MICA vs. RPI

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

 MICA RPI
Location Baltimore, MD Troy, NY
Setting Large City Small City
Enrollment 1,952 6,968
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #335 #110
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website mica.edu rpi.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 MICA RPI
Tuition (In State) $51,870 $58,600
Tuition (Out of State) $51,870 $58,600
Room & Board $15,290 $16,980
Avg Net Price $43,545 $39,127
Avg Grant Aid $25,767 $38,636
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 90%

Admission

 MICA RPI
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,139 16,863
Admitted 2,498 10,878
Acceptance Rate 79.6% 64.5%
Enrolled % 9.1% 18.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.47 3.88
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Moderate Exceptional
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 17/23 30/34
SAT Range 967/1362 1360/1520
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 RPI
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Visual and Performing Arts (100%)
  • Engineering (53%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (9%)
  • Business (8%)
  • Engineering Technology (5%)
  • Architecture (5%)

Outcomes

 MICA RPI
Graduation Rate 71% 84%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $40,300 $82,500
Making Student Loan Payments 72% 92%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $27,500
Median Loan Payment $279 $284

Diversity

 MICA RPI
% Men 25% 69%
% Women 75% 31%
Racial Diversity Very High High
HBCU No No
% White 48% 59%
% Black 6% 3%
% Hispanic 7% 8%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 6% 7%
% International 15% 11%
% Unknown Race 5% 2%

Students

 MICA RPI
% In-State 28% 36%
% Out-of-State 56% 58%

Campus

 MICA RPI
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No Yes
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is larger than than MICA based on total student enrollment (6,968 students vs. 1,952 students)

MICA vs. RPI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MICA or RPI?

  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is 13% more expensive to attend than MICA for in-state tuition ($58,600.00 vs. $51,870.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 13% higher at RPI than Maryland Institute College of Art ($58,600.00 vs. $51,870.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute than MICA ($39,127 vs. $43,545)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Maryland Institute College of Art are 11.1% lower than costs at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ($15,290 vs. $16,980)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Maryland Institute College of Art than Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (100% vs. 90%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute students is 49.9% larger than aid received Maryland Institute College of Art ($38,636 vs. $25,767)

MICA vs. RPI Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (1368) is 228 points higher than at MICA (1140)
  • Accepted freshman RPI students have a 0.41 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at MICA (3.47)
  • MICA has a higher acceptance rate (79.6%) than RPI (64.5%)

MICA vs. RPI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at RPI is higher than Maryland Institute College of Art (84% vs. 71%)
  • Graduates from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute earn on average $42,200 more per year than MICA graduates after ten years. ($82,500 vs. $40,300)
  • Maryland Institute College of Art students graduate with a $500 lower median federal student loan debt than RPI graduates. ($27,000 vs. $27,500)
  • MICA graduates are paying $5 less per month on federal student loans than RPI graduates. ($279 vs. $284)
  • More RPI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MICA students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 72%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/