Central College vs. MIAD

Central College and Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Central College
Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: MIAD (60.5% admitted vs 86.2%). Typical SAT 1040 vs 1090.
  • Cheaper after aid: Central College. Average net price is $23,848 vs $27,579 at MIAD.
  • Graduation: Central College 63% vs MIAD 57%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Central College $48,000 vs MIAD $36,000 (median).
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Key differences

Central College Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design
Acceptance rate
MIAD more selective
Central College86.2%
MIAD60.5%
SAT range (middle 50%)
MIAD higher
Central College1056-1120
MIAD940-1140
Average net price
Central College $3,731 less
Central College$23,848
MIAD$27,579
In-state tuition
Central College $22,755 less
Central College$20,988
MIAD$43,743
Out-of-state tuition
Central College $22,755 less
Central College$20,988
MIAD$43,743
Graduation rate
Central College +6 pts
Central College63%
MIAD57%
Median earnings (10 years)
Central College +$12,000
Central College$48,000
MIAD$36,000

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Central College 1,706
  • MIAD 1,039
  • Admitted
  • Central College 1,470
  • MIAD 629
  • Acceptance rate
  • Central College 86.2%
  • MIAD 60.5%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Central College 21%
  • MIAD 33.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Central College 1090
  • MIAD 1040
  • Typical ACT score
  • Central College 23
  • MIAD 24
  • Average high school GPA
  • Central College 3.52
  • MIAD 3.08
  • Typical high school grades
  • Central College A-
  • MIAD B
  • Admissions standards
  • Central College Easy
  • MIAD Moderate
  • Applicant competition
  • Central College
  • MIAD Low
  • SAT range
  • Central College 1056-1120
  • MIAD 940-1140
  • ACT range
  • Central College 20-26
  • MIAD 20-28
  • Submit test scores
  • Central College Test optional
  • MIAD Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • Central College
  • MIAD Aug 31, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Central College $20,988
  • MIAD $43,743
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Central College $20,988
  • MIAD $43,743
  • Room & board
  • Central College $12,060
  • MIAD $10,955
  • Average net price
  • Central College $23,848
  • MIAD $27,579
  • Average grant aid
  • Central College $13,925
  • MIAD $26,015
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Central College 100%
  • MIAD 100%
  • Graduation rate
  • Central College 63%
  • MIAD 57%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Central College $48,000
  • MIAD $36,000
  • Making student loan payments
  • Central College 78%
  • MIAD 59%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Central College $27,000
  • MIAD $27,000
  • Median loan payment
  • Central College $279
  • MIAD $279
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Central College 11:1
  • MIAD 11:1
  • Popular majors
  • Central College
    • Business (17%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (13%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
  • MIAD
    • Visual and Performing Arts (87%)
    • Communications Technology (7%)
    • Architecture (6%)
  • Location
  • Central College Pella, IA
  • MIAD Milwaukee, WI
  • Setting
  • Central College Distant Town
  • MIAD Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Central College 1,084
  • MIAD 838
  • Type
  • Central College Private 4 Year
  • MIAD Private 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Central College #506
  • MIAD

Comparable Facts

Compare Central College in Pella, IA with Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design in Milwaukee, WI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Central College is larger than MIAD based on total student enrollment (1,084 students vs. 838 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Central College is located in Pella, IA (Distant Town setting); Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design is in Milwaukee, WI (Large City setting).
  • Central 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: Central College 11:1; Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design 11:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design are 9.2% lower than at Central College ($10,955 vs. $12,060).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 108.4% higher at MIAD than at Central College (about $22,755 more per year; $43,743 vs. $20,988).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Central 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 86.8% larger than aid received by Central College students ($26,015 vs. $13,925).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 1 point higher at MIAD than at Central College (24 vs. 23, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Central College and MIAD.
  • Typical fall application deadline: MIAD Aug 31, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Central College average a 3.52 high school GPA, 0.44 higher than at MIAD (3.08).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21% at Central College vs. 33.2% at MIAD.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design and Central College graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design and Central College graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($279 vs. $279).
  • More Central College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MIAD students, three years after graduation (78% vs. 59%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

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