At $25,935/yr net price, Minneapolis College of Art and Design graduates earn $40,873/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $6,873/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $25,935 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $103,740 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $40,873/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$6,873/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 15.1 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 69.2% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $27,000 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $20,912/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $20,630/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $22,690/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $28,900/yr |
| $110,001+ | $31,859/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine and Studio Arts. | Master | $28,236 | |
| Design and Applied Arts. | Bachelor | $25,967 | $26,950 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts. | Bachelor | $25,967 | $27,000 |
| Fine and Studio Arts. | Bachelor | $22,192 | $27,000 |
| Graphic Communications. | Bachelor | $18,771 | $27,000 |
The Risk Factor
69.2% of students at Minneapolis College of Art and Design graduate within 6 years. A significant share of students finish, but roughly 31% do not complete their degree.
Analysis
Minneapolis College of Art and Design puts you in a tough spot financially. You pay a net price near $26,000 a year, and median earnings ten years out land under $41,000. That gap is the core problem: you borrow $27,000 to leave with a degree that pays like an entry-level job for a decade.
Every listed program is an art or design bachelor's, and none of them clear $26,000 in early-career earnings. Design and Applied Arts and Film/Video top the list, but both still sit below what you paid per year to attend. Graphic Communications is the weakest at under $19,000, which is below what many jobs pay without any degree. Fine and Studio Arts falls in between and carries the same $27,000 debt load as the rest. There is no high-paying major here to offset the low ones.
The specific risk is that your debt is fixed while your income is not. You take on the same $27,000 whether you study design or fine art, but the payoff is thin across the board. A 69% grad rate means roughly one in three of you leaves without the degree while still owing money.
Income barely changes your net price. If your family earns under $48,000, you pay around $20,600 a year, only about $11,000 less than families over $110,000 pay. The discount for low income is small, so this is expensive for you regardless of what your parents make.
This school fits you if you are committed to an art or design career and have outside funding to keep debt low. If you need your degree to produce a salary that clears your loans within a few years, the numbers here do not work, and you should look elsewhere.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Minneapolis College of Art and Design worth the cost?
With graduates earning $40,873 ten years after graduation and typical debt around $27,000, MCAD provides decent ROI for an art school. However, some programs like Graphic Communications show significantly lower earnings at $18,771, making careful program selection important.
What are the highest paying programs at Minneapolis College of Art and Design?
Fine and Studio Arts leads at $28,236 in median earnings, followed by Design and Applied Arts at $25,967. Graphic Communications shows the lowest earnings at $18,771, which may struggle to justify the investment.
How much debt do Minneapolis College of Art and Design graduates typically have?
MCAD graduates carry a median debt of $27,000, which is manageable compared to many art schools. With the school's net price of $25,935 per year, students who graduate in four years can keep debt relatively controlled.
Does Minneapolis College of Art and Design have good job prospects after graduation?
MCAD's 69% graduation rate is solid for an art school, and the $40,873 median earnings after ten years are competitive in the creative fields. Art careers typically start lower and grow over time, so these numbers reflect realistic expectations.