MCAD vs. USD

Should I go to Minneapolis College of Art and Design or University of South Dakota? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if MCAD or USD 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.
Add a college to compare up to four schools

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

South Dakota State University University of North Dakota Black Hills State University Nebraska Augustana Truman State Augustana University South Dakota School of Mines and Technology NSU UNI ISU Iowa
Minneapolis College of Art and Design vs. University of South Dakota comparison
Minneapolis College of Art and Design University of South Dakota College 3 College 4
Minneapolis College of Art and Design University of South Dakota
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

 MCAD USD
Location Minneapolis, MN Vermillion, SD
Setting Large City Distant Town
Enrollment 821 9,856
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #597
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website mcad.edu usd.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 MCAD USD
Tuition (In State) $42,110 $7,773
Tuition (Out of State) $42,110 $11,283
Room & Board $7,290 $8,224
Avg Net Price $28,443 $18,378
Avg Grant Aid $26,025 $6,308
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 79%

Admission

 MCAD USD
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 668 4,480
Admitted 380 4,456
Acceptance Rate 56.9% 99.5%
Enrolled % 42.1% 29.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.29 3.43
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Average
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 19/27 19/25
SAT Range 1170/1380 1020/1300
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 USD
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Visual and Performing Arts (73%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Communications Technology (9%)
  • Precision Production Trades (3%)
  • Communication (3%)
  • Health Professions (32%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)

Outcomes

 MCAD USD
Graduation Rate 70% 47%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,500 $48,200
Making Student Loan Payments 74% 70%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,750 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $266 $258

Diversity

 MCAD USD
% Men 31% 37%
% Women 69% 63%
Racial Diversity High Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 59% 85%
% Black 4% 3%
% Hispanic 6% 3%
% Native American 1% 2%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 3% 2%
% Unknown Race 16% 0%

Students

 MCAD USD
% In-State 61% 54%
% Out-of-State 34% 43%

Campus

 MCAD USD
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan No Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of South Dakota is larger than than MCAD based on total student enrollment (9,856 students vs. 821 students)

MCAD vs. USD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MCAD or USD?

  • Minneapolis College of Art and Design is 441.7% more expensive to attend than USD for in-state tuition ($42,110.00 vs. $7,773.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 273.2% higher at MCAD than University of South Dakota ($42,110.00 vs. $11,283.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of South Dakota than MCAD ($18,378 vs. $28,443)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Minneapolis College of Art and Design are 12.8% lower than costs at University of South Dakota ($7,290 vs. $8,224)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Minneapolis College of Art and Design than University of South Dakota (100% vs. 79%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Minneapolis College of Art and Design students is 312.6% larger than aid received University of South Dakota ($26,025 vs. $6,308)

MCAD vs. USD Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Minneapolis College of Art and Design (1096) is 47 points higher than at USD (1049)
  • Incoming MCAD students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at USD (23)
  • Accepted freshman USD students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.43) than students at MCAD (3.29)
  • USD has a higher acceptance rate (99.5%) than MCAD (56.9%)

MCAD vs. USD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at MCAD is higher than University of South Dakota (70% vs. 47%)
  • Graduates from University of South Dakota earn on average $6,700 more per year than MCAD graduates after ten years. ($48,200 vs. $41,500)
  • University of South Dakota students graduate with a $750 lower median federal student loan debt than MCAD graduates. ($25,000 vs. $25,750)
  • USD graduates are paying $8 less per month on federal student loans than MCAD graduates. ($258 vs. $266)
  • More MCAD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former USD students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 70%)

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