MICA vs. RISD

Deciding between Maryland Institute College of Art and Rhode Island School of Design? 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
Rhode Island School of Design

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • MICA Baltimore, MD
  • RISD Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • MICA Large City
  • RISD Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • MICA 1,687
  • RISD 2,520
  • Type
  • MICA Private 4 Year
  • RISD Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • MICA #283
  • RISD #92
  • Religious Affiliation
  • MICA -
  • RISD -
  • Status
  • MICA Non-profit
  • RISD Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • MICA
  • RISD

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • MICA $56,800
  • RISD $62,688
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • MICA $56,800
  • RISD $62,688
  • Room & Board
  • MICA $20,400
  • RISD $16,626
  • Average Net Price
  • MICA $47,834
  • RISD $43,492
  • Average Grant Aid
  • MICA $29,578
  • RISD $38,223
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • MICA 100%
  • RISD 31%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • MICA 3,201
  • RISD 6,692
  • Admitted
  • MICA 2,458
  • RISD 1,249
  • Acceptance Rate
  • MICA 76.8%
  • RISD 18.7%
  • Enrolled
  • MICA 10.4%
  • RISD 41.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • MICA 1190
  • RISD 1460
  • Typical ACT score
  • MICA 29
  • RISD 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • MICA 3.47
  • RISD 3.71
  • Typical High School Grades
  • MICA B+
  • RISD A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • MICA Difficult
  • RISD Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • MICA
  • RISD Very High
  • ACT Range
  • MICA 25/33
  • RISD 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • MICA 1078/1305
  • RISD 1396/1530
  • Submit Test Scores
  • MICA Test optional
  • RISD Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • MICA Feb 1, 2027
  • RISD Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • MICA 9:1
  • RISD 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • MICA
    • Visual and Performing Arts (100%)
  • RISD
    • Visual and Performing Arts (73%)
    • Architecture (18%)
    • Work and Family Studies (5%)
    • Precision Production Trades (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • MICA 71%
  • RISD 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • MICA $40,300
  • RISD $51,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • MICA 72%
  • RISD 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • MICA $27,000
  • RISD $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • MICA $279
  • RISD $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • MICA 24%
  • RISD 29%
  • % Women
  • MICA 76%
  • RISD 71%
  • Racial Diversity
  • MICA High
  • RISD Very High
  • HBCU
  • MICA No
  • RISD No
  • % White
  • MICA 48%
  • RISD 31%
  • % Asian
  • MICA 13%
  • RISD 19%
  • % Black
  • MICA 6%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • MICA 7%
  • RISD 8%
  • % Native American
  • MICA 0%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • MICA 0%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • MICA 6%
  • RISD 4%
  • % International
  • MICA 15%
  • RISD 26%
  • % Unknown Race
  • MICA 5%
  • RISD 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • MICA 33%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Out-of-State
  • MICA 49%
  • RISD 55%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore, MD with Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, RI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rhode Island School of Design is larger than MICA based on total student enrollment (2,520 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); Rhode Island School of Design is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
  • Maryland Institute College of Art is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Rhode Island School of Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Maryland Institute College of Art 9:1; Rhode Island School of Design 8:1.

MICA vs. RISD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MICA or RISD? 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 Rhode Island School of Design than MICA ($43,492 vs. $47,834).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rhode Island School of Design are 18.5% lower than at Maryland Institute College of Art ($16,626 vs. $20,400).
  • Rhode Island School of Design is 10.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than MICA (about $5,888 more per year; $62,688.00 vs. $56,800.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 10.4% higher at RISD than at Maryland Institute College of Art (about $5,888 more per year; $62,688.00 vs. $56,800.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Maryland Institute College of Art than at Rhode Island School of Design (100% vs. 31%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rhode Island School of Design students is 29.2% larger than aid received by Maryland Institute College of Art students ($38,223 vs. $29,578).

MICA vs. RISD Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rhode Island School of Design (1460) is 270 points higher than at MICA (1190).
  • Incoming RISD students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 29 at MICA).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Maryland Institute College of Art 1078/1305; Rhode Island School of Design 1396/1530.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Maryland Institute College of Art 25/33; Rhode Island School of Design 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: MICA - Test optional; RISD - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: MICA Feb 1, 2027; RISD Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman RISD students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at MICA (3.47).
  • MICA has a higher acceptance rate (76.8%) than RISD (18.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.4% at MICA vs. 41.5% at RISD.

MICA vs. RISD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MICA and RISD? 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).

  • Rhode Island School of Design's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than Maryland Institute College of Art's (71%).
  • Graduates from Rhode Island School of Design earn a median of about $10,800 more per year than MICA graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,100 vs. $40,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Rhode Island School of Design and MICA graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, Rhode Island School of Design and MICA graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($279 vs. $279).
  • More RISD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MICA students, three years after graduation. (89% 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.