MCAD vs. VWC

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

MCAD VWC
Location Minneapolis, MN Norfolk, VA
Setting Large City Large City
Enrollment 821 1,538
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #631
Religious Affiliation - United Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website mcad.edu vwc.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

MCAD VWC
Tuition (In State) $42,110 $36,010
Tuition (Out of State) $42,110 $36,010
Room & Board $7,290 $11,070
Avg Net Price $28,443 $23,046
Avg Grant Aid $26,025 $27,568
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

MCAD VWC
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 668 1,718
Admitted 380 1,399
Acceptance Rate 56.9% 81.4%
Enrolled % 42.1% 20.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.29 3.39
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Difficult
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 19/27 27/29
SAT Range 1170/1380 1190/1365
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 VWC
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Visual and Performing Arts (73%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Communications Technology (9%)
  • Precision Production Trades (3%)
  • Communication (3%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Social Sciences (14%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)

Outcomes

MCAD VWC
Graduation Rate 70% 48%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,500 $41,700
Making Student Loan Payments 74% 57%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,750 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $266 $279

Diversity

MCAD VWC
% Men 31% 44%
% Women 69% 56%
Racial Diversity High High
HBCU No No
% White 59% 54%
% Black 4% 24%
% Hispanic 6% 8%
% Native American 1% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 5%
% International 3% 1%
% Unknown Race 16% 6%

Students

MCAD VWC
% In-State 61% 73%
% Out-of-State 34% 26%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Virginia Wesleyan College is larger than than MCAD based on total student enrollment (1,538 students vs. 821 students)

MCAD vs. VWC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MCAD or VWC?

  • Minneapolis College of Art and Design is 16.9% more expensive to attend than VWC for in-state tuition ($42,110.00 vs. $36,010.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 16.9% higher at MCAD than Virginia Wesleyan College ($42,110.00 vs. $36,010.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Virginia Wesleyan College than MCAD ($23,046 vs. $28,443)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Minneapolis College of Art and Design are 51.9% lower than costs at Virginia Wesleyan College ($7,290 vs. $11,070)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Minneapolis College of Art and Design as Virginia Wesleyan College (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Virginia Wesleyan College students is 5.9% larger than aid received Minneapolis College of Art and Design ($27,568 vs. $26,025)

MCAD vs. VWC Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Minneapolis College of Art and Design (1096) is 114 points higher than at VWC (982)
  • Incoming MCAD students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at VWC (22)
  • Accepted freshman VWC students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.39) than students at MCAD (3.29)
  • VWC has a higher acceptance rate (81.4%) than MCAD (56.9%)

MCAD vs. VWC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at MCAD is higher than Virginia Wesleyan College (70% vs. 48%)
  • Graduates from Virginia Wesleyan College earn on average $200 more per year than MCAD graduates after ten years. ($41,700 vs. $41,500)
  • Minneapolis College of Art and Design students graduate with a $1,250 lower median federal student loan debt than VWC graduates. ($25,750 vs. $27,000)
  • MCAD graduates are paying $13 less per month on federal student loans than VWC graduates. ($266 vs. $279)
  • More MCAD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former VWC students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 57%)

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