St. Mary's College vs. MCAD

Comparable Facts

Compare Saint Mary's College in Notre Dame, IN with Minneapolis College of Art and Design in Minneapolis, MN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Saint Mary's College is larger than MCAD based on total student enrollment (1,601 students vs. 831 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Saint Mary's College is located in Notre Dame, IN (Rural Fringe setting); Minneapolis College of Art and Design is in Minneapolis, MN (Large City setting).
• Saint Mary's College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Minneapolis College of Art and Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Saint Mary's College 9:1; Minneapolis College of Art and Design 12:1.

St. Mary's College vs. MCAD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, St. Mary's College or MCAD? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Saint Mary's College than MCAD ($27,865 vs. $30,305).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Minneapolis College of Art and Design are 6.3% lower than at Saint Mary's College ($13,360 vs. $14,260).
• Saint Mary's College is 17% more expensive for in-state tuition than MCAD (about $7,746 more per year; $53,230.00 vs. $45,484.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 17% higher at St. Mary's College than at Minneapolis College of Art and Design (about $7,746 more per year; $53,230.00 vs. $45,484.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Saint Mary's College as at Minneapolis College of Art and Design (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Saint Mary's College students is 30.5% larger than aid received by Minneapolis College of Art and Design students ($38,748 vs. $29,682).

St. Mary's College vs. MCAD Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, St. Mary's College or MCAD? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between MCAD and St. Mary's College.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Minneapolis College of Art and Design (1240) is 10 points higher than at St. Mary's College (1230).
• Incoming St. Mary's College students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 25 at MCAD).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Saint Mary's College 1130/1325; Minneapolis College of Art and Design 1130/1340.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Saint Mary's College 26/30; Minneapolis College of Art and Design 21/29.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: St. Mary's College - Test optional; MCAD - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: MCAD Apr 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman St. Mary's College students have a 0.54 point higher average high school GPA (3.83) than students at MCAD (3.29).
• St. Mary's College has a higher acceptance rate (76%) than MCAD (48.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.1% at St. Mary's College vs. 38.9% at MCAD.

St. Mary's College vs. MCAD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for St. Mary's College and MCAD? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Saint Mary's College's six-year graduation rate (79%) is higher than Minneapolis College of Art and Design's (70%).
• Graduates from Saint Mary's College earn a median of about $9,600 more per year than MCAD graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,100 vs. $41,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Minneapolis College of Art and Design graduates have a $1,250 lower median loan debt than St. Mary's College graduates ($25,750 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, MCAD graduates have an estimated $13 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than St. Mary's College graduates ($266 vs. $279).
• More St. Mary's College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MCAD students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 74%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.