MCA vs. Memphis

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

MCA Memphis
Location Memphis, TN Memphis, TN
Setting Large City Large City
Enrollment 116 21,917
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #883
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website mca.edu memphis.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

MCA Memphis
Tuition (In State) $32,400 $8,352
Tuition (Out of State) $32,400 $12,576
Room & Board $8,890 $10,126
Avg Net Price - $13,873
Avg Grant Aid $0 $9,625
% Receiving Grant Aid 0% 98%

Admission

MCA Memphis
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied - 15,767
Admitted - 14,916
Acceptance Rate 94.6%
Enrolled % 16.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.33 3.48
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Unavailable Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 17/24
SAT Range 930/1230
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jul 1, 2025

Academics

MCA Memphis
Student to Faculty Ratio 6:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Visual and Performing Arts (100%)
  • Business (21%)
  • General Studies (11%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Health Professions (6%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (6%)

Outcomes

MCA Memphis
Graduation Rate 32% 38%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $29,900 $42,200
Making Student Loan Payments 33% 37%
Median Student Loan Debt $33,000 $25,250
Median Loan Payment $341 $261

Diversity

MCA Memphis
% Men 34% 40%
% Women 66% 60%
Racial Diversity High High
HBCU No No
% White 57% 50%
% Black 29% 37%
% Hispanic 6% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 4%
% International 0% 1%
% Unknown Race 2% 0%

Students

MCA Memphis
% In-State - 81%
% Out-of-State - 17%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • University of Memphis is larger than than MCA based on total student enrollment (21,917 students vs. 116 students)

MCA vs. Memphis Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MCA or Memphis?

  • Memphis College of Art is 287.9% more expensive to attend than Memphis for in-state tuition ($32,400.00 vs. $8,352.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 157.6% higher at MCA than University of Memphis ($32,400.00 vs. $12,576.00)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Memphis College of Art are 13.9% lower than costs at University of Memphis ($8,890 vs. $10,126)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Memphis than Memphis College of Art (98% vs. 0%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Memphis students is ?% larger than aid received Memphis College of Art ($9,625 vs. $0)

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

  • Accepted freshman Memphis students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.48) than students at MCA (3.33)

MCA vs. Memphis Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Memphis is higher than Memphis College of Art (38% vs. 32%)
  • Graduates from University of Memphis earn on average $12,300 more per year than MCA graduates after ten years. ($42,200 vs. $29,900)
  • University of Memphis students graduate with a $7,750 lower median federal student loan debt than MCA graduates. ($25,250 vs. $33,000)
  • Memphis graduates are paying $80 less per month on federal student loans than MCA graduates. ($261 vs. $341)
  • More Memphis graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MCA students, three years after graduation. (37% vs. 33%)

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