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SPU UW-Seattle Seattle U Whitworth University Gonzaga Saint Martin's University University of Puget Sound Pacific Whitman College Western Washington University University of Portland Washington State| Minneapolis College of Art and Design | Pacific Lutheran University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
MCAD | PLU | ||
| Location | Minneapolis, MN | Tacoma, WA | ||
| Setting | Large City | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 821 | 2,633 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #311 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | - | Evangelical Lutheran Church | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | mcad.edu | plu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
MCAD | PLU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $42,110 | $49,472 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $42,110 | $49,472 | ||
| Room & Board | $7,290 | $11,826 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $28,443 | $24,825 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $26,025 | $36,435 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 99% |
Admission |
MCAD | PLU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 668 | 3,334 | ||
| Admitted | 380 | 2,964 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 56.9% | 88.9% | ||
| Enrolled % | 42.1% | 17.7% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.29 | 3.71 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Challenging | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 19/27 | 27/30 | ||
| SAT Range | 1170/1380 | 1253/1423 | ||
| 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 15, 2025 |
Academics |
MCAD | PLU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 9:1 | 11:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
MCAD | PLU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 70% | 66% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $41,500 | $52,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 74% | 74% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,750 | $25,800 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $266 | $266 |
Diversity |
MCAD | PLU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 31% | 36% | ||
| % Women | 69% | 64% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 59% | 68% | ||
| % Black | 4% | 3% | ||
| % Hispanic | 6% | 8% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 7% | ||
| % International | 3% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 16% | 1% |
Students |
MCAD | PLU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 61% | 74% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 34% | 22% | ||
Campus |
MCAD | PLU | ||
| 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
- Pacific Lutheran University is larger than than MCAD based on total student enrollment (2,633 students vs. 821 students)
MCAD vs. PLU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, MCAD or PLU?
- Pacific Lutheran University is 17.5% more expensive to attend than MCAD for in-state tuition ($49,472.00 vs. $42,110.00)
- Out of state tuition is 17.5% higher at PLU than Minneapolis College of Art and Design ($49,472.00 vs. $42,110.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Pacific Lutheran University than MCAD ($24,825 vs. $28,443)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Minneapolis College of Art and Design are 62.2% lower than costs at Pacific Lutheran University ($7,290 vs. $11,826)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Minneapolis College of Art and Design than Pacific Lutheran University (100% vs. 99%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Pacific Lutheran University students is 40% larger than aid received Minneapolis College of Art and Design ($36,435 vs. $26,025)
MCAD vs. PLU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, MCAD or PLU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between PLU or MCAD .
- The average SAT score at Pacific Lutheran University (1117) is 21 points higher than at MCAD (1096)
- Incoming PLU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at MCAD (24)
- Accepted freshman PLU students have a 0.42 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at MCAD (3.29)
- PLU has a higher acceptance rate (88.9%) than MCAD (56.9%)
MCAD vs. PLU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, MCAD or PLU? 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 PLU and MCAD.
- The graduation rate at MCAD is higher than Pacific Lutheran University (70% vs. 66%)
- Graduates from Pacific Lutheran University earn on average $10,800 more per year than MCAD graduates after ten years. ($52,300 vs. $41,500)
- Minneapolis College of Art and Design students graduate with a $50 lower median federal student loan debt than PLU graduates. ($25,750 vs. $25,800)
- Pacific Lutheran University and MCAD graduates both have a median monthly student loan payment upon graduation ($266 vs. $266)
- More PLU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MCAD students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 74%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/