MICA vs. Penn State Altoona

Comparable Facts

Compare Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore, MD with Penn State Altoona in Altoona, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Penn State Altoona is larger than MICA based on total student enrollment (2,371 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); Penn State Altoona is in Altoona, PA (Small City setting).
• Maryland Institute College of Art is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Altoona is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Maryland Institute College of Art 9:1; Penn State Altoona 13:1.

MICA vs. Penn State Altoona Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MICA or Penn State Altoona? 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 Penn State Altoona than MICA ($21,618 vs. $47,834).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Altoona are 29% lower than at Maryland Institute College of Art ($14,474 vs. $20,400).
• Maryland Institute College of Art is 255.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Altoona (about $40,828 more per year; $56,800.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 110.7% higher at MICA than at Penn State Altoona (about $29,842 more per year; $56,800.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Maryland Institute College of Art than at Penn State Altoona (100% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Maryland Institute College of Art students is 166.8% larger than aid received by Penn State Altoona students ($29,578 vs. $11,088).

MICA vs. Penn State Altoona Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, MICA or Penn State Altoona? 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 Penn State Altoona and MICA.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Maryland Institute College of Art (1190) is 10 points higher than at Penn State Altoona (1180).
• Incoming MICA students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 25 at Penn State Altoona).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Maryland Institute College of Art 1078/1305; Penn State Altoona 1070/1290.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Maryland Institute College of Art 25/33; Penn State Altoona 22/28.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: MICA - Test optional; Penn State Altoona - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: MICA Feb 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman MICA students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.47) than students at Penn State Altoona (3.4).
• Penn State Altoona has a higher acceptance rate (98.1%) than MICA (76.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.4% at MICA vs. 10.3% at Penn State Altoona.

MICA vs. Penn State Altoona Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MICA and Penn State Altoona? 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 Penn State Altoona's (65%).
• Graduates from Penn State Altoona earn a median of about $15,000 more per year than MICA graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $40,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Altoona graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than MICA graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Penn State Altoona graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than MICA graduates ($277 vs. $279).
• More MICA graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Altoona students, three years after graduation. (72% vs. 69%)

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.