Minneapolis College of Art and Design
Bottom line: A C- overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 8.2× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $8.2 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $8.2 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $857,439.
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What The Data Says
A C- overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
Every $1 invested returns $8.2 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Minneapolis College of Art and Design Matters
Minneapolis College of Art and Design is a private special-focus institution in Minneapolis, MN and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: measurable returns for the students it serves.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private Special-Focus Institution
- Carnegie Class
- Special Focus
- Enrollment
- 705
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Visual & Performing Arts, Business & Marketing, Communications, Precision Production
Why students choose Minneapolis College of Art and Design
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Selective — admits about 48% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1130–1340. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $29,926 a year after grants and scholarships — 75% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $40,873 ten years after enrolling — 0% above the typical college, against $27,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.3% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 59% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.53 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Minneapolis College of Art and Design is a great fit for students passionate about creativity and the arts. With an acceptance rate of 48%, it's accessible yet selective, attracting those who are serious about pursuing degrees in Visual & Performing Arts, Business & Marketing, Communications, and Precision Production. The school stands out for its focus on cultivating individual talent in a supportive environment, making it an appealing choice for aspiring artists and designers.
After graduation, students can expect to earn an average of $40,873 within ten years. This figure gives a glimpse into the potential financial outcomes for graduates. While the graduation rate sits at 59%, many find their footing in creative fields, leveraging their specialized skills in a competitive job market. The affordability of education here is also worth noting, as 42% of students receive Pell Grants, which help ease the financial burden.
When we look at the numbers, the net price after aid is around $29,926, with a median debt of $27,000. This suggests that students who thrive here often come from diverse backgrounds and are committed to their craft. In a city known for its vibrant art scene, those who embrace the culture and community can find fulfilling paths after graduation.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Minneapolis College of Art and Design is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Minneapolis College of Art and Design? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Minneapolis College of Art and Design reviews applicants selectively, with an acceptance rate near 48%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,161. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 59%.
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Minneapolis College of Art and Design? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
When weighing the true cost of attending Minneapolis College of Art and Design, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $45,484 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $29,926 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $23,662 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $27,000.
What Families Actually Pay
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Minneapolis College of Art and Design Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Minneapolis College of Art and Design report median earnings of $40,873; prospective students should weigh that figure against the program's cost when calculating return on investment.
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
How Minneapolis Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Minneapolis College of Art and Design Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Minneapolis College of Art and Design delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $29,926/year ($119,704 total). Graduates earn $40,873 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $977,143 in total earnings — a net gain of $857,439 (8.2× your investment). The median debt is $27,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 59% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Minneapolis College of Art and Design Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Minneapolis College of Art and Design is a genuine engine of upward mobility: its mobility rate — the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top — is 1.31%, well above the typical college. About 6.8% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 19.5% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $92,900, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
Top Programs
The fields Minneapolis College of Art and Design awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Minneapolis College of Art and Design's most popular programs, with median pay and projected growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Minneapolis College of Art and Design? Acceptance Rate & Requirements +
As a private institution in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Minneapolis College of Art and Design reviews applicants selectively, with an acceptance rate near 48%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,161. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 59%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Minneapolis College of Art and Design? Tuition, Net Price & Aid +
When weighing the true cost of attending Minneapolis College of Art and Design, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $45,484 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $29,926 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $23,662 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $27,000.
Is Minneapolis College of Art and Design Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI +
Ten years out, alumni of Minneapolis College of Art and Design report median earnings of $40,873; prospective students should weigh that figure against the program's cost when calculating return on investment.
Does Minneapolis College of Art and Design Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes +
Minneapolis College of Art and Design is a genuine engine of upward mobility: its mobility rate — the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top — is 1.31%, well above the typical college. About 6.8% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 19.5% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $92,900, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Minneapolis College of Art and Design? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks +
Social capital — the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility — runs high at Minneapolis College of Art and Design, with an economic connectedness score of 1.53 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 9% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Minneapolis College of Art and Design.
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Minneapolis College of Art and Design? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital — the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility — runs high at Minneapolis College of Art and Design, with an economic connectedness score of 1.53 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 9% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note