MICA vs. UNCSA

Comparable Facts

Compare Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore, MD with University of North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston Salem, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Maryland Institute College of Art is larger than UNCSA based on total student enrollment (1,687 students vs. 1,111 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Maryland Institute College of Art is located in Baltimore, MD (Large City setting); University of North Carolina School of the Arts is in Winston Salem, NC (Midsize City setting).
• Maryland Institute College of Art is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of North Carolina School of the Arts is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Maryland Institute College of Art 9:1; University of North Carolina School of the Arts 6:1.

MICA vs. UNCSA Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MICA or UNCSA? 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 University of North Carolina School of the Arts than MICA ($13,140 vs. $47,834).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of North Carolina School of the Arts are 33.7% lower than at Maryland Institute College of Art ($13,517 vs. $20,400).
• Maryland Institute College of Art is 499.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than UNCSA (about $47,323 more per year; $56,800.00 vs. $9,477.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 108.7% higher at MICA than at University of North Carolina School of the Arts (about $29,589 more per year; $56,800.00 vs. $27,211.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Maryland Institute College of Art than at University of North Carolina School of the Arts (100% vs. 62%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Maryland Institute College of Art students is 129.7% larger than aid received by University of North Carolina School of the Arts students ($29,578 vs. $12,876).

MICA vs. UNCSA Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of North Carolina School of the Arts (1260) is 70 points higher than at MICA (1190).
• Incoming MICA students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 25 at UNCSA).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Maryland Institute College of Art 1078/1305; University of North Carolina School of the Arts 1140/1370.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Maryland Institute College of Art 25/33; University of North Carolina School of the Arts 22/29.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: MICA - Test optional; UNCSA - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: MICA Feb 1, 2027; UNCSA Mar 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman UNCSA students have a 0.28 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at MICA (3.47).
• MICA has a higher acceptance rate (76.8%) than UNCSA (30%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.4% at MICA vs. 55.5% at UNCSA.

MICA vs. UNCSA Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MICA and UNCSA? 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 University of North Carolina School of the Arts's (58%).
• Graduates from Maryland Institute College of Art earn a median of about $1,200 more per year than UNCSA graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,300 vs. $39,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of North Carolina School of the Arts and MICA graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, University of North Carolina School of the Arts 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 UNCSA students, three years after graduation. (72% vs. 56%)

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.