MCAD vs. SU

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

 MCAD SU
Location Minneapolis, MN Georgetown, TX
Setting Large City Distant Town
Enrollment 821 1,483
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #187
Religious Affiliation - United Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website mcad.edu southwestern.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 MCAD SU
Tuition (In State) $42,110 $48,450
Tuition (Out of State) $42,110 $48,450
Room & Board $7,290 $12,300
Avg Net Price $28,443 $31,014
Avg Grant Aid $26,025 $30,609
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 98%

Admission

 MCAD SU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 668 5,557
Admitted 380 2,489
Acceptance Rate 56.9% 44.8%
Enrolled % 42.1% 17.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.29 3.5
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Difficult
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 19/27 24/30
SAT Range 1170/1380 1120/1355
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 Feb 1, 2025

Academics

 MCAD SU
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Visual and Performing Arts (73%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Communications Technology (9%)
  • Precision Production Trades (3%)
  • Communication (3%)
  • Social Sciences (17%)
  • Business (11%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Education (8%)

Outcomes

 MCAD SU
Graduation Rate 70% 73%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,500 $57,400
Making Student Loan Payments 74% 80%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,750 $26,893
Median Loan Payment $266 $278

Diversity

 MCAD SU
% Men 31% 46%
% Women 69% 54%
Racial Diversity High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 59% 62%
% Black 4% 5%
% Hispanic 6% 22%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 4%
% International 3% 2%
% Unknown Race 16% 2%

Students

 MCAD SU
% In-State 61% 84%
% Out-of-State 34% 13%

Campus

 MCAD SU
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

  • Southwestern University is larger than than MCAD based on total student enrollment (1,483 students vs. 821 students)

MCAD vs. SU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MCAD or SU?

  • Southwestern University is 15.1% more expensive to attend than MCAD for in-state tuition ($48,450.00 vs. $42,110.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 15.1% higher at SU than Minneapolis College of Art and Design ($48,450.00 vs. $42,110.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Minneapolis College of Art and Design than SU ($28,443 vs. $31,014)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Minneapolis College of Art and Design are 68.7% lower than costs at Southwestern University ($7,290 vs. $12,300)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Minneapolis College of Art and Design than Southwestern University (100% vs. 98%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Southwestern University students is 17.6% larger than aid received Minneapolis College of Art and Design ($30,609 vs. $26,025)

MCAD vs. SU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Southwestern University (1168) is 72 points higher than at MCAD (1096)
  • Incoming SU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at MCAD (24)
  • Accepted freshman SU students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at MCAD (3.29)
  • MCAD has a higher acceptance rate (56.9%) than SU (44.8%)

MCAD vs. SU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at SU is higher than Minneapolis College of Art and Design (73% vs. 70%)
  • Graduates from Southwestern University earn on average $15,900 more per year than MCAD graduates after ten years. ($57,400 vs. $41,500)
  • Minneapolis College of Art and Design students graduate with a $1,143 lower median federal student loan debt than SU graduates. ($25,750 vs. $26,893)
  • MCAD graduates are paying $12 less per month on federal student loans than SU graduates. ($266 vs. $278)
  • More SU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MCAD students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 74%)

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