MICA vs. JMU

Should I go to Maryland Institute College of Art or James Madison University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if MICA or JMU 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. James Madison University comparison
Maryland Institute College of Art James Madison University College 3 College 4
Maryland Institute College of Art James Madison University
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Overview

MICA JMU
Location Baltimore, MD Harrisonburg, VA
Setting Large City Small City
Enrollment 1,952 22,224
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #335 #260
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website mica.edu jmu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

MICA JMU
Tuition (In State) $51,870 $7,684
Tuition (Out of State) $51,870 $24,744
Room & Board $15,290 $12,040
Avg Net Price $43,545 $18,274
Avg Grant Aid $25,767 $10,081
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 33%

Admission

MICA JMU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,139 30,727
Admitted 2,498 24,062
Acceptance Rate 79.6% 78.3%
Enrolled % 9.1% 20.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.47 3.57
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Difficult
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 17/23 23/29
SAT Range 967/1362 1140/1320
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 15, 2025

Academics

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

Outcomes

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

Diversity

MICA JMU
% Men 25% 42%
% Women 75% 58%
Racial Diversity Very High Low
HBCU No No
% White 48% 76%
% Black 6% 4%
% Hispanic 7% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 6% 4%
% International 15% 2%
% Unknown Race 5% 3%

Students

MICA JMU
% In-State 28% 73%
% Out-of-State 56% 26%

Campus

MICA JMU
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

  • James Madison University is larger than than MICA based on total student enrollment (22,224 students vs. 1,952 students)

MICA vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MICA or JMU?

  • Maryland Institute College of Art is 575% more expensive to attend than JMU for in-state tuition ($51,870.00 vs. $7,684.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 109.6% higher at MICA than James Madison University ($51,870.00 vs. $24,744.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at James Madison University than MICA ($18,274 vs. $43,545)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 27% lower than costs at Maryland Institute College of Art ($12,040 vs. $15,290)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Maryland Institute College of Art than James Madison University (100% vs. 33%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Maryland Institute College of Art students is 155.6% larger than aid received James Madison University ($25,767 vs. $10,081)

MICA vs. JMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Maryland Institute College of Art (1140) is 6 points higher than at JMU (1134)
  • 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 (79.6%) than JMU (78.3%)

MICA vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, MICA or JMU? 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 JMU and MICA.

  • The graduation rate at JMU is higher than Maryland Institute College of Art (81% vs. 71%)
  • Graduates from James Madison University earn on average $20,000 more per year than MICA graduates after ten years. ($60,300 vs. $40,300)
  • James Madison University students graduate with a $6,101 lower median federal student loan debt than MICA graduates. ($20,899 vs. $27,000)
  • JMU graduates are paying $63 less per month on federal student loans 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/