100
Making Student Loan Payments 74% 78%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,750 $22,070
Median Loan Payment $266 $228

Diversity

 MCAD Northwestern College
% Men 31% 39%
% Women 69% 61%
Racial Diversity High Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 59% 84%
% Black 4% 3%
% Hispanic 6% 4%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 3% 1%
% Unknown Race 16% 1%

Students

 MCAD Northwestern College
% In-State 61% 77%
% Out-of-State 34% 22%

Campus

 MCAD Northwestern 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

  • Northwestern College is larger than than MCAD based on total student enrollment (3,253 students vs. 821 students)

MCAD vs. Northwestern College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MCAD or Northwestern College?

  • Minneapolis College of Art and Design is 22.1% more expensive to attend than Northwestern College for in-state tuition ($42,110.00 vs. $34,490.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 22.1% higher at MCAD than Northwestern College ($42,110.00 vs. $34,490.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northwestern College than MCAD ($25,704 vs. $28,443)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Minneapolis College of Art and Design are 46% lower than costs at Northwestern College ($7,290 vs. $10,644)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Minneapolis College of Art and Design as Northwestern College (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Minneapolis College of Art and Design students is 27% larger than aid received Northwestern College ($26,025 vs. $20,487)

MCAD vs. Northwestern College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Northwestern College (1102) is 6 points higher than at MCAD (1096)
  • Incoming MCAD students have at the same average ACT score (24) as students at Northwestern College (24)
  • Accepted freshman Northwestern College students have a 0.29 point higher average high school GPA (3.58) than students at MCAD (3.29)
  • Northwestern College has a higher acceptance rate (92.5%) than MCAD (56.9%)

MCAD vs. Northwestern College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at MCAD is higher than Northwestern College (70% vs. 64%)
  • Graduates from Minneapolis College of Art and Design earn on average $400 more per year than Northwestern College graduates after ten years. ($41,500 vs. $41,100)
  • Northwestern College students graduate with a $3,680 lower median federal student loan debt than MCAD graduates. ($22,070 vs. $25,750)
  • Northwestern College graduates are paying $38 less per month on federal student loans than MCAD graduates. ($228 vs. $266)
  • More Northwestern College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MCAD students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 74%)

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