SAU vs. MIAD

Should I go to Spring Arbor University or Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if SAU or MIAD 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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Spring Arbor University vs. Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design comparison
Spring Arbor University Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design College 3 College 4
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Overview

 SAU MIAD
Location Spring Arbor, MI Milwaukee, WI
Setting Small Suburban Large City
Enrollment 2,396 896
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #501
Religious Affiliation Free Methodist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website arbor.edu miad.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 SAU MIAD
Tuition (In State) $31,020 $39,380
Tuition (Out of State) $31,020 $39,380
Room & Board $10,652 $9,950
Avg Net Price $22,375 $25,472
Avg Grant Aid $20,677 $26,216
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 100%

Admission

 SAU MIAD
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,312 1,052
Admitted 1,094 673
Acceptance Rate 47.3% 64%
Enrolled % 20.8% 32.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.61 3.08
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Easy Unavailable
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 20/26
SAT Range 970/1135
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 Aug 31, 2025

Academics

 SAU MIAD
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (31%)
  • Work and Family Studies (14%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Human Services (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (87%)
  • Communications Technology (7%)
  • Architecture (6%)

Outcomes

 SAU MIAD
Graduation Rate 56% 57%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $42,600 $36,000
Making Student Loan Payments 58% 59%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,043 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $248 $279

Diversity

 SAU MIAD
% Men 23% 22%
% Women 77% 78%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 77% 68%
% Black 10% 8%
% Hispanic 3% 13%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 5%
% International 1% 1%
% Unknown Race 5% 0%

Students

 SAU MIAD
% In-State 83% 52%
% Out-of-State 13% 47%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Spring Arbor University is larger than than MIAD based on total student enrollment (2,396 students vs. 896 students)

SAU vs. MIAD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SAU or MIAD?

  • Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design is 27% more expensive to attend than SAU for in-state tuition ($39,380.00 vs. $31,020.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 27% higher at MIAD than Spring Arbor University ($39,380.00 vs. $31,020.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Spring Arbor University than MIAD ($22,375 vs. $25,472)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design are 7.1% lower than costs at Spring Arbor University ($9,950 vs. $10,652)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design than Spring Arbor University (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design students is 26.8% larger than aid received Spring Arbor University ($26,216 vs. $20,677)

SAU vs. MIAD Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman SAU students have a 0.53 point higher average high school GPA (3.61) than students at MIAD (3.08)
  • MIAD has a higher acceptance rate (64%) than SAU (47.3%)

SAU vs. MIAD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, SAU or MIAD? 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 MIAD and SAU.

  • The graduation rate at MIAD is higher than Spring Arbor University (57% vs. 56%)
  • Graduates from Spring Arbor University earn on average $6,600 more per year than MIAD graduates after ten years. ($42,600 vs. $36,000)
  • Spring Arbor University students graduate with a $2,957 lower median federal student loan debt than MIAD graduates. ($24,043 vs. $27,000)
  • SAU graduates are paying $31 less per month on federal student loans than MIAD graduates. ($248 vs. $279)
  • More MIAD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SAU students, three years after graduation. (59% vs. 58%)

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