MCAD vs. AMU

Should I go to Minneapolis College of Art and Design or Ave Maria University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if MCAD or AMU 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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Minneapolis College of Art and Design vs. Ave Maria University comparison
Minneapolis College of Art and Design Ave Maria University College 3 College 4
Minneapolis College of Art and Design Ave Maria University
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Overview

 MCAD AMU
Location Minneapolis, MN Ave Maria, FL
Setting Large City Distant Rural
Enrollment 821 1,310
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #598
Religious Affiliation - Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website mcad.edu avemaria.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 MCAD AMU
Tuition (In State) $42,110 $25,168
Tuition (Out of State) $42,110 $25,168
Room & Board $7,290 $13,402
Avg Net Price $28,443 $21,078
Avg Grant Aid $26,025 $21,341
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

 MCAD AMU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 668 3,404
Admitted 380 1,505
Acceptance Rate 56.9% 44.2%
Enrolled % 42.1% 23.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.29 3.6
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Average
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 19/27 21/28
SAT Range 1170/1380 1018/1240
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, 2024

Academics

 MCAD AMU
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Visual and Performing Arts (73%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Communications Technology (9%)
  • Precision Production Trades (3%)
  • Communication (3%)
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (22%)
  • Social Sciences (20%)
  • English and Literature (12%)
  • Philosophy and Religious Studies (11%)
  • Biology (9%)

Outcomes

 MCAD AMU
Graduation Rate 70% 41%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,500 N/A
Making Student Loan Payments 74% 53%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,750 $22,428
Median Loan Payment $266 $231

Diversity

 MCAD AMU
% Men 31% 46%
% Women 69% 54%
Racial Diversity High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 59% 61%
% Black 4% 5%
% Hispanic 6% 15%
% Native American 1% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 0%
% International 3% 2%
% Unknown Race 16% 13%

Students

 MCAD AMU
% In-State 61% 32%
% Out-of-State 34% 66%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Ave Maria University is larger than than MCAD based on total student enrollment (1,310 students vs. 821 students)

MCAD vs. AMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MCAD or AMU?

  • Minneapolis College of Art and Design is 67.3% more expensive to attend than AMU for in-state tuition ($42,110.00 vs. $25,168.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 67.3% higher at MCAD than Ave Maria University ($42,110.00 vs. $25,168.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Ave Maria University than MCAD ($21,078 vs. $28,443)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Minneapolis College of Art and Design are 83.8% lower than costs at Ave Maria University ($7,290 vs. $13,402)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Minneapolis College of Art and Design as Ave Maria University (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Minneapolis College of Art and Design students is 21.9% larger than aid received Ave Maria University ($26,025 vs. $21,341)

MCAD vs. AMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Ave Maria University (1098) is 2 points higher than at MCAD (1096)
  • Incoming MCAD students have at the same average ACT score (24) as students at AMU (24)
  • Accepted freshman AMU students have a 0.31 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at MCAD (3.29)
  • MCAD has a higher acceptance rate (56.9%) than AMU (44.2%)

MCAD vs. AMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, MCAD or AMU? 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 AMU and MCAD.

  • The graduation rate at MCAD is higher than Ave Maria University (70% vs. 41%)
  • Ave Maria University students graduate with a $3,322 lower median federal student loan debt than MCAD graduates. ($22,428 vs. $25,750)
  • AMU graduates are paying $35 less per month on federal student loans than MCAD graduates. ($231 vs. $266)
  • More MCAD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AMU students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 53%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/