MCAD vs. St. Cloud State University

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

 MCAD St. Cloud State University
Location Minneapolis, MN Saint Cloud, MN
Setting Large City Small City
Enrollment 821 10,420
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #710
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website mcad.edu stcloudstate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 MCAD St. Cloud State University
Tuition (In State) $42,110 $8,811
Tuition (Out of State) $42,110 $18,695
Room & Board $7,290 $9,950
Avg Net Price $28,443 $14,065
Avg Grant Aid $26,025 $6,042
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 98%

Admission

 MCAD St. Cloud State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 668 4,810
Admitted 380 4,583
Acceptance Rate 56.9% 95.3%
Enrolled % 42.1% 16.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.29 3.4
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 19/27 18/24
SAT Range 1170/1380 1027/1200
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 St. Cloud State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Visual and Performing Arts (73%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Communications Technology (9%)
  • Precision Production Trades (3%)
  • Communication (3%)
  • Business (27%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Psychology (6%)
  • Social Sciences (5%)

Outcomes

 MCAD St. Cloud State University
Graduation Rate 70% 48%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,500 $46,700
Making Student Loan Payments 74% 67%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,750 $22,500
Median Loan Payment $266 $232

Diversity

 MCAD St. Cloud State University
% Men 31% 43%
% Women 69% 57%
Racial Diversity High Low
HBCU No No
% White 59% 73%
% Black 4% 7%
% Hispanic 6% 3%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 3% 7%
% Unknown Race 16% 1%

Students

 MCAD St. Cloud State University
% In-State 61% 75%
% Out-of-State 34% 11%

Campus

 MCAD St. Cloud State University
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan No Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Saint Cloud State University is larger than than MCAD based on total student enrollment (10,420 students vs. 821 students)

MCAD vs. St. Cloud State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MCAD or St. Cloud State University?

  • Minneapolis College of Art and Design is 377.9% more expensive to attend than St. Cloud State University for in-state tuition ($42,110.00 vs. $8,811.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 125.2% higher at MCAD than Saint Cloud State University ($42,110.00 vs. $18,695.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Saint Cloud State University than MCAD ($14,065 vs. $28,443)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Minneapolis College of Art and Design are 36.5% lower than costs at Saint Cloud State University ($7,290 vs. $9,950)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Minneapolis College of Art and Design than Saint Cloud State University (100% vs. 98%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Minneapolis College of Art and Design students is 330.7% larger than aid received Saint Cloud State University ($26,025 vs. $6,042)

MCAD vs. St. Cloud State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Minneapolis College of Art and Design (1096) is 66 points higher than at St. Cloud State University (1030)
  • Incoming MCAD students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at St. Cloud State University (22)
  • Accepted freshman St. Cloud State University students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.4) than students at MCAD (3.29)
  • St. Cloud State University has a higher acceptance rate (95.3%) than MCAD (56.9%)

MCAD vs. St. Cloud State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, MCAD or St. Cloud State University? 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 St. Cloud State University and MCAD.

  • The graduation rate at MCAD is higher than Saint Cloud State University (70% vs. 48%)
  • Graduates from Saint Cloud State University earn on average $5,200 more per year than MCAD graduates after ten years. ($46,700 vs. $41,500)
  • Saint Cloud State University students graduate with a $3,250 lower median federal student loan debt than MCAD graduates. ($22,500 vs. $25,750)
  • St. Cloud State University graduates are paying $34 less per month on federal student loans than MCAD graduates. ($232 vs. $266)
  • More MCAD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former St. Cloud State University students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 67%)

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