MICA vs. CNU

Deciding between Maryland Institute College of Art and Christopher Newport University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Maryland Institute College of Art
Christopher Newport University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • MICA Baltimore, MD
  • CNU Newport News, VA
  • Setting
  • MICA Large City
  • CNU Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • MICA 1,687
  • CNU 4,454
  • Type
  • MICA Private 4 Year
  • CNU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • MICA #283
  • CNU #378
  • Religious Affiliation
  • MICA -
  • CNU -
  • Status
  • MICA Non-profit
  • CNU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • MICA
  • CNU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • MICA $56,800
  • CNU $16,828
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • MICA $56,800
  • CNU $31,178
  • Room & Board
  • MICA $20,400
  • CNU $12,460
  • Average Net Price
  • MICA $47,834
  • CNU $23,148
  • Average Grant Aid
  • MICA $29,578
  • CNU $10,494
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • MICA 100%
  • CNU 64%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • MICA 3,201
  • CNU 7,341
  • Admitted
  • MICA 2,458
  • CNU 6,316
  • Acceptance Rate
  • MICA 76.8%
  • CNU 86%
  • Enrolled
  • MICA 10.4%
  • CNU 18%
  • Typical SAT score
  • MICA 1190
  • CNU 1180
  • Typical ACT score
  • MICA 29
  • CNU 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • MICA 3.47
  • CNU 3.79
  • Typical High School Grades
  • MICA B+
  • CNU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • MICA Difficult
  • CNU Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • MICA
  • CNU
  • ACT Range
  • MICA 25/33
  • CNU 25/30
  • SAT Range
  • MICA 1078/1305
  • CNU 1060/1290
  • Submit Test Scores
  • MICA Test optional
  • CNU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • MICA Feb 1, 2027
  • CNU Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • MICA 9:1
  • CNU 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • MICA
    • Visual and Performing Arts (100%)
  • CNU
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Communication (13%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Business (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • MICA 71%
  • CNU 63%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • MICA $40,300
  • CNU $47,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • MICA 72%
  • CNU 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • MICA $27,000
  • CNU $25,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • MICA $279
  • CNU $258

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • MICA 24%
  • CNU 47%
  • % Women
  • MICA 76%
  • CNU 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • MICA High
  • CNU Low
  • HBCU
  • MICA No
  • CNU No
  • % White
  • MICA 48%
  • CNU 74%
  • % Asian
  • MICA 13%
  • CNU 3%
  • % Black
  • MICA 6%
  • CNU 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • MICA 7%
  • CNU 5%
  • % Native American
  • MICA 0%
  • CNU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • MICA 0%
  • CNU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • MICA 6%
  • CNU 5%
  • % International
  • MICA 15%
  • CNU 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • MICA 5%
  • CNU 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • MICA 33%
  • CNU 92%
  • % Out-of-State
  • MICA 49%
  • CNU 5%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • MICA Yes
  • CNU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • MICA No
  • CNU No
  • Meal Plan
  • MICA Yes
  • CNU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • MICA No
  • CNU No
  • Daycare Facility
  • MICA No
  • CNU No

Comparable Facts

Compare Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore, MD with Christopher Newport University in Newport News, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Christopher Newport University is larger than MICA based on total student enrollment (4,454 students vs. 1,687 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Maryland Institute College of Art is located in Baltimore, MD (Large City setting); Christopher Newport University is in Newport News, VA (Midsize City setting).
  • Maryland Institute College of Art is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Christopher Newport University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Maryland Institute College of Art 9:1; Christopher Newport University 13:1.

MICA vs. CNU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MICA or CNU? 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 Christopher Newport University than MICA ($23,148 vs. $47,834).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Christopher Newport University are 38.9% lower than at Maryland Institute College of Art ($12,460 vs. $20,400).
  • Maryland Institute College of Art is 237.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than CNU (about $39,972 more per year; $56,800.00 vs. $16,828.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 82.2% higher at MICA than at Christopher Newport University (about $25,622 more per year; $56,800.00 vs. $31,178.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Maryland Institute College of Art than at Christopher Newport University (100% vs. 64%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Maryland Institute College of Art students is 181.9% larger than aid received by Christopher Newport University students ($29,578 vs. $10,494).

MICA vs. CNU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, MICA or CNU? 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 CNU and MICA.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Maryland Institute College of Art (1190) is 10 points higher than at CNU (1180).
  • Incoming MICA students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 27 at CNU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Maryland Institute College of Art 1078/1305; Christopher Newport University 1060/1290.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Maryland Institute College of Art 25/33; Christopher Newport University 25/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: MICA - Test optional; CNU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: MICA Feb 1, 2027; CNU Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman CNU students have a 0.32 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at MICA (3.47).
  • CNU has a higher acceptance rate (86%) than MICA (76.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.4% at MICA vs. 18% at CNU.

MICA vs. CNU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MICA and CNU? 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 Christopher Newport University's (63%).
  • Graduates from Christopher Newport University earn a median of about $6,800 more per year than MICA graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,100 vs. $40,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Christopher Newport University graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than MICA graduates ($25,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, CNU graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than MICA graduates ($258 vs. $279).
  • More CNU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MICA students, three years after graduation. (78% 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.