Minneapolis College of Art and Design
Minneapolis, Minnesota · Private · 705 undergraduates · mcad.edu
Test policy (fall 2027)
Test optional
Sending scores is your choice
Admit rate
48%
of applicants
SAT (middle 50%)
1130 to 1340
of enrolled freshmen
Annual cost (2027-28)
$68,380Est.Estimate
before aid
Your chances and merit aid at Minneapolis College of Art and Design
See where you stand for admission, how much merit aid you could get, and what you'd pay after it.
We started you at a typical enrolled freshman here. Move the sliders to match you.
Your admission chances
48% of applicants admitted
Target
Your SAT is inside the range where the middle half of enrolled freshmen scored.
Estimated merit aid
a year
Your cost after merit aid
$68,380
a year in 2027-28, from a $68,380 sticker price
What to do with your 1240
Send your score
Your SAT is at or above the median of freshmen who sent scores (1240).
Reach, target and likely are a rough guide from your test score and how selective the college is. Admissions also weigh your courses, grades, essays and activities. Merit aid figures are estimates, before any need-based aid.
Admissions
Test policy for fall 2027
Test optional
You choose whether to send an SAT or ACT score. If you send one, it's considered.
Source: Undergraduate Application Checklist | MCAD · Checked October 17, 2026
Application deadlines
- Dec1Early Action · December 1, 2026Apply early and hear early. Not binding.
- Feb15Priority deadline · February 15, 2027Apply by this date for the best chance at admission and scholarships.
- Apr1Regular Decision · April 1, 2027The standard deadline.
Who gets in
48%
of applicants are admitted.
Test scores of enrolled freshmen
The shaded part shows the middle half of enrolled freshmen who sent scores: a quarter scored below it and a quarter above.
SAT total 1130 to 1340
Reading and Writing 600 to 710
Math 530 to 630
ACT composite 21 to 29
Cost and financial aid
The sticker price is what a year costs before any aid. Most students pay less after grants and scholarships.
Sticker price for 2027-28Estimate
$68,380
a year
- Tuition$50,850
What families actually pay
What a year cost on average after grants and scholarships, for freshmen who got federal aid in 2023-24, by family income.
- $0 to $30,000$18,437
- $30,001 to $48,000$18,488
- $48,001 to $75,000$22,186
- $75,001 to $110,000$28,228
- Over $110,000$37,629
Financial aidEstimate
71%
of a student's financial need is covered, on average
100%
of freshmen receive grants
$29,682
average grant to freshmen
AP credit
AP exams that earn credit can replace college courses, so you pay for fewer of them and may graduate sooner.
AP exams that earn credit
36 of 36
Earn credit with a score of 3
None
You need a 4 or 5 for credit here.
A 3-credit course is worth
about $5,090Est.Estimate
at 2027-28 tuition
Credit for each AP exam
| Exam | Score needed | Credits | Counts as |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-D Art and Design | 4 | 3 | Studio Arts Elective |
| 3-D Art and Design | 4 | 3 | Studio Arts Elective |
| African American Studies | 4 | 3 | Liberal Arts Elective |
| Art History | 4 | 3 | Liberal Arts Elective |
| Biology | 4 | 3 | Liberal Arts Elective |
| Calculus AB | 4 | 3 | Liberal Arts Elective |
| Calculus BC | 4 | 3 | Liberal Arts Elective |
| Calculus BC: AB Subscore | 4 | 3 | Liberal Arts Elective |
| Chemistry | 4 | 3 | Liberal Arts Elective |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 4 | 3 | Liberal Arts Elective |
| Comparative Government and Politics | 4 | 3 | Liberal Arts Elective |
| Drawing | 4 | 3 | Studio Arts Elective |
| English Language and Composition | 4 | 3 | Liberal Arts Elective |
| English Literature and Composition | 4 | 3 | Writing and Inquiry |
| Environmental Science | 4 | 3 | Liberal Arts Elective |
| European History | 4 | 3 | Liberal Arts Elective |
| French Language and Culture | 4 | 3 | Liberal Arts Elective |
| German Language and Culture | 4 | 3 | Liberal Arts Elective |
| Human Geography | 4 | 3 | Liberal Arts Elective |
| Italian Language and Culture | 4 | 3 | Liberal Arts Elective |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 4 | 3 | Liberal Arts Elective |
| Latin | 4 | 3 | Liberal Arts Elective |
| Macroeconomics | 4 | 3 | Liberal Arts Elective |
| Microeconomics | 4 | 3 | Liberal Arts Elective |
| Physics 1 | 4 | 3 | Liberal Arts Elective |
| Physics 2 | 4 | 3 | Liberal Arts Elective |
| Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 4 | 3 | Liberal Arts Elective |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 4 | 3 | Liberal Arts Elective |
| Pre-Calculus | 4 | 3 | Liberal Arts Elective |
| Psychology | 4 | 3 | Liberal Arts Elective |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 4 | 3 | Liberal Arts Elective |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 4 | 3 | Liberal Arts Elective |
| Statistics | 4 | 3 | Liberal Arts Elective |
| United States Government and Politics | 4 | 3 | Liberal Arts Elective |
| United States History | 4 | 3 | Liberal Arts Elective |
| World History: Modern | 4 | 3 | Liberal Arts Elective |
Source: AP credit policy
After college
Graduate within 6 years
54%
Come back for a second year
75%
Typical earnings
$50,254
a year, 10 years after starting here
- Minneapolis College of Art and Design$39,848
- All colleges$55,092
Median yearly earnings of graduates five years after finishing a bachelor's in this major. 3 majors here have earnings data.
Keep exploring
Figures marked Estimate are our estimates, not numbers the college published. Check each college's own site before you apply. SAT is a trademark of College Board, and ACT is a trademark of ACT, Inc. Sharp is not affiliated with either, or with Minneapolis College of Art and Design. The Minneapolis College of Art and Design logo is a trademark of the college.