MICA vs. RIT

Comparable Facts

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

Rochester Institute of Technology is larger than MICA based on total student enrollment (17,098 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); Rochester Institute of Technology is in Rochester, NY (Large Suburban setting).
• Maryland Institute College of Art is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Rochester Institute of Technology is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Maryland Institute College of Art 9:1; Rochester Institute of Technology 13:1.

MICA vs. RIT Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MICA or RIT ? 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 Rochester Institute of Technology than MICA ($39,534 vs. $47,834).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rochester Institute of Technology are 20.9% lower than at Maryland Institute College of Art ($16,142 vs. $20,400).
• Rochester Institute of Technology is 4.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than MICA (about $2,474 more per year; $59,274.00 vs. $56,800.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 4.4% higher at RIT than at Maryland Institute College of Art (about $2,474 more per year; $59,274.00 vs. $56,800.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Maryland Institute College of Art than at Rochester Institute of Technology (100% vs. 98%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Rochester Institute of Technology students is 18.6% larger than aid received by Maryland Institute College of Art students ($35,077 vs. $29,578).

MICA vs. RIT Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rochester Institute of Technology (1380) is 190 points higher than at MICA (1190).
• Incoming RIT students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 29 at MICA).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Maryland Institute College of Art 1078/1305; Rochester Institute of Technology 1300/1460.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Maryland Institute College of Art 25/33; Rochester Institute of Technology 29/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: MICA - Test optional; RIT - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: MICA Feb 1, 2027; RIT Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman RIT students have a 0.23 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at MICA (3.47).
• MICA has a higher acceptance rate (76.8%) than RIT (66.9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.4% at MICA vs. 16.3% at RIT .

MICA vs. RIT Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MICA and RIT ? 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 Rochester Institute of Technology's (64%).
• Graduates from Rochester Institute of Technology earn a median of about $24,600 more per year than MICA graduates about ten years after starting college ($64,900 vs. $40,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Maryland Institute College of Art graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than RIT graduates ($27,000 vs. $28,000).
• Among borrowers, MICA graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RIT graduates ($279 vs. $289).
• More RIT graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MICA students, three years after graduation. (75% 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.