MICA vs. Amherst

Should I go to Maryland Institute College of Art or Amherst College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if MICA or Amherst is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Maryland Institute College of Art vs. Amherst College comparison
Maryland Institute College of Art Amherst College College 3 College 4
Maryland Institute College of Art Amherst College
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Overview

MICA Amherst
Location Baltimore, MD Amherst, MA
Setting Large City Town Fringe
Enrollment 1,952 1,898
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #335 #16
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website mica.edu amherst.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

MICA Amherst
Tuition (In State) $51,870 $63,500
Tuition (Out of State) $51,870 $63,500
Room & Board $15,290 $16,750
Avg Net Price $43,545 $21,367
Avg Grant Aid $25,767 $58,693
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 58%

Admission

MICA Amherst
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,139 14,864
Admitted 2,498 1,079
Acceptance Rate 79.6% 7.3%
Enrolled % 9.1% 43.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.47 3.91
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Moderate Elite
Applicant Competition Extreme
ACT Range 17/23 32/35
SAT Range 967/1362 1420/1550
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Feb 1, 2025 Jan 2, 2025

Academics

MICA Amherst
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 7:1
Popular Majors
  • Visual and Performing Arts (100%)
  • Social Sciences (26%)
  • English and Literature (12%)
  • Foreign Languages (7%)
  • Biology (7%)
  • Psychology (7%)

Outcomes

MICA Amherst
Graduation Rate 71% 96%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $40,300 $82,000
Making Student Loan Payments 72% 83%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $12,975
Median Loan Payment $279 $134

Diversity

MICA Amherst
% Men 25% 48%
% Women 75% 52%
Racial Diversity Very High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 48% 42%
% Black 6% 12%
% Hispanic 7% 13%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 6% 5%
% International 15% 10%
% Unknown Race 5% 4%

Students

MICA Amherst
% In-State 28% 13%
% Out-of-State 56% 74%

Campus

MICA Amherst
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Maryland Institute College of Art is larger than than Amherst based on total student enrollment (1,952 students vs. 1,898 students)

MICA vs. Amherst Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MICA or Amherst?

  • Amherst College is 22.4% more expensive to attend than MICA for in-state tuition ($63,500.00 vs. $51,870.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 22.4% higher at Amherst than Maryland Institute College of Art ($63,500.00 vs. $51,870.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Amherst College than MICA ($21,367 vs. $43,545)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Maryland Institute College of Art are 9.5% lower than costs at Amherst College ($15,290 vs. $16,750)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Maryland Institute College of Art than Amherst College (100% vs. 58%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Amherst College students is 127.8% larger than aid received Maryland Institute College of Art ($58,693 vs. $25,767)

MICA vs. Amherst Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, MICA or Amherst? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Amherst or MICA .

  • The average SAT score at Amherst College (1451) is 311 points higher than at MICA (1140)
  • Accepted freshman Amherst students have a 0.44 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at MICA (3.47)
  • MICA has a higher acceptance rate (79.6%) than Amherst (7.3%)

MICA vs. Amherst Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, MICA or Amherst? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Amherst and MICA.

  • The graduation rate at Amherst is higher than Maryland Institute College of Art (96% vs. 71%)
  • Graduates from Amherst College earn on average $41,700 more per year than MICA graduates after ten years. ($82,000 vs. $40,300)
  • Amherst College students graduate with a $14,025 lower median federal student loan debt than MICA graduates. ($12,975 vs. $27,000)
  • Amherst graduates are paying $145 less per month on federal student loans than MICA graduates. ($134 vs. $279)
  • More Amherst graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MICA students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 72%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/