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Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design

Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design

Milwaukee, WI · City · 837 students
WebsiteCommon AppScorecard
Application deadlines: Check the admissions site
$26,541
Average net priceYour net price
2023-24
<30
30–48
48–75
75–110
110+
By household income — tap a bar
65%
Graduation rate
Entered fall 2017 & 2018
63% typical
$41,174
Earnings 10 years on
Measured 2020 & 2021
$39,254 typical
61%
Acceptance rate
Applied for fall 2024
64% typical · not scored
Accredited by Higher Learning Commission
About

The Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD), located in Milwaukee’s vibrant Historic Third Ward, is a premier art and design college renowned for its career-focused curriculum and nationally recognized programs in Industrial Design, Communication Design, and Illustration. Students immerse themselves in a collaborative, maker-centric campus culture, benefiting from dedicated personal studio spaces, state-of-the-art fabrication labs, and a tight-knit community of creative peers. What truly sets MIAD apart is its integration of professional experience through sponsored studio projects with major brands like Harley-Davidson and Kohler, alongside a unique academic partnership with nearby Marquette University that allows students to cross-register for classes and utilize university housing.


Wikipedia:The Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) is a private art school in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1974, MIAD is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and the National Association of Schools of Art and Design. The Jane Bradley Pettit Building is the college's main academic building, located on the Milwaukee River in the Historic Third Ward.

Location
Milwaukee, WI, 53202-6003 · City campus
✈
Nearest airport from college
MKE · Milwaukee
6 mi away
Cost & aid
Cost of attendance
YoursEveryone
Tuition & fees$43,743
Housing & food (on campus)$10,955
Books & supplies$1,100
Cost of attendance$62,136
Average net price$26,541
Same price for all students
Tuition & fees$43,743
Housing & food (on campus)$10,955
Books & supplies$1,100
Cost of attendance$62,136
Average net price$26,541
Source: U.S. College Scorecard · published total: www.miad.edu
How it’s made up · 2026-27
Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design’s own figures for 2026-27, newer than the 2024-25 federal figures above, so the amounts differ.
Tuition$44,880
Fees$1,948
Books & supplies$1,130
Personal expenses$860
Transportation$1,000
Total published by the school$62,136
Net price by family income · 2023-24
$0–30k
$21,419
$30–48k
$22,531
$48–75k
$22,440
$75–110k
$26,746
$110k+
$32,540
Outcomes
Completion
Within 6 yrs
65%
Entered 2017–18
Within 4 yrs
58%
Back for yr 2
80%
Transferred
5%
8 yrs after starting · first-time, full-time students
55% graduated · 6% transferred · 39% left or unknown · none still enrolled
Earnings · measured 2020 & 2021
6 yrs after entry$29,841
10 yrs after entry$41,174
Debt
Median at graduation$27,000
Monthly payment$286
Middle 50% owe$7k–$29.5k
90th percentile$37,250
Green marks a figure above the typical Special focus — arts, music & design: 63% graduate within 6 yrs, $39,254 earned 10 yrs after entry.
Admissions
Getting in · applied for fall 2024
Admit rate
61%
Test policy
Test optional
Per College Scorecard

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Essay prompts

If Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design asks for supplemental essays, the prompts are in the Common App.

The personal essay is separate: see the Common App essay prompts.

Student Body
Gender
Men 19%Women 81%
Who enrolls
Faculty ratio
11 : 1
Pell grant
37%
First-gen
30%
Family income
$48,419
Independent
10%
Age at entry
20.0
Part-time
1%
Race & ethnicity
White
64%
Hispanic
18%
Black
6%
Asian
5%
Two or more
6%
Varsity sports

No data. This school isn't in the U.S. Department of Education's athletics (EADA) file, so we can't list its teams. That doesn't mean it has none.

Programs & Earnings
Bachelor's degrees by annual completions · 4yr national median earnings
Median earnings, all programs · measured 2020 & 2021
After 6 yrs
$29,841
After 10 yrs
$41,174
Design and Applied Arts129
Fine and Studio Arts52
Interior Architecture14
Graphic Communications1
Type your major above to highlight and detail relevant programs.
Institutional
Resources
Endowment
$4M
Full-time faculty
32%
Faculty salary
$6,527/mo
Teaching spend
$9,256
per student
Federal loans
78%
Classification
Carnegie type
Special focus — arts, music & design
Undergraduate profile
Four-year, selective admissions

Wondering if Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design is the right fit for you?

SchoolScout builds a personalized college list — reach, match, and safety schools — tailored to your profile, grades, and goals. Get financial aid estimates, scholarship guidance, and deep dives on every school.

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Financial aid & net cost estimates
Deep dives on any school
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