VCM vs. MIAD

Deciding between VanderCook College of Music and Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • VCM Chicago, IL
  • MIAD Milwaukee, WI
  • Setting
  • VCM Large City
  • MIAD Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • VCM 323
  • MIAD 838
  • Type
  • VCM Private 4 Year
  • MIAD Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • VCM
  • MIAD
  • Religious Affiliation
  • VCM -
  • MIAD -
  • Status
  • VCM Non-profit
  • MIAD Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • VCM
  • MIAD

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • VCM $30,910
  • MIAD $43,743
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • VCM $30,910
  • MIAD $43,743
  • Room & Board
  • VCM $14,008
  • MIAD $10,955
  • Average Net Price
  • VCM $21,306
  • MIAD $27,579
  • Average Grant Aid
  • VCM $23,317
  • MIAD $26,015
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • VCM 100%
  • MIAD 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • VCM 38
  • MIAD 1,039
  • Admitted
  • VCM 34
  • MIAD 629
  • Acceptance Rate
  • VCM 89.5%
  • MIAD 60.5%
  • Enrolled
  • VCM 44.1%
  • MIAD 33.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • VCM 1030
  • MIAD 1040
  • Typical ACT score
  • VCM 17
  • MIAD 24
  • Average High School GPA
  • VCM 3.1
  • MIAD 3.08
  • Typical High School Grades
  • VCM B
  • MIAD B
  • Admissions Standards
  • VCM Extremely Easy
  • MIAD Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • VCM
  • MIAD Low
  • ACT Range
  • VCM 15/20
  • MIAD 20/28
  • SAT Range
  • VCM 890/1160
  • MIAD 940/1140
  • Submit Test Scores
  • VCM Test optional
  • MIAD Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • VCM Apr 1, 2027
  • MIAD Aug 31, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • VCM 5:1
  • MIAD 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • VCM
    • Education (100%)
  • MIAD
    • Visual and Performing Arts (87%)
    • Communications Technology (7%)
    • Architecture (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • VCM 45%
  • MIAD 57%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • VCM N/A
  • MIAD $36,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • VCM 66%
  • MIAD 59%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • VCM $27,000
  • MIAD $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • VCM $279
  • MIAD $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • VCM 47%
  • MIAD 19%
  • % Women
  • VCM 53%
  • MIAD 81%
  • Racial Diversity
  • VCM High
  • MIAD Medium
  • HBCU
  • VCM No
  • MIAD No
  • % White
  • VCM 62%
  • MIAD 68%
  • % Asian
  • VCM 2%
  • MIAD 4%
  • % Black
  • VCM 8%
  • MIAD 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • VCM 21%
  • MIAD 13%
  • % Native American
  • VCM 0%
  • MIAD 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • VCM 0%
  • MIAD 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • VCM 4%
  • MIAD 5%
  • % International
  • VCM 2%
  • MIAD 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • VCM 2%
  • MIAD 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • VCM 73%
  • MIAD 61%
  • % Out-of-State
  • VCM 27%
  • MIAD 37%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • VCM Yes
  • MIAD Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • VCM No
  • MIAD No
  • Meal Plan
  • VCM Yes
  • MIAD Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • VCM No
  • MIAD No
  • Daycare Facility
  • VCM No
  • MIAD No

Comparable Facts

Compare VanderCook College of Music in Chicago, IL 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 VCM based on total student enrollment (838 students vs. 323 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • VanderCook College of Music is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design is in Milwaukee, WI (Large City setting).
  • VanderCook College of Music 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: VanderCook College of Music 5:1; Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design 11:1.

VCM vs. MIAD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, VCM 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 VanderCook College of Music than MIAD ($21,306 vs. $27,579).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design are 21.8% lower than at VanderCook College of Music ($10,955 vs. $14,008).
  • Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design is 41.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than VCM (about $12,833 more per year; $43,743.00 vs. $30,910.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 41.5% higher at MIAD than at VanderCook College of Music (about $12,833 more per year; $43,743.00 vs. $30,910.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at VanderCook College of Music 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 11.6% larger than aid received by VanderCook College of Music students ($26,015 vs. $23,317).

VCM vs. MIAD Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, VCM 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 VCM.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (1040) is 10 points higher than at VCM (1030).
  • Incoming MIAD students have a 7 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (24 vs. 17 at VCM).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: VanderCook College of Music 890/1160; Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design 940/1140.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: VanderCook College of Music 15/20; Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design 20/28.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: VCM - Test optional; MIAD - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: VCM Apr 1, 2027; MIAD Aug 31, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman VCM students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.1) than students at MIAD (3.08).
  • VCM has a higher acceptance rate (89.5%) than MIAD (60.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 44.1% at VCM vs. 33.2% at MIAD.

VCM vs. MIAD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for VCM 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 VanderCook College of Music's (45%).
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design and VCM graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design and VCM graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($279 vs. $279).
  • More VCM graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MIAD students, three years after graduation. (66% 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.