Minneapolis College of Art and Design is somewhat selective in its admission process. The acceptance rate of Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD) is 56.89%. This means that 57 out of every 100 applicants get admitted.
How Competitive are Minneapolis College of Art and Design Admissions?
- Competitive: Applicants need good academics and extracurriculars.
- GPA, SAT/ACT, and AP/IB courses significantly impact admission chances.
- A holistic review considers essays, recommendations, and leadership roles.
To secure admission, you must convince the admission staff that you are both mentally and physically fit for the course of study. More importantly, your GPA, class performance, SAT/ACT scores, and IB or AP courses can help your application stand out. Additionally, if you do not perform well in one area, you can showcase your strengths in other areas, as the MCAD is not very strict in its admission process, so improving other areas will help you secure admission.
As the acceptance rate is above 50%, you still have a chance if your GPA is not excellent. You can make up for a lower GPA by scoring high on the SAT, and ACT, and taking IB or AP courses.
Additionally, a well-written letter of recommendation, your participation in co-curricular and extracurricular activities, and your interpersonal communication skills can enhance your admission chances.
Minneapolis College of Art and Design Admission Requirements
MCAD GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at MCAD is 3.29. Admission is competitive, but not extremely selective.
A mix of A’s and B’s is acceptable, and taking AP/IB courses helps.
If your GPA is between 2.99 and 3.29, you should aim for a high SAT or ACT score. A minimum GPA of 2.89 is required.
Can I Get Into MCAD Without SAT Or ACT?: Minneapolis College of Art and Design considers admission test scores (SAT/ACT) during the application process but does not require them. Although it is not strictly a requirement, the test scores are considered for admission decisions. Hence, it is advisable to prepare well for the test and submit the best scores. Normally, students may appear in the test 4 to 5 times to improve their scores. Hence you are required to plan early and appear in upcoming SAT / ACT tests. Check the schedule of the test and plan accordingly. It is advisable to appear multiple times in the test unless you score well above the average SAT / ACT score of the admitted students, as given below.
Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD) SAT Requirements
Each school has different requirements for SAT and ACT testing. Only a few schools require the SAT or ACT, but many consider your scores if you choose to submit them. The test score policy is already mentioned.
Minneapolis College of Art and Design Average SAT Score: 1234
The average SAT score of the admitted students at Minneapolis College of Art and Design is 1234 on the 1600 SAT scale.
Minneapolis College of Art and Design SAT Competitiveness
This score makes it slightly Competitive for SAT test scores. You need to well to score 1234 on the SAT.
Key Insight:Aim for the 75th percentile (1380 SAT or 27 ACT) to stand out. If your scores are below average, consider retaking the test. Minneapolis College of Art and Design allows Score Choice for the SAT and Superscoring for the ACT, giving you flexibility to submit your best scores.
If your score is below 1170, you must retake the SAT to improve your chances of admission to MCAD. It is not strange to appear multiple times for the SAT to improve scores. Colleges don’t mind if you have appeared multiple times, but not more than 5 times.
Minneapolis College of Art and Design SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Math | 610 | 570 | 650 |
| SAT Reading | 665 | 600 | 730 |
| SAT Composite | 1234 | 1170 | 1380 |
It means that if you have scored less than 1170 then you are below most of the admitted students at MCAD and your chances of admission are very few. But if you have scored 1380 or more, your chances of admission are higher. 25th percentile means that only 25% of the admitted students have fewer scores than this score. 75th percentile marks the score of the upper 25% of the students. View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1250
Can I get into Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD) with a 1400 SAT?
With a 1400 SAT Score, your chances of admission at Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD) are good but the admission staff at MCAD tests your all-around personality and your academics. Your GPA, Class performance, SAT/ACT/Test scores, and AP or IB Courses can help your application stand out. Co-curricular and extra-curricular activities and interpersonal communication skills are very important. Additionally, if you cannot perform well in one area, you have a chance to showcase your strengths and abilities in other areas, improving other areas will help you secure admission. You need to show better performance in all areas. An equally high GPA, taking IB or AP Courses and your role in leadership activities will increase your chances of admission. However, if you equally compete well in all other areas, your chances of admission are high.
Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD) ACT Requirements
The average ACT Score at MCAD is 23.
Minneapolis College of Art and Design ACT Competitiveness
This score makes Minneapolis College of Art and Design slightly Competitive for ACT scores. You need to well to score 23 on the ACT.
Minneapolis College of Art and Design ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Math | 21 | 16 | 25 |
| ACT English | 25 | 19 | 31 |
| ACT Composite | 23 | 19 | 27 |
Can I get into Minneapolis College of Art and Design with a 27 ACT?
With a 27 ACT Score, your chances of admission at Minneapolis College of Art and Design are good but the admission staff does not check your ACT Score only. The College Admission process tests your all-around personality and academics. Your GPA, Class performance, SAT/ACT/Test scores, and AP or IB Courses can help your application stand out. Co-curricular and extra-curricular activities and interpersonal communication skills are very important. Additionally, if you cannot perform well in one area, you have a chance to showcase your strengths and abilities in other areas, improving other areas will help you secure admission.
SAT Vs ACT: Which score to send
You can compare your scores in SAT and ACT to the average SAT and ACT Scores of the admitted students at Minneapolis College of Art and Design. More importantly, comparing your scores with the 25th and 75th percentiles of SAT and ACT scores will give you a better understanding of where you stand. If your score on the SAT is near the 75th percentile SAT score, then you must send your SAT score. If your ACT score is near the 75th percentile, then you must send your ACT Score.
But there is more, if both of your scores are in the same range, then it is better to send an ACT Score, as in the case of ACT, you can control which score to send as opposed to SAT.
Here is how: When sending the ACT Score, you can decide which score you want to send to the colleges. You could take 8 ACT tests, and only send your highest one. This is not the case with the SAT, where your score report mentions all of your attempts.
View a list of all colleges with an average ACT score of 23.MCAD Profile
Name: Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD)
City: Minneapolis
URL: https://mcad.edu/
State: Minnesota
Type: Non-Profit Private
Zip: 55404
Campus: Main
Accredited by: Higher Learning Commission (NCACHE)
How much does a degree from MCAD Cost?
The average annual cost of the degree at Minneapolis College of Art and Design is USD: 54675. As most of the students receive Pell Grants and Federal Grants the average annual net price a student has to pay at Minneapolis College of Art and Design is much less than this.
How can I get a scholarship?
39.41% of the students are receiving Pell Grant and 88.44 percent are receiving Federal Grants. So it is a better choice to go to MCAD and apply for PELL or federal loan grants.
At Minneapolis College of Art and Design, you will have no problem receiving any scholarship from the federal government. Fill in the FAFSA application form at the earliest and enlist MCAD as your choice in the form.
How much a MCAD Graduate make?
The average annual salary of the MCAD graduate after 4-6 years of graduation is USD 40873. An average MCAD graduate makes this much after 10 years of enrollment (4-6 years after graduation).
The average annual income of a graduate in the United States is USD: 40595
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than Minneapolis College of Art and Design. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower than the requirements of Minneapolis College of Art and Design, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham-Southern College | Birmingham-Southern College, AL | 1218 | 26 |
| University of Mobile | University of Mobile, AL | 1220 | 24 |
| John Brown University | John Brown University, AR | 1218 | 26 |
| Dominican University of California | Dominican University of California, CA | 1192 | 24 |
| University of Redlands | University of Redlands, CA | 1215 | 28 |
| Colorado State University-Fort Collins | Colorado State University-Fort Collins, CO | 1199 | 26 |
| University of Hartford | University of Hartford, CT | 1201 | 26 |
| Quinnipiac University | Quinnipiac University, CT | 1216 | 27 |
| Florida Institute of Technology | Florida Institute of Technology, FL | 1213 | 25 |
| Florida Southern College | Florida Southern College, FL | 1206 | 26 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as Minneapolis College of Art and Design. If your SAT or ACT score are competitive for Minneapolis College of Art and Design, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samford University | Samford University, AL | 1227 | 26 |
| University of Arizona | University of Arizona, AZ | 1229 | 25 |
| Whittier College | Whittier College, CA | 1231 | 27 |
| Eckerd College | Eckerd College, FL | 1238 | 27 |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach, FL | 1237 | 26 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than Minneapolis College of Art and Design. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Alabama at Birmingham | University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL | 1291 | 27 |
| The University of Alabama | The University of Alabama, AL | 1304 | 27 |
| Auburn University | Auburn University, AL | 1292 | 27 |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott, AZ | 1278 | 28 |
| University of the Pacific | University of the Pacific, CA | 1276 | 29 |
Degree Programs
Bachelor Degree Programs
- Design and Applied Arts
- Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations
- Film/Video and Photographic Arts
- Fine and Studio Arts
- Graphic Communications
- Radio, Television, and Digital Communication
- Woodworking
Masters Degree Programs
Full list of All degree programs offered by Minneapolis College of Art and Design.
Data on this page is sourced from IPEDS, College Scorecard's latest data as provided in 2024, US Department of Education's latest 2024 statistics, Institute's official websites and printed material as well as additional publicly available sources.