[updated for 2024-2025 admission data]
How hard is MCAD to get into?
This page provides the latest information on Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD)'s admission process, acceptance rate, and student profile. MCAD's acceptance rate is 48.48% for 2024-2025 admission. A total of 854 students applied and 414 were admitted to the school. It means that your chances of getting into MCAD is not low.
To apply to MCAD, recommendations and personal statement (or essay) are required to submit. The SAT and ACT score is not required, but considered for admission. In addition, english proficiency test score is also considered (required).
- The median SAT score is 1220 and the ACT score is 23 at MCAD.
- MCAD's yield rate is 38.89%, which is slightly higher by 4.90 percentage points (approximately 14.4% higher) compared to similar colleges with acceptance rates between 40% and 50% (average yield: 33.99%). You can compare colleges with similar acceptance rates to MCAD at colleges with acceptance rates between 40% and 50%.
Admission Statistics
For the academic year 2024-25, MCAD's acceptance rate is 48.48% and the yield (also known as enrollment rate) is 38.89%. 209 men and 614 women applied to MCAD and 93 men and 321 women students were accepted.
Among them, 44 men and 117 women were enrolled in MCAD. You can explore the MCAD's admission rates and SAT score trends over the past decade, including year-by-year data and analysis, by visiting Admission Trends page.
Median SAT and ACT Score
For the academic year 2025, 6 students (4% of enrolled students) submitted SAT scores and 34 students (21% of enrolled students) submitted ACT scores as part of the admission process at MCAD.
The median SAT score for admitted students is 1,220, including 630 in SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW) and 590 in SAT Math. The 75th percentile SAT EBRW score is 710 and the 25th percentile is 600. For SAT Math, the 75th percentile score is 630 and the 25th percentile is 530.
The median ACT composite score is 23, with a 75th percentile score of 29 and a 25th percentile score of 21 at MCAD. The median ACT Math score is 24 and the median ACT English score is 24.
How competitive is MCAD's score?
The SAT and ACT scores at Minneapolis College of Art and Design are similar to the average score compared to similar colleges (SAT: 1,216, ACT: 25 - private (not-for-profit) school of art, music, and design).
Application Requirements
It requires to submit High School GPA, High School Record (or Transcript), Recommendations, Formal Demonstration of Competencies, English Proficiency Test, and Personal statement or essay to its applicants.
The SAT and ACT test score is not required, but considered in admission process at MCAD. The english proficiency test is required .
The next table summarizes the application requirements to apply Minneapolis College of Art and Design.
For more admission information such as minimum GPA and deadlines, see its online application page .
General Admissions Information
The following provides general admission information for applying to MCAD:
- Open Admission Policy: No
- Undergraduate Application Fees: -
- Graduate Application Fees: -
- Admission Information: https://mcad.edu/admissions-aid
- Online Application: https://mcad.edu/application/portal
- Calendar System: Semester
- Course for High School Students: Not Offered
- Credits Accepted: Advanced placement (AP) Credits
- Degree Offered: Bachelor, Master
MCAD Admission Frequently Asked Questions
MCAD is less competitive, with an acceptance rate of 48.48%.
MCAD recommends submitting SAT or ACT scores, but they are not strictly required for admission. The average SAT score required for admission to MCAD is 1,220, and the average ACT score is 23. Meeting or exceeding these scores will improve your chances of admission.
Yes, MCAD requires applicants to submit a personal essay or statement as part of the application.
Yes, MCAD requires applicants to submit a recommendation letter as part of the application.
MCAD does not require an application fee for undergraduate or graduate admission.
Yes, MCAD requires applicants to submit high school GPA, high school record or transcript as part of the admission process.
Yes, MCAD requires international applicants to submit an English proficiency test (like TOEFL or IELTS) as part of the application.
The institutional SAT code for MCAD is 6411.