Milwaukee Institute of Art Design

What Milwaukee Institute of Art Design does

Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design (MIAD) is a private, nonprofit four-year college founded in 1977 and headquartered at 273 E. Erie Street in downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The institution serves undergraduate students, pre-college/high-school students, and adult learners/educators primarily across the Midwest, offering Bachelor of Fine Arts-equivalent degrees in Communication Design, Fashion and Apparel Design (launched 2023), Fine Art + New Studio Practice, Illustration (with an Animation Track), Interior Architecture and Design, Product Design, and Critical Studies, supported by a First-Year Experience program. Supporting infrastructure includes 3-D fabrication labs, the MIAD Library, computer labs, and the Two50Two on-campus residence hall.

MIAD's core academic product is augmented by the Lubar Innovation Center, which connects students with real-world client projects across a roster of enterprise partners including the Milwaukee Art Museum, Harley-Davidson Museum, Summerfest, Florentine Opera, Milwaukee Bucks, Kohler, Generac, and Discovery World. The institution also operates MIAD Galleries (including the 160 Gallery and gallery at The Ave), Career Services, and external exhibition partnerships with the Charles Allis Art Museum and Villa Terrace. Faculty hold active industry credentials and have received Joan Mitchell grants and Mary L. Nohl Fellowships; student outcomes include Yale Norfolk Summer Program placements and recognition from the National Society of Illustrators.

Revenue is generated through four primary streams: (1) tuition and fees for degree programs, augmented by financial aid, scholarships, and grants; (2) non-degree continuing education and pre-college programs; (3) donations and fundraising, including the annual Creative Fusion gala (which raised over $421,000 in 2019 for student scholarships), legacy giving, and major donor programs; and (4) facilities and services revenue including on-campus jobs, alumni facility access, and event rentals. Pricing is structured as annual tuition with a published tuition schedule and net price calculator. The college is governed by an independent Board of Trustees (newly chaired by Deanna Tillisch, with Paul Fletcher of LinkedIn and Jacqualyn Laughlin of Invisible Ink Partners elected as trustees in June 2026), operates without a parent company, and reports no private equity or venture capital ownership.

Name

Milwaukee Institute of Art Design

Legal name

Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design

Website

https://miad.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design (MIAD) is a private nonprofit four-year college in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, offering undergraduate degrees in Communication Design, Fashion and Apparel Design, Illustration, Product Design, and related disciplines, serving primarily Midwestern students through campus-based programs and industry partnerships via the Lubar Innovation Center.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education / Art and Design College

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Fine Arts Schools (61161)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Design Colleges (Graphic, Industrial, UX/UI, Interior) (EDAHAJAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Fine Arts Colleges (Painting, Sculpture, Printmaking) (EDAHAJAA), Photography Colleges & Visual Imaging Schools (EDAHAJAH)

Keywords

• Art and design education
• Undergraduate degree programs
• Continuing education programs
• Pre-college art programs
• Studio art instruction

Headquarters

HQ city

Milwaukee

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Students pay tuition for degree programs. Financial aid, scholarships, and grants available to offset costs. Includes merit-based and need-based aid options.
2. Continuing Education and Pre-College Programs: Non-degree programs including continuing education for educators, youth and community programs, and pre-college programs for high school students.
3. Donations and Fundraising: Annual Creative Fusion fundraiser generates significant scholarship funds. Legacy giving, annual fund, and major donor programs support institutional funding.
4. Facilities and Services: Revenue from services including on-campus jobs, facility access for alumni, and event rentals.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design is a private, nonprofit four-year undergraduate college that confers Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees in art and design disciplines including Communication Design, Fashion and Apparel Design, Fine Art + New Studio Practice, Illustration (with Animation Track), Interior Architecture and Design, Product Design, and Critical Studies, along with a First-Year Experience program. The college supplements its degree programs with non-degree offerings such as Continuing Education, Pre-College summer programs for high school students, Study Abroad, the AICAD Exchange, and Early College Credit, and supports students through facilities including 3-D Labs, the Emerging Technology Center, MIAD Galleries, MIAD Library, the Two50Two residence hall, and the Lubar Innovation Center which connects students to real-world industry projects.

Product overview

MIAD is a higher education institution offering a portfolio of undergraduate degree programs in art and design disciplines. The core academic offerings include Communication Design, Fashion and Apparel Design (launched 2023), Fine Art + New Studio Practice, Illustration (with Animation Track), Interior Architecture and Design, Product Design, Critical Studies, and First-Year Experience. These programs are supported by the Lubar Innovation Center for industry collaborations, MIAD Galleries for exhibition, MIAD Labs for technology/fabrication facilities, Career Services for professional development, and the Pre-College Programs for outreach. The institution operates as a unified college with multiple support services rather than a modular software platform architecture.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Communication Design Major A four-year Bachelor of Fine Arts degree program focusing on graphic design, visual communication, and digital media design, intended for prospective undergraduate students pursuing creative careers.
• Fashion and Apparel Design Major A four-year BFA degree program in fashion design, garment construction, and apparel design launched in 2023; the inaugural senior cohort presented the program's first runway show on May 7, 2026.
• Fine Art + New Studio Practice Major A four-year BFA program covering painting, sculpture, photography, printmaking, time-based media, and drawing for prospective undergraduate fine-art students.
• Illustration Major A four-year BFA degree program in illustration with an optional Animation Track, ranked top in Wisconsin and highly in the Midwest and U.S.
• Animation Track in Illustration Specialized track within the Illustration major focused on animation, providing BFA-level animation coursework for prospective undergraduate students.
• Interior Architecture and Design Major A four-year BFA program preparing students for careers in interior design and architecture.
• Product Design Major An industrial/product design BFA program preparing students to design consumer products, furniture, and industrial goods.
• Critical Studies Program Liberal studies and humanities program providing theoretical and critical context for art and design practice, supporting the BFA curriculum.
• First-Year Experience (FYE) A foundational first-year program introducing new students to college-level art and design concepts and studio practice.
• Pre-College Programs Non-degree summer programs, weekend classes, and portfolio development courses for high school students, with multi-year sponsorship from Associated Bank.
• Continuing Education Non-degree continuing-education programs for adult learners, K-12 educators, and professional development, including MAKE! For Educators and Creative Educators Institute.
• Lubar Innovation Center MIAD center connecting students with external clients (Milwaukee Art Museum, Summerfest, Harley-Davidson Museum, Florentine Opera, Milwaukee Bucks, Kohler, Generac) for real-world design projects and career experience.
• MIAD Galleries On-campus public gallery spaces (including 160 Gallery and the Gallery at The Ave) showcasing student, faculty, alumni, and visiting-artist exhibitions, open to the Milwaukee community.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 30% of MIAD graduates own their own businesses
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Milwaukee Art Museum (MAM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMIAD Lubar Innovation Center partners with Milwaukee Art Museum to provide career experience for students. Collaboration includes designing exhibitions, murals, and professional projects. MAM features work by MIAD students, alumni, and faculty.
• SummerfestcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSummerfest collaborates with MIAD Lubar Innovation Center on creative projects including mural design. Student-created work featured during festival.
• Harley-Davidson MuseumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLubar Innovation Center students create concepts for Harley-Davidson Museum projects. Partnership includes design work and Brooks Stevens legacy exhibition.
• Florentine OperaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFlorentine Opera partners with MIAD Lubar Innovation Center for design and creative projects.
• Milwaukee BuckscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMIAD students paint murals, design posters, and collaborate with Milwaukee Bucks for community projects. Partnership includes Black History Month collaborations and Bucks Art Collection featuring MIAD alumni work.
• Kohler Co.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLubar Innovation Center students design products for Kohler. Includes metalwork and molds collaboration with Kohler Residency.
• Marquette UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCross-registration program allows MIAD students to take courses at Marquette University. Joint industrial design and engineering curriculum collaboration.
• AICAD (Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMIAD participates in AICAD Exchange Program allowing student transfers between member institutions. Also hosts AICAD Teaching Fellows.
• GeneracminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduct Design students collaborate with Generac on lighting and design solutions through Lubar Innovation Center.
• Associated BankcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAssociated Bank provides multi-year sponsorship of MIAD Pre-College program, supporting high school student participation.
• Hanson DodgeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMilwaukee advertising agency partners with MIAD for new high school internship program.
• Colectivo CoffeeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMIAD Illustration students design artwork featured on Colectivo Coffee cups in ongoing partnership.
• Pallas TextilesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPallas Textiles competition provides real-world experience for MIAD students in textile design.
• True SkoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTRUE Skool partners with MIAD for Designed Awareness program serving teens.
• Charles Allis Art MuseumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership hosts Fine Art + New Studio Practice junior and senior exhibitions at Charles Allis Art Museum.
• Villa Terrace Art MuseumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVilla Terrace Art Museum hosts MIAD alumni exhibitions and gallery openings.
• Discovery WorldcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing collaboration with Discovery World brings science and technology education to MIAD students through museum partnership.
• Milwaukee Public MarketminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMilwaukee Public Market celebrates 20 years with MIAD collaboration on design projects.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD): A small private nonprofit art and design college in Minneapolis offering BFA programs in design, fine arts, and animation. Closest comparable peer by size, regional Midwest focus, nonprofit structure, and program mix including illustration, communication design, and product design.
• Ringling College of Art and Design: A small private nonprofit art and design college in Sarasota, Florida, with comparable BFA portfolio (graphic design, illustration, motion design, interior design). Comparable by private nonprofit status and focus on undergraduate design education, though larger and more nationally recognized than MIAD.
• Kendall College of Art and Design (KCAD): A small private art and design college in Grand Rapids, Michigan, now part of Ferris State University. Directly comparable by size, Midwest regional focus, BFA program portfolio (graphic design, illustration, interior design, product design), and nonprofit college structure.
• Columbus College of Art and Design (CCAD): A small private nonprofit art and design college in Ohio offering undergraduate degrees in design, fine arts, illustration, and interior architecture. Comparable in size, program mix, and tuition-dependent nonprofit model.
• Montserrat College of Art: A small private nonprofit art college in Beverly, MA, with undergraduate programs in graphic design, illustration, animation, and fine arts. Closely comparable by enrollment size, mission, and tuition-dependent private nonprofit structure.

Broad incumbents

• Rhode Island School of Design (RISD): A premier private art and design college in Providence, RI. The gold-standard US art school with strong brand pull across MIAD's overlapping disciplines (graphic design, illustration, interior architecture, product design). Competes for top applicants willing to pay premium tuition.
• Parsons School of Design (The New School): A leading private design school in NYC part of The New School. Strong overlap with MIAD's Communication Design, Fashion Design, Product Design, and Interior Design programs. Major incumbent competitor, especially for out-of-region students considering New York City.
• School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC): A large, well-established private art school in Chicago with extensive undergraduate and graduate programs in art and design. Serves as the dominant Midwest art school incumbent; broader portfolio but overlapping design and illustration offerings put it in direct competition for regional talent.
• Pratt Institute: A private art, design, and architecture school in Brooklyn, NY, with broad undergraduate and graduate programs. Directly overlaps with MIAD's Communication Design, Illustration, Interior Architecture and Design, and Product Design majors; larger and more internationally recognized.

Others

• Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD):

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/145691699432
• Instagraminstagram.com/miadcollege
• Xx.com/miad_edu

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Milwaukee Institute of Art Design