Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design is a private nonprofit institution offering bachelor's degrees based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It enrolls 837 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
62/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes68
Value6
Affordability43
Selectivity74
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 60.5%, Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design is moderately selective.
Acceptance Rate
60.5%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Getting more selective ↓
5.2 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $26,541 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$26,541
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
37%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
78%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$43,743
Room & Board (on-campus)
$10,955
Room & Board (off-campus)
$10,955
Books & Supplies
$1,100
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$1,874
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$1,874
Total Cost of Attendance
$53,528
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$21,419
$30,001 – $48,000
$22,531
$48,001 – $75,000
$22,440
$75,001 – $110,000
$26,746
Over $110,000
$32,540
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$4,75010%percentile
$7,00025%percentile
$27,000Medianpercentile
$29,50075%percentile
$37,25090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $20,250
↓ $6,750
No Pell $14,125
↓ $12,875
Dependent students $15,750
↓ $11,250
Independent students $18,125
↓ $8,875
Female students $15,750
↓ $11,250
Male students $15,125
↓ $11,875
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,250, less than completers ($27,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
56% of full-time students who enrolled at Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design graduate within six years, and 82% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
56%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
82%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design earn a median of $41,174 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$41,174
Earning > $25K
67%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$34,300
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$40,800
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$27,900
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$40,900
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$39,100
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $6,500, about 16% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
20.3 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 82% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design is home to 837 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 30% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
837
Part-Time
1%
First-Generation
30%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 63.9%535
Hispanic 18.3%153
Other 6.6%55
Black 6.0%50
Asian 4.7%39
International 0.2%2
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large CityMilwaukee, Wisconsin
Housing
Mostly residential450 beds on campus
Adult Learners
3%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design offers
a focused set of programs:
4 distinct programs across
3 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design is 11:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
11:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$19M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$59,046
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
57 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
18
32%
$69,902
Associate Professors
16
28%
$57,790
Assistant Professors
13
23%
$49,114
Instructors
10
18%
$49,804
Pros & Cons of Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Tight-knit, close community feel
CONS
Above-average net price
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Earnings outcomes are on the lower side
Most students take on federal loans
No graduate programs offered at this institution
Best for:
Based on the data, Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design is a fit for
students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design.
Is Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design hard to get into?
Admissions at Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 60.5%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design?
Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design has an acceptance rate of 60.5%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design cost?
The average net price after aid at Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design is $26,541 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $41,174 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $26,541 per year. That's roughly 1.6x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design known for?
Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design is best known for its programs in Design, Fine Arts, Interior Architecture. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design are $41,174, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design accredited?
Yes. Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design?
Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design enrolls 837 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design?
Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design graduates 56% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design a public or private college?
Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design located?
Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
What programs does Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design offer?
Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design offers 4 distinct programs. The most popular include Design, Fine Arts, Interior Architecture.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design is 11:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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