MCAD vs. Parkside

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

MCAD Parkside
Location Minneapolis, MN Kenosha, WI
Setting Large City Midsize Suburban
Enrollment 821 3,947
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #965
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website mcad.edu uwp.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

MCAD Parkside
Tuition (In State) $42,110 $6,298
Tuition (Out of State) $42,110 $14,568
Room & Board $7,290 $7,966
Avg Net Price $28,443 $8,510
Avg Grant Aid $26,025 $7,098
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 67%

Admission

MCAD Parkside
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 668 2,893
Admitted 380 2,107
Acceptance Rate 56.9% 72.8%
Enrolled % 42.1% 21%
Avg High School GPA 3.29 3.31
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 19/27 17/23
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 Parkside
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Visual and Performing Arts (73%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Communications Technology (9%)
  • Precision Production Trades (3%)
  • Communication (3%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (12%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • Biology (8%)

Outcomes

MCAD Parkside
Graduation Rate 70% 28%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,500 $41,000
Making Student Loan Payments 74% 54%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,750 $22,965
Median Loan Payment $266 $237

Diversity

MCAD Parkside
% Men 31% 45%
% Women 69% 55%
Racial Diversity High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 59% 68%
% Black 4% 9%
% Hispanic 6% 13%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 4%
% International 3% 2%
% Unknown Race 16% 0%

Students

MCAD Parkside
% In-State 61% 86%
% Out-of-State 34% 12%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • University of Wisconsin Parkside is larger than than MCAD based on total student enrollment (3,947 students vs. 821 students)

MCAD vs. Parkside Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MCAD or Parkside?

  • Minneapolis College of Art and Design is 568.6% more expensive to attend than Parkside for in-state tuition ($42,110.00 vs. $6,298.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 189.1% higher at MCAD than University of Wisconsin Parkside ($42,110.00 vs. $14,568.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Wisconsin Parkside than MCAD ($8,510 vs. $28,443)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Minneapolis College of Art and Design are 9.3% lower than costs at University of Wisconsin Parkside ($7,290 vs. $7,966)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Minneapolis College of Art and Design than University of Wisconsin Parkside (100% vs. 67%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Minneapolis College of Art and Design students is 266.7% larger than aid received University of Wisconsin Parkside ($26,025 vs. $7,098)

MCAD vs. Parkside Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Minneapolis College of Art and Design (1096) is 126 points higher than at Parkside (970)
  • Incoming MCAD students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at Parkside (21)
  • Accepted freshman Parkside students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.31) than students at MCAD (3.29)
  • Parkside has a higher acceptance rate (72.8%) than MCAD (56.9%)

MCAD vs. Parkside Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at MCAD is higher than University of Wisconsin Parkside (70% vs. 28%)
  • Graduates from Minneapolis College of Art and Design earn on average $500 more per year than Parkside graduates after ten years. ($41,500 vs. $41,000)
  • University of Wisconsin Parkside students graduate with a $2,785 lower median federal student loan debt than MCAD graduates. ($22,965 vs. $25,750)
  • Parkside graduates are paying $29 less per month on federal student loans than MCAD graduates. ($237 vs. $266)
  • More MCAD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Parkside students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 54%)

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