MIAD welcomes largest incoming class in history, experiences record enrollment

Student work in Interior Architecture+Design studio

MILWAUKEE (October 3, 2018) – The Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design’s first-year enrollment has grown 34 percent over the past four years, leading to record enrollment. In fall 2018, the college has 746 students. Fall enrollment includes 285 new students – the college’s largest incoming class in history.

The influx of students results from MIAD’s concerted recruitment efforts of both in- and out-of-state students, the college’s increasing national prominence as a Top Design School and the broadening the awareness of career paths for art and design graduates. The college also reinvigorated its first-year curriculum last year to introduce more technology sooner into the First-Year Experience.

In 2018, MONEY Magazine named MIAD a Best College for Your Money. Based on its rankings, MIAD is among the top three art and design colleges in the country in helping students from low-income backgrounds achieve upward socioeconomic mobility.

“Our students come to us already committed to a career in art and design and we start them out fast and on track,”  said Jeff Morin, MIAD President. “We provide students opportunities to gain real-world experiences and explore emerging technologies and their application to art and design in a hands-on environment. We also ensure they are equipped to graduate in four years and secure a job after graduation.”

MIAD’s increasing enrollment comes when state universities are experiencing declining enrollments and eliminating arts and humanities programs.

In addition to an increasing incoming class, MIAD increased its first-year to second-year student retention from 75.5 percent in 2017 to 80 percent in 2018.

Who Is the Class of 2022?

Industrial Design students working on project

Nearly 50 percent of first-year students at MIAD in fall 2018 are from out of state, primarily from Illinois, Michigan, Texas and Florida, as well as 18 other states.

Approximately 33 percent of the incoming class self-identifies as minorities and 25 percent are first-generation college students.

Overall, 42 percent of all MIAD students, including first-year students, are Federal Pell Grant eligible (lowest-income students).