MICA vs. JMU

Deciding between Maryland Institute College of Art and James Madison 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
James Madison University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • MICA Baltimore, MD
  • JMU Harrisonburg, VA
  • Setting
  • MICA Large City
  • JMU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • MICA 1,687
  • JMU 22,740
  • Type
  • MICA Private 4 Year
  • JMU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • MICA #283
  • JMU #246
  • Religious Affiliation
  • MICA -
  • JMU -
  • Status
  • MICA Non-profit
  • JMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • MICA
  • JMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • MICA $56,800
  • JMU $14,250
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • MICA $56,800
  • JMU $31,604
  • Room & Board
  • MICA $20,400
  • JMU $13,056
  • Average Net Price
  • MICA $47,834
  • JMU $18,856
  • Average Grant Aid
  • MICA $29,578
  • JMU $12,114
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • MICA 100%
  • JMU 33%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • MICA 3,201
  • JMU 38,428
  • Admitted
  • MICA 2,458
  • JMU 27,482
  • Acceptance Rate
  • MICA 76.8%
  • JMU 71.5%
  • Enrolled
  • MICA 10.4%
  • JMU 18.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • MICA 1190
  • JMU 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • MICA 29
  • JMU 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • MICA 3.47
  • JMU 3.57
  • Typical High School Grades
  • MICA B+
  • JMU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • MICA Difficult
  • JMU Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • MICA
  • JMU Low
  • ACT Range
  • MICA 25/33
  • JMU 24/29
  • SAT Range
  • MICA 1078/1305
  • JMU 1170/1340
  • Submit Test Scores
  • MICA Test optional
  • JMU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • MICA Feb 1, 2027
  • JMU Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • MICA 9:1
  • JMU 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • MICA
    • Visual and Performing Arts (100%)
  • JMU
    • Business (16%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • MICA 71%
  • JMU 81%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • MICA $40,300
  • JMU $60,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • MICA 72%
  • JMU 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • MICA $27,000
  • JMU $20,899
  • Median Loan Payment
  • MICA $279
  • JMU $216

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • MICA 24%
  • JMU 43%
  • % Women
  • MICA 76%
  • JMU 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • MICA High
  • JMU Low
  • HBCU
  • MICA No
  • JMU No
  • % White
  • MICA 48%
  • JMU 76%
  • % Asian
  • MICA 13%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Black
  • MICA 6%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • MICA 7%
  • JMU 6%
  • % Native American
  • MICA 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • MICA 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • MICA 6%
  • JMU 4%
  • % International
  • MICA 15%
  • JMU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • MICA 5%
  • JMU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • MICA 33%
  • JMU 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • MICA 49%
  • JMU 30%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

James Madison University is larger than MICA based on total student enrollment (22,740 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); James Madison University is in Harrisonburg, VA (Small City setting).
  • Maryland Institute College of Art is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. James Madison University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Maryland Institute College of Art 9:1; James Madison University 17:1.

MICA vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MICA or JMU? 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 James Madison University than MICA ($18,856 vs. $47,834).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 36% lower than at Maryland Institute College of Art ($13,056 vs. $20,400).
  • Maryland Institute College of Art is 298.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than JMU (about $42,550 more per year; $56,800.00 vs. $14,250.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 79.7% higher at MICA than at James Madison University (about $25,196 more per year; $56,800.00 vs. $31,604.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Maryland Institute College of Art than at James Madison University (100% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Maryland Institute College of Art students is 144.2% larger than aid received by James Madison University students ($29,578 vs. $12,114).

MICA vs. JMU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at James Madison University (1260) is 70 points higher than at MICA (1190).
  • Incoming MICA students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 26 at JMU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Maryland Institute College of Art 1078/1305; James Madison University 1170/1340.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Maryland Institute College of Art 25/33; James Madison University 24/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: MICA - Test optional; JMU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: MICA Feb 1, 2027; JMU Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman JMU students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.57) than students at MICA (3.47).
  • MICA has a higher acceptance rate (76.8%) than JMU (71.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.4% at MICA vs. 18.2% at JMU.

MICA vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MICA and JMU? 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).

  • James Madison University's six-year graduation rate (81%) is higher than Maryland Institute College of Art's (71%).
  • Graduates from James Madison University earn a median of about $20,000 more per year than MICA graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,300 vs. $40,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, James Madison University graduates have a $6,101 lower median loan debt than MICA graduates ($20,899 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, JMU graduates have an estimated $63 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than MICA graduates ($216 vs. $279).
  • More JMU 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.