Art Center College of Design vs. MICA

Comparable Facts

Compare Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA with Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore, MD on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Art Center College of Design is larger than MICA based on total student enrollment (2,308 students vs. 1,687 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Art Center College of Design is located in Pasadena, CA (Midsize City setting); Maryland Institute College of Art is in Baltimore, MD (Large City setting).
• Art Center College of Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Maryland Institute College of Art is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Art Center College of Design 9:1; Maryland Institute College of Art 9:1.

Art Center College of Design vs. MICA Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Art Center College of Design or MICA? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Maryland Institute College of Art than Art Center College of Design ($47,834 vs. $53,271).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Art Center College of Design are 3.8% lower than at Maryland Institute College of Art ($19,632 vs. $20,400).
• Maryland Institute College of Art is 4.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Art Center College of Design (about $2,630 more per year; $56,800.00 vs. $54,170.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 4.9% higher at MICA than at Art Center College of Design (about $2,630 more per year; $56,800.00 vs. $54,170.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Maryland Institute College of Art than at Art Center College of Design (100% vs. 60%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Maryland Institute College of Art students is 32% larger than aid received by Art Center College of Design students ($29,578 vs. $22,412).

Art Center College of Design vs. MICA Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Art Center College of Design or MICA? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between MICA and Art Center College of Design.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsMaryland Institute College of Art 1078/1305.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsMaryland Institute College of Art 25/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Art Center College of Design - Test-free; MICA - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: MICA Feb 1, 2027.
• MICA has a higher acceptance rate (76.8%) than Art Center College of Design (74.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 31.5% at Art Center College of Design vs. 10.4% at MICA.

Art Center College of Design vs. MICA Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Art Center College of Design and MICA? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Maryland Institute College of Art's six-year graduation rate (71%) is higher than Art Center College of Design's (54%).
• Graduates from Art Center College of Design earn a median of about $18,000 more per year than MICA graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,300 vs. $40,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Maryland Institute College of Art graduates have a $4,250 lower median loan debt than Art Center College of Design graduates ($27,000 vs. $31,250).
• Among borrowers, MICA graduates have an estimated $44 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Art Center College of Design graduates ($279 vs. $323).
• More Art Center College of Design graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MICA students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 72%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.