MCAD vs. Cairn

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

 MCAD Cairn
Location Minneapolis, MN Langhorne, PA
Setting Large City Large Suburban
Enrollment 821 1,031
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website mcad.edu cairn.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 MCAD Cairn
Tuition (In State) $42,110 $31,255
Tuition (Out of State) $42,110 $31,255
Room & Board $7,290 $11,764
Avg Net Price $28,443 $25,923
Avg Grant Aid $26,025 $18,376
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 96%

Admission

 MCAD Cairn
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 668 468
Admitted 380 379
Acceptance Rate 56.9% 81%
Enrolled % 42.1% 53.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.29 3.31
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Unavailable
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 19/27
SAT Range 1170/1380
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 Cairn
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Visual and Performing Arts (73%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Communications Technology (9%)
  • Precision Production Trades (3%)
  • Communication (3%)
  • Philosophy and Religious Studies (71%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Business (8%)
  • Human Services (6%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (2%)

Outcomes

 MCAD Cairn
Graduation Rate 70% 63%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,500 $37,000
Making Student Loan Payments 74% 69%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,750 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $266 $279

Diversity

 MCAD Cairn
% Men 31% 47%
% Women 69% 53%
Racial Diversity High Low
HBCU No No
% White 59% 72%
% Black 4% 14%
% Hispanic 6% 7%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 3% 2%
% Unknown Race 16% 0%

Students

 MCAD Cairn
% In-State 61% 60%
% Out-of-State 34% 36%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Cairn University is larger than than MCAD based on total student enrollment (1,031 students vs. 821 students)

MCAD vs. Cairn Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MCAD or Cairn?

  • Minneapolis College of Art and Design is 34.7% more expensive to attend than Cairn for in-state tuition ($42,110.00 vs. $31,255.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 34.7% higher at MCAD than Cairn University ($42,110.00 vs. $31,255.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Cairn University than MCAD ($25,923 vs. $28,443)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Minneapolis College of Art and Design are 61.4% lower than costs at Cairn University ($7,290 vs. $11,764)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Minneapolis College of Art and Design than Cairn University (100% vs. 96%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Minneapolis College of Art and Design students is 41.6% larger than aid received Cairn University ($26,025 vs. $18,376)

MCAD vs. Cairn Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Minneapolis College of Art and Design (1096) is 120 points higher than at Cairn (976)
  • Incoming MCAD students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at Cairn (21)
  • Accepted freshman Cairn students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.31) than students at MCAD (3.29)
  • Cairn has a higher acceptance rate (81%) than MCAD (56.9%)

MCAD vs. Cairn Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at MCAD is higher than Cairn University (70% vs. 63%)
  • Graduates from Minneapolis College of Art and Design earn on average $4,500 more per year than Cairn graduates after ten years. ($41,500 vs. $37,000)
  • Minneapolis College of Art and Design students graduate with a $1,250 lower median federal student loan debt than Cairn graduates. ($25,750 vs. $27,000)
  • MCAD graduates are paying $13 less per month on federal student loans than Cairn graduates. ($266 vs. $279)
  • More MCAD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cairn students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 69%)

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