Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design #1422 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $19,963 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 5.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design #1209 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions — reflecting outcomes for graduates in visual and performing arts fields.
Azimuth ranks Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design #1422 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private baccalaureate college in Milwaukee, WI, Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design enrolls roughly 837 undergraduates. Retention is 79.5% and the six-year graduation rate is 67.0%, reflecting the institution's ability to support students through completion in a specialized arts-focused environment. Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design delivers strong return on investment for its graduates. Azimuth ranks Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design #1399 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $19,963 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design in the 5.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. This performance reflects the institution's concentrated focus on Visual & Performing Arts, where specialized training translates into meaningful long-term financial outcomes for creative professionals. Access and affordability represent lower-ranked pillars in the composite. Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design sits in the 47.3 percentile for access and the 16.6 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. 37.3% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 30.1% are first-generation college students, reflecting a selective enrollment profile typical of specialized arts institutions. Mobility outcomes sit in the 18.3 percentile, indicating that while graduates achieve strong earnings relative to expectations, the institution serves a more limited population of low-income students compared with broader-access institutions.
Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design's published cost of attendance is $53,528. Net price by income band shows meaningful variation: low-income families pay approximately $21,419, mid-low-income families pay around $22,531, middle-income families pay approximately $22,440, mid-high-income families pay around $26,746, and higher-income families pay approximately $32,540. Azimuth ranks Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design #1189 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The affordability rank reflects both the headline sticker price and the debt load graduates carry; net price and sticker price can differ substantially, and understanding that gap matters when comparing institutions. Financial aid at Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design is need-based, with families applying through the FAFSA and CSS Profile. The institution participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $27,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $37,230; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $42,304, median federal debt of $27,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $305 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design is a strong fit for students passionate about Visual & Performing Arts who want a private nonprofit college experience in WI. The institution's concentrated focus on creative fields makes it particularly well-suited for students committed to building careers in the arts. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $42,304, placing Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design in the 2.0 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They earn about $19,963 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 5.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The school enrolls students from a range of backgrounds, with 37.3% of undergraduates receiving Pell Grants and 30.1% being first-generation students. This access is balanced with a 60.5% admission rate, making the application process selective but accessible to qualified applicants. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the program mix is heavily concentrated in Visual & Performing Arts (representing 94% of graduates), and the $27,000 median debt suggests students should carefully consider financial planning alongside their artistic ambitions.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
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This is the Milwaukee Institute Of Art & Design hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design's published cost of attendance is $53,528. Net price by income band shows meaningful variation: low-income families pay approximately $21,419, mid-low-income families pay around $22,531, middle-income families pay approximately $22,440, mid-high-income families pay around $26,746, and higher-income families pay approximately $32,540.
Azimuth ranks Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design #1189 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The affordability rank reflects both the headline sticker price and the debt load graduates carry; [net price and sticker price can differ substantially](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/), and understanding that gap matters when comparing institutions.
Financial aid at Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design is need-based, with families applying through the FAFSA and CSS Profile. The institution participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $27,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $37,230; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $42,304, median federal debt of $27,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $305 under standard ten-year repayment.
For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design earn median 4-year earnings of $42,304, placing Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design in the 2.0 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design sits in the 5.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design #1399 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. These outcomes reflect both the institution's focused program portfolio in visual and performing arts and the strong early-career earnings that creative professionals achieve in Milwaukee's growing design and media sectors.
The earnings pattern centers on the institution's dominant strength in visual and performing arts fields. Design and Applied Arts is the largest program with 124 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $43,944, representing 0.9x the national benchmark for the field.
The Fine and Studio Arts program graduates 45 students with median 4-year earnings of $40,952, at 1.0x the national benchmark. Interior Architecture rounds out the core program lineup with strong early-career outcomes.
As a specialized arts and design institution, Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design channels graduates into creative careers where earnings grow steadily through the early professional years, supported by Milwaukee's established arts community and regional design employer base.
Design and Applied Arts
124 graduates
Fine and Studio Arts
45 graduates
Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design concentrates its program portfolio in visual and performing arts — a signature aligned with the institution's specialized mission as a design-focused college. Design and Applied Arts is the largest program with 124 graduates annually, followed by Fine and Studio Arts with 45 graduates and Interior Architecture.
Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 179 students annually, the institution's strength lies in creative fields where four-year earnings reflect direct labor-market entry into design, media, and arts-adjacent careers. Design and Applied Arts leads the institution's earnings profile, with graduates earning median earnings of $43,944 four years after enrollment.
Fine and Studio Arts follows with graduates earning $40,952, reflecting the economic value of specialized training in high-demand creative fields. Design and Applied Arts, despite being the largest program, demonstrates how scale and earnings can align — 124 graduates earning $43,944 signals both institutional capacity and market demand for this field.
Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design's program mix reflects a deliberate focus on Visual & Performing Arts, where graduates enter creative industries, design studios, media production, and related professional roles. Unlike broad-portfolio institutions, Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design concentrates its resources on fields where specialized credentials and portfolio work directly translate to employment.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how creative and design fields align with labor-market demand in major media and design markets.
Explore alternatives with comparable outcomes based on location, selectivity, and value:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Columbia College Chicago Higher acceptance rate (28.4 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 81 miles away; similar graduate earnings | IL | 91% | $42,195 | Compare |
School Of The Art Institute Of Chicago Higher acceptance rate (13.6 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 81 miles away; similar graduate earnings | IL | 76% | $40,151 | Compare |
Moody Bible Institute Higher acceptance rate (34.7 percentage points higher) and located 80 miles away; similar graduate earnings | IL | 98% | $45,399 | Compare |
Stephens College Higher acceptance rate (28.7 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | MO | 92% | $43,071 | Compare |
Maine College Of Art & Design Higher acceptance rate (14.7 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | ME | 78% | $40,778 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Columbus College Of Art & Design Similar quality tier in Midwest (#36234 ranked) | OH | 68% | $40,664 | #36234 | Compare |
Hampshire College Similar quality tier (#36230 ranked) | MA | 75% | $46,938 | #36230 | Compare |
Point University Similar quality tier (#36229 ranked) | GA | 44% | $38,740 | #36229 | Compare |
East Texas Baptist University Similar quality tier (#36235 ranked) | TX | 58% | $52,788 | #36235 | Compare |
St. John's College Similar quality tier (#36238 ranked) | MD | 55% | $51,584 | #36238 | Compare |
