MICA vs. Nichols

Comparable Facts

Compare Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore, MD with Nichols College in Dudley, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Maryland Institute College of Art is larger than Nichols based on total student enrollment (1,687 students vs. 1,392 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Maryland Institute College of Art is located in Baltimore, MD (Large City setting); Nichols College is in Dudley, MA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Maryland Institute College of Art is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Nichols College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Maryland Institute College of Art 9:1; Nichols College 15:1.

MICA vs. Nichols Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MICA or Nichols? 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 Nichols College than MICA ($32,337 vs. $47,834).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Nichols College are 22.5% lower than at Maryland Institute College of Art ($15,800 vs. $20,400).
• Maryland Institute College of Art is 33% more expensive for in-state tuition than Nichols (about $14,095 more per year; $56,800.00 vs. $42,705.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 33% higher at MICA than at Nichols College (about $14,095 more per year; $56,800.00 vs. $42,705.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Maryland Institute College of Art than at Nichols College (100% vs. 99%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Maryland Institute College of Art students is 14.6% larger than aid received by Nichols College students ($29,578 vs. $25,809).

MICA vs. Nichols Admissions comparison

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

• Nichols College reports an open admissions policy.
• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Maryland Institute College of Art (1190) is 60 points higher than at Nichols (1130).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Maryland Institute College of Art 1078/1305; Nichols College 1028/1236.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Maryland Institute College of Art 25/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: MICA - Test optional; Nichols - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: MICA Feb 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman MICA students have a 0.57 point higher average high school GPA (3.47) than students at Nichols (2.9).
• Nichols has a higher acceptance rate (80.8%) than MICA (76.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.4% at MICA vs. 18.1% at Nichols.

MICA vs. Nichols Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MICA and Nichols? 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 Nichols College's (43%).
• Graduates from Nichols College earn a median of about $11,500 more per year than MICA graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,800 vs. $40,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Nichols College and MICA graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Nichols College and MICA graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($279 vs. $279).
• More MICA graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Nichols students, three years after graduation. (72% vs. 68%)

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.