MICA vs. VMI

Comparable Facts

Compare Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore, MD with Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Maryland Institute College of Art is larger than VMI based on total student enrollment (1,687 students vs. 1,527 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Maryland Institute College of Art is located in Baltimore, MD (Large City setting); Virginia Military Institute is in Lexington, VA (Distant Rural setting).
• Maryland Institute College of Art is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Virginia Military Institute is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Maryland Institute College of Art 9:1; Virginia Military Institute 9:1.

MICA vs. VMI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MICA or VMI? 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 Virginia Military Institute than MICA ($18,825 vs. $47,834).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia Military Institute are 44.6% lower than at Maryland Institute College of Art ($11,310 vs. $20,400).
• Maryland Institute College of Art is 169.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than VMI (about $35,754 more per year; $56,800.00 vs. $21,046.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 7.9% higher at MICA than at Virginia Military Institute (about $4,162 more per year; $56,800.00 vs. $52,638.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Maryland Institute College of Art than at Virginia Military Institute (100% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Maryland Institute College of Art students is 24.2% larger than aid received by Virginia Military Institute students ($29,578 vs. $23,821).

MICA vs. VMI Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Maryland Institute College of Art (1190) is 30 points higher than at VMI (1160).
• Incoming MICA students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 27 at VMI).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Maryland Institute College of Art 1078/1305; Virginia Military Institute 1050/1270.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Maryland Institute College of Art 25/33; Virginia Military Institute 24/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: MICA - Test optional; VMI - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: MICA Feb 1, 2027; VMI Feb 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman VMI students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.65) than students at MICA (3.47).
• MICA has a higher acceptance rate (76.8%) than VMI (71.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.4% at MICA vs. 31.7% at VMI.

MICA vs. VMI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MICA and VMI? 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 Virginia Military Institute's (69%).
• Graduates from Virginia Military Institute earn a median of about $21,800 more per year than MICA graduates about ten years after starting college ($62,100 vs. $40,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Virginia Military Institute graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than MICA graduates ($25,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, VMI graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than MICA graduates ($258 vs. $279).
• More VMI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MICA students, three years after graduation. (84% 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.