MIAD vs. UW-La Crosse

Comparable Facts

Compare Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design in Milwaukee, WI with University of Wisconsin La Crosse in La Crosse, WI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Wisconsin La Crosse is larger than MIAD based on total student enrollment (10,446 students vs. 838 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design is located in Milwaukee, WI (Large City setting); University of Wisconsin La Crosse is in La Crosse, WI (Small City setting).
• Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Wisconsin La Crosse is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design 11:1; University of Wisconsin La Crosse 20:1.

MIAD vs. UW-La Crosse Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MIAD or UW-La Crosse? 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 University of Wisconsin La Crosse than MIAD ($14,712 vs. $27,579).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Wisconsin La Crosse are 20.6% lower than at Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design ($8,702 vs. $10,955).
• Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design is 334.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than UW-La Crosse (about $33,673 more per year; $43,743.00 vs. $10,070.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 124.1% higher at MIAD than at University of Wisconsin La Crosse (about $24,226 more per year; $43,743.00 vs. $19,517.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design than at University of Wisconsin La Crosse (100% vs. 44%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design students is 478.2% larger than aid received by University of Wisconsin La Crosse students ($26,015 vs. $4,499).

MIAD vs. UW-La Crosse Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, MIAD or UW-La Crosse? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between UW-La Crosse and MIAD.

• Incoming MIAD students have the same typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate; 24) as students at UW-La Crosse (24).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design 940/1140.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design 20/28; University of Wisconsin La Crosse 22/26.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: MIAD - Test optional; UW-La Crosse - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: MIAD Aug 31, 2027.
• Enrolled freshman UW-La Crosse students have a 0.52 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at MIAD (3.08).
• UW-La Crosse has a higher acceptance rate (75.5%) than MIAD (60.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 33.2% at MIAD vs. 43.2% at UW-La Crosse.

MIAD vs. UW-La Crosse Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MIAD and UW-La Crosse? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• University of Wisconsin La Crosse's six-year graduation rate (68%) is higher than Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design's (57%).
• Graduates from University of Wisconsin La Crosse earn a median of about $13,500 more per year than MIAD graduates about ten years after starting college ($49,500 vs. $36,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Wisconsin La Crosse graduates have a $3,750 lower median loan debt than MIAD graduates ($23,250 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, UW-La Crosse graduates have an estimated $39 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than MIAD graduates ($240 vs. $279).
• More UW-La Crosse graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MIAD students, three years after graduation. (80% 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.