MCA vs. UTC

Should I go to Memphis College of Art or The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if MCA or UTC 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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Memphis College of Art vs. The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga comparison
Memphis College of Art The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga College 3 College 4
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
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Overview

MCA UTC
Location Memphis, TN Chattanooga, TN
Setting Large City Midsize City
Enrollment 116 11,283
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #788
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website mca.edu utc.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

MCA UTC
Tuition (In State) $32,400 $7,992
Tuition (Out of State) $32,400 $24,110
Room & Board $8,890 $9,500
Avg Net Price - $14,417
Avg Grant Aid $0 $9,309
% Receiving Grant Aid 0% 94%

Admission

MCA UTC
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied - 8,345
Admitted - 6,897
Acceptance Rate 82.6%
Enrolled % 32.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.33 3.61
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Unavailable Moderate
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 20/26
SAT Range 1023/1210
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline May 1, 2025

Academics

MCA UTC
Student to Faculty Ratio 6:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Visual and Performing Arts (100%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)

Outcomes

MCA UTC
Graduation Rate 32% 39%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $29,900 $40,600
Making Student Loan Payments 33% 56%
Median Student Loan Debt $33,000 $20,792
Median Loan Payment $341 $214

Diversity

MCA UTC
% Men 34% 42%
% Women 66% 58%
Racial Diversity High Low
HBCU No No
% White 57% 75%
% Black 29% 11%
% Hispanic 6% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 7%
% International 0% 1%
% Unknown Race 2% 1%

Students

MCA UTC
% In-State - 89%
% Out-of-State - 11%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is larger than than MCA based on total student enrollment (11,283 students vs. 116 students)

MCA vs. UTC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MCA or UTC?

  • Memphis College of Art is 305.4% more expensive to attend than UTC for in-state tuition ($32,400.00 vs. $7,992.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 34.4% higher at MCA than The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga ($32,400.00 vs. $24,110.00)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Memphis College of Art are 6.9% lower than costs at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga ($8,890 vs. $9,500)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga than Memphis College of Art (94% vs. 0%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga students is ?% larger than aid received Memphis College of Art ($9,309 vs. $0)

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

  • Accepted freshman UTC students have a 0.28 point higher average high school GPA (3.61) than students at MCA (3.33)

MCA vs. UTC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, MCA or UTC? 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 UTC and MCA.

  • The graduation rate at UTC is higher than Memphis College of Art (39% vs. 32%)
  • Graduates from The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga earn on average $10,700 more per year than MCA graduates after ten years. ($40,600 vs. $29,900)
  • The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga students graduate with a $12,208 lower median federal student loan debt than MCA graduates. ($20,792 vs. $33,000)
  • UTC graduates are paying $127 less per month on federal student loans than MCA graduates. ($214 vs. $341)
  • More UTC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MCA students, three years after graduation. (56% vs. 33%)

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