VCM vs. MIAD

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

 VCM MIAD
Location Chicago, IL Milwaukee, WI
Setting Large City Large City
Enrollment 340 885
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website vandercook.edu miad.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 VCM MIAD
Tuition (In State) $28,640 $40,480
Tuition (Out of State) $28,640 $40,480
Room & Board $7,500 $10,430
Avg Net Price $16,601 $28,024
Avg Grant Aid $22,249 $24,605
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

 VCM MIAD
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 37 1,059
Admitted 36 665
Acceptance Rate 97.3% 62.8%
Enrolled % 47.2% 30.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.1 3.08
Typical High School Grades B B
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Moderate
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 15/20 20/28
SAT Range 890/1160 940/1140
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, 2026 Aug 31, 2026

Academics

 VCM MIAD
Student to Faculty Ratio 4:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (100%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (87%)
  • Communications Technology (7%)
  • Architecture (6%)

Outcomes

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

Diversity

 VCM MIAD
% Men 32% 0%
% Women 39% 0%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 62% 68%
% Black 8% 8%
% Hispanic 21% 13%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 5%
% International 2% 1%
% Unknown Race 2% 0%

Students

 VCM MIAD
% In-State 58% 56%
% Out-of-State 42% 44%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design is larger than than VCM based on total student enrollment (885 students vs. 340 students)

VCM vs. MIAD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, VCM or MIAD?

  • Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design is 41.3% more expensive to attend than VCM for in-state tuition ($40,480.00 vs. $28,640.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 41.3% higher at MIAD than VanderCook College of Music ($40,480.00 vs. $28,640.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at VanderCook College of Music than MIAD ($16,601 vs. $28,024)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at VanderCook College of Music are 39.1% lower than costs at Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design ($7,500 vs. $10,430)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at VanderCook College of Music as Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design students is 10.6% larger than aid received VanderCook College of Music ($24,605 vs. $22,249)

VCM vs. MIAD Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • 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 (97.3%) than MIAD (62.8%)

VCM vs. MIAD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, VCM 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 VCM.

  • The graduation rate at MIAD is higher than VanderCook College of Music (57% vs. 45%)
  • Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design and VCM graduates both have the same median student loan debt upon graduation ($27,000 vs. $27,000)
  • Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design and VCM graduates both have a median monthly student loan payment upon graduation ($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/