Fine and Studio Arts at Minneapolis College of Art and Design

These numbers are sobering: graduates earn just $14,829 in their first year—about $7 per hour for full-time work. Even after strong growth to $28,637 by year four, this program ranks in the bottom 10% of both Minnesota and national fine arts programs. Compare this to Minnesota State-Mankato's $38,717 or even the state median of $28,428, and you're looking at a $10,000 annual gap that compounds over a career. The $30,250 debt burden equals more than twice that first-year income, creating immediate financial pressure when graduates are least equipped to handle it.

The sample size is small here—fewer than 30 graduates—so individual circumstances heavily influence these figures. Still, the pattern is hard to ignore: even strong early-career growth leaves MCAD's fine arts graduates trailing their peers across Minnesota. The 48% admission rate and $1,170 SAT average suggest this isn't a highly selective program justifying premium outcomes through elite networking or prestige.

If your child is genuinely committed to fine arts, explore Minnesota's public options first. They deliver similar or better outcomes at lower cost. MCAD's specialized environment may offer value in instruction or facilities, but you need to weigh whether that's worth both higher debt and substantially lower earnings compared to alternatives an hour down the road.