International Students | Minneapolis College of Art and Design

International Students

Aerial view of MCAD's campus with Mia and the minneapolis skyline in the background

Are you an international student interested in applying to MCAD? To make your application process run smoothly, review the information below for the required tests and documentation.

Proof of English proficiency

If English is not your native language, you must successfully complete the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), International English Language Testing System (IELTS), Duolingo English Test, or one of the Michigan tests for higher education. The TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo English test, or Michigan tests for higher education must be taken within twelve months of MCAD's application deadline (e.g. if the deadline is February 1, 2026, the test must be taken after February 1, 2025). Minimum scores for admittance:

To register for the TOEFL test, use MCAD's TOEFL code: 6411.

Applicants who have questions about English language test scores and requirements, please reach out directly to the MCAD Admissions Department at admissions@mcad.edu and we will connect you to your admissions counselor.

Official English translations of all transcripts

Proof of citizenship (a PDF photocopy of your passport is suitable)

Interview

Financial certification

To obtain a student visa (not applicable for the online-only master’s programs), you must first show proof of funds to cover tuition, housing, and expenses for at least one year of attendance at MCAD. Once accepted, MCAD will send you a financial certification form that must be signed with an official letter from a manager or officer of a major financial institution citing the balance of funds for you or your sponsor. This form is due with the tuition deposit by the posted deadline. MCAD is authorized under federal law to enroll nonimmigrant students in accordance with the requirements specified in 8 CRF 214.3.

Send via email, mail, or secure document transfer.

Mailing Address

MCAD Admissions Office
2501 Stevens Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55404
USA

Address

2501 Stevens Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55404

Contact Us

612.874.3700
800.874.MCAD (6223)
Fax: 612.874.3701

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Land Acknowledgement

The Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD) acknowledges it is located on traditional, ancestral, and contemporary lands of Indigenous people. This is the ancestral homeland of the Dakota and Ojibwe people, who were forcibly exiled from the land because of aggressive and persistent settler colonialism. We recognize that this place has a complex and layered history. As a community dedicated to creativity, MCAD is committed to ongoing efforts to support and advocate for American Indian Nations and peoples.


Nondiscrimination Policy

MCAD admits students of any race, color, creed, religion, ancestry, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, or marital status to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, ancestry, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, or marital status in the administration of its educational policies, scholarship and loan programs, and other school-administered programs.