MIAD vs. UWM

Comparable Facts

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

University of Wisconsin Milwaukee is larger than MIAD based on total student enrollment (22,450 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 Milwaukee is in Milwaukee, WI (Large City setting).
• Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design 11:1; University of Wisconsin Milwaukee 17:1.

MIAD vs. UWM Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MIAD or UWM? 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 Milwaukee than MIAD ($16,263 vs. $27,579).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design are 6.2% lower than at University of Wisconsin Milwaukee ($10,955 vs. $11,684).
• Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design is 320.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than UWM (about $33,345 more per year; $43,743.00 vs. $10,398.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 95.3% higher at MIAD than at University of Wisconsin Milwaukee (about $21,345 more per year; $43,743.00 vs. $22,398.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design than at University of Wisconsin Milwaukee (100% vs. 91%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design students is 309.9% larger than aid received by University of Wisconsin Milwaukee students ($26,015 vs. $6,347).

MIAD vs. UWM Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, MIAD or UWM? 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 UWM and MIAD.

• Incoming MIAD students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (24 vs. 21 at UWM).
• 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 Milwaukee 19/24.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: MIAD - Test optional; UWM - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: MIAD Aug 31, 2027; UWM Sep 1, 2026.
• Enrolled freshman UWM students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.16) than students at MIAD (3.08).
• UWM has a higher acceptance rate (90.7%) than MIAD (60.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 33.2% at MIAD vs. 23.8% at UWM.

MIAD vs. UWM Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MIAD and UWM? 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.

• Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design's six-year graduation rate (57%) is higher than University of Wisconsin Milwaukee's (40%).
• Graduates from University of Wisconsin Milwaukee earn a median of about $10,100 more per year than MIAD graduates about ten years after starting college ($46,100 vs. $36,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Wisconsin Milwaukee graduates have a $2,042 lower median loan debt than MIAD graduates ($24,958 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, UWM graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than MIAD graduates ($258 vs. $279).
• More UWM graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MIAD students, three years after graduation. (62% 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.