Colorado Mesa vs. MIAD

Colorado Mesa University and Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Colorado Mesa University
Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: MIAD (60.5% admitted vs 82%). Typical SAT 1040 vs 1050.
  • Cheaper after aid: Colorado Mesa. Average net price is $15,590 vs $27,579 at MIAD.
  • Graduation: Colorado Mesa 25% vs MIAD 57%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Colorado Mesa $40,000 vs MIAD $36,000 (median).
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Key differences

Colorado Mesa University Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design
Acceptance rate
MIAD more selective
Colorado Mesa82%
MIAD60.5%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Colorado Mesa higher
Colorado Mesa930-1160
MIAD940-1140
Average net price
Colorado Mesa $11,989 less
Colorado Mesa$15,590
MIAD$27,579
In-state tuition
Colorado Mesa $33,816 less
Colorado Mesa$9,927
MIAD$43,743
Out-of-state tuition
Colorado Mesa $18,619 less
Colorado Mesa$25,124
MIAD$43,743
Graduation rate
MIAD +32 pts
Colorado Mesa25%
MIAD57%
Median earnings (10 years)
Colorado Mesa +$4,000
Colorado Mesa$40,000
MIAD$36,000

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Colorado Mesa 12,465
  • MIAD 1,039
  • Admitted
  • Colorado Mesa 10,225
  • MIAD 629
  • Acceptance rate
  • Colorado Mesa 82%
  • MIAD 60.5%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Colorado Mesa 23.1%
  • MIAD 33.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Colorado Mesa 1050
  • MIAD 1040
  • Typical ACT score
  • Colorado Mesa 21
  • MIAD 24
  • Average high school GPA
  • Colorado Mesa 3.28
  • MIAD 3.08
  • Typical high school grades
  • Colorado Mesa B+
  • MIAD B
  • Admissions standards
  • Colorado Mesa Very Easy
  • MIAD Moderate
  • Applicant competition
  • Colorado Mesa
  • MIAD Low
  • SAT range
  • Colorado Mesa 930-1160
  • MIAD 940-1140
  • ACT range
  • Colorado Mesa 18-24
  • MIAD 20-28
  • Submit test scores
  • Colorado Mesa Test optional
  • MIAD Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • Colorado Mesa
  • MIAD Aug 31, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Colorado Mesa $9,927
  • MIAD $43,743
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Colorado Mesa $25,124
  • MIAD $43,743
  • Room & board
  • Colorado Mesa $12,209
  • MIAD $10,955
  • Average net price
  • Colorado Mesa $15,590
  • MIAD $27,579
  • Average grant aid
  • Colorado Mesa $8,285
  • MIAD $26,015
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Colorado Mesa 84%
  • MIAD 100%
  • Graduation rate
  • Colorado Mesa 25%
  • MIAD 57%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Colorado Mesa $40,000
  • MIAD $36,000
  • Making student loan payments
  • Colorado Mesa 48%
  • MIAD 59%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Colorado Mesa $21,750
  • MIAD $27,000
  • Median loan payment
  • Colorado Mesa $224
  • MIAD $279
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Colorado Mesa 18:1
  • MIAD 11:1
  • Popular majors
  • Colorado Mesa
    • Health Professions (26%)
    • Business (17%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (7%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (5%)
  • MIAD
    • Visual and Performing Arts (87%)
    • Communications Technology (7%)
    • Architecture (6%)
  • Location
  • Colorado Mesa Grand Junction, CO
  • MIAD Milwaukee, WI
  • Setting
  • Colorado Mesa Small City
  • MIAD Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Colorado Mesa 9,785
  • MIAD 838
  • Type
  • Colorado Mesa Public 4 Year
  • MIAD Private 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Colorado Mesa #908
  • MIAD

Comparable Facts

Compare Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction, CO with Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design in Milwaukee, WI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Colorado Mesa University is larger than MIAD based on total student enrollment (9,785 students vs. 838 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Colorado Mesa University is located in Grand Junction, CO (Small City setting); Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design is in Milwaukee, WI (Large City setting).
  • Colorado Mesa University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Colorado Mesa University 18:1; 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 10.3% lower than at Colorado Mesa University ($10,955 vs. $12,209).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 74.1% higher at MIAD than at Colorado Mesa University (about $18,619 more per year; $43,743 vs. $25,124).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design than at Colorado Mesa University (100% vs. 84%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design students is 214% larger than aid received by Colorado Mesa University students ($26,015 vs. $8,285).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 3 points higher at MIAD than at Colorado Mesa (24 vs. 21, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Colorado Mesa and MIAD.
  • Typical fall application deadline: MIAD Aug 31, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Colorado Mesa average a 3.28 high school GPA, 0.2 higher than at MIAD (3.08).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 23.1% at Colorado Mesa vs. 33.2% at MIAD.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Colorado Mesa University graduates have a $5,250 lower median loan debt than MIAD graduates ($21,750 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Colorado Mesa graduates have an estimated $55 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than MIAD graduates ($224 vs. $279).
  • More MIAD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Colorado Mesa students, three years after graduation (59% vs. 48%).

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

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