SC vs. MIAD

Comparable Facts

Compare Sterling College in Sterling, KS with Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design in Milwaukee, WI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design is larger than SC based on total student enrollment (838 students vs. 694 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Sterling College is located in Sterling, KS (Remote Town setting); Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design is in Milwaukee, WI (Large City setting).
• Sterling College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Sterling College 8:1; Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design 11:1.

SC vs. MIAD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SC or MIAD? 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 Sterling College than MIAD ($23,531 vs. $27,579).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Sterling College are 12.5% lower than at Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design ($9,586 vs. $10,955).
• Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design is 29.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than SC (about $10,043 more per year; $43,743.00 vs. $33,700.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 29.8% higher at MIAD than at Sterling College (about $10,043 more per year; $43,743.00 vs. $33,700.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Sterling College as at Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design students is 9.9% larger than aid received by Sterling College students ($26,015 vs. $23,673).

SC vs. MIAD Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SC or MIAD? 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 MIAD and SC.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (1040) is 10 points higher than at SC (1030).
• Incoming MIAD students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (24 vs. 21 at SC).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Sterling College 938/1123; Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design 940/1140.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Sterling College 18/24; Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design 20/28.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SC - Test optional; MIAD - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: SC Aug 17, 2027; MIAD Aug 31, 2027.
• Accepted freshman SC students have a 0.38 point higher average high school GPA (3.46) than students at MIAD (3.08).
• MIAD has a higher acceptance rate (60.5%) than SC (48.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 30.4% at SC vs. 33.2% at MIAD.

SC vs. MIAD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SC and MIAD? 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).

• Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design's six-year graduation rate (57%) is higher than Sterling College's (48%).
• Graduates from Sterling College earn a median of about $1,400 more per year than MIAD graduates about ten years after starting college ($37,400 vs. $36,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Sterling College graduates have a $2,337 lower median loan debt than MIAD graduates ($24,663 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, SC graduates have an estimated $24 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than MIAD graduates ($255 vs. $279).
• More SC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MIAD students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 59%)

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.