Offering a transformative education open to all backgrounds, MCAD gets you ready to confidently lead and practice in an ever-evolving world. It’s where students find their personal and professional purpose as creative, cultural leaders. Founded in 1886, MCAD is recognized nationally and internationally for its innovative approaches to art and design education. MCAD is located in the heart of the rich art and design community of the Twin Cities and is home to more than 800 students. A four-year, nonprofit, private college with the highest level of accreditation for a school of its kind, MCAD offers bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, and continuing education classes for all ages in areas including arts entrepreneurship, design, fine arts, and media arts. MCAD’s four-year graduation rate is among the highest of all art and design colleges. Students are carefully selected for their creative talents and intellectual abilities, and they are some of the most talented artists and designers in the country. Through the four-year core curriculum, students focus on their careers early while learning technical and professional skills and developing their creative, intellectual, and leadership capabilities. Including Emmy-winning directors, Whitney Biennial artists, and Guggenheim fellows, MCAD alumni are successful and make an impact. They set new standards across a broad range of creative careers, from independent artist and corporate designer to starting companies and shaping emerging industries. World-class art and design education begins with world-class educators. Working artists and designers who are respected in their fields, MCAD’s faculty are renowned for their ingenuity, expertise, and commitment as instructors. Each year they inspire new generations of creative thinkers to make the successful transition from students to professional artists and designers. MCAD is a close, supportive, and transformative community that impacts graduates their entire lives.
These schools are similar to Minneapolis College of Art and Design in key aspects like size, setting, and academics.
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Small classrooms help with the one on ones with teachers, also many opportunities to show your work.
Lots of work.
I do enjoy how small the school is because I feel like I can deeply connect with the others around me. I am more motivated to do collaborative projects and help others in their art-making practice. Also, depending on your major, you get the chance to have a personal studio. This has been essential in my classwork and the kind of art I am making. The professors are artists themselves and bring so much knowledge to the table. Being able to exhibit my art all over the school and on campus has also helped a ton with my confidence as an artist.
The food is not great but is cheap. There are a ton of good restaurants around campus which is a plus. It is also quite expensive to attend but the resources available do make up for it.