School of the Art Institute of Chicago vs. MICA

Comparable Facts

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

School of the Art Institute of Chicago is larger than MICA based on total student enrollment (3,394 students vs. 1,687 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• School of the Art Institute of Chicago is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); Maryland Institute College of Art is in Baltimore, MD (Large City setting).
• School of the Art Institute of Chicago is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Maryland Institute College of Art is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: School of the Art Institute of Chicago 10:1; Maryland Institute College of Art 9:1.

School of the Art Institute of Chicago vs. MICA Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, School of the Art Institute of Chicago or MICA? 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 Maryland Institute College of Art than School of the Art Institute of Chicago ($47,834 vs. $55,631).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at School of the Art Institute of Chicago are 18.9% lower than at Maryland Institute College of Art ($16,550 vs. $20,400).
• Maryland Institute College of Art is 0.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than School of the Art Institute of Chicago (about $380 more per year; $56,800.00 vs. $56,420.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.7% higher at MICA than at School of the Art Institute of Chicago (about $380 more per year; $56,800.00 vs. $56,420.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Maryland Institute College of Art than at School of the Art Institute of Chicago (100% vs. 99%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Maryland Institute College of Art students is 47.5% larger than aid received by School of the Art Institute of Chicago students ($29,578 vs. $20,050).

School of the Art Institute of Chicago vs. MICA Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, School of the Art Institute of Chicago or MICA? 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 MICA and School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Maryland Institute College of Art (1190) is 40 points higher than at School of the Art Institute of Chicago (1150).
• Incoming MICA students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 23 at School of the Art Institute of Chicago).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: School of the Art Institute of Chicago 1048/1260; Maryland Institute College of Art 1078/1305.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: School of the Art Institute of Chicago 22/25; Maryland Institute College of Art 25/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: School of the Art Institute of Chicago - Test-free; MICA - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: School of the Art Institute of Chicago Nov 15, 2026; MICA Feb 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman School of the Art Institute of Chicago students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.51) than students at MICA (3.47).
• School of the Art Institute of Chicago has a higher acceptance rate (77.5%) than MICA (76.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.8% at School of the Art Institute of Chicago vs. 10.4% at MICA.

School of the Art Institute of Chicago vs. MICA Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for School of the Art Institute of Chicago and MICA? 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 School of the Art Institute of Chicago's (60%).
• Graduates from Maryland Institute College of Art earn a median of about $1,200 more per year than School of the Art Institute of Chicago graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,300 vs. $39,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, School of the Art Institute of Chicago graduates have a $1,287 lower median loan debt than MICA graduates ($25,713 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, School of the Art Institute of Chicago graduates have an estimated $14 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than MICA graduates ($265 vs. $279).
• More MICA graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former School of the Art Institute of Chicago students, three years after graduation. (72% vs. 62%)

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.