Admit rate has ranged 64%–86% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) is a fiercely creative, Baltimore-based art school where students dive deep into their craft—whether fine arts, design, or art education—while building careers that defy traditional boundaries. With an acceptance rate hovering around 77%, MICA is accessible yet rigorous, fostering a tight-knit, diverse community where artistic experimentation thrives. Graduates enter fields as varied as game design, nonprofit leadership, and space technology, though early-career earnings lag behind some peers.
Admission requirements
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
Demonstrated competencies
TOEFL (non-native English)
Considered (not required)
Class rank
Letters of recommendation
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
College-prep program
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
1,189
In-state tuition
$56,800
Out-of-state tuition
$56,800
Acceptance Rate
77%
Graduation Rate
53%
Notable Program
Nationally ranked Art Education (MAT)
Undergraduate Majors
17
Early Career Earnings
$30,000
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$45,212
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
1.1×
Median debt at graduation
$26,500
Graduation rate
72%
First-year retention
83%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
73%
Pell (lower-income) share
45%
First-generation share
17%
Endowment / student
$98,743
Financial health
2.4 / 3.0Meets the federal financial-responsibility standard
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Design and Applied Arts$27,504
Film/Video and Photographic Arts$21,508
Fine and Studio Arts$19,786
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
1
Per 1,000 students
0.84
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
86
Summer high
85°F
Winter low
30°F
Annual rain
61.1"
Annual snow
13.5"
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively High
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Research output
Institutional h-index
38
Scholarly works
503
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Economic mobility
Mobility rate
1.5%
Bottom → top quintile
28%
From bottom quintile
5%
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at Maryland Institute College of Art?
Maryland Institute College of Art's acceptance rate is approximately 77% (Baltimore, MD), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for Maryland Institute College of Art?
Admitted students at Maryland Institute College of Art typically score 1078–1305 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does Maryland Institute College of Art cost?
At Maryland Institute College of Art, the average net price (after aid) is about $42,729 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Maryland Institute College of Art?
Maryland Institute College of Art enrolls approximately 1,189 undergraduate students.
Where is Maryland Institute College of Art located?
Maryland Institute College of Art is located in Baltimore, MD.
Admissions
MICA’s admissions process is test-optional and accepts the Common Application, with a 77% acceptance rate (3,201 applicants in 2024, 2,458 admitted). Early Action is offered, but not Early Decision. The school emphasizes portfolio strength over standardized test scores—though international students can waive English proficiency requirements with a minimum SAT score of 470 (English section) or ACT score of 18. Notably, 87% of admitted students enroll, suggesting strong YieldThe share of admitted students who actually choose to enroll. Colleges watch it closely, which is why some weigh how interested you seem. for an art school.
MICA is all-in on art, offering 17 majors and 24 minors exclusively in arts disciplines—from Game Design to Art Education (its MAT program is nationally recognized). The curriculum blends studio rigor with liberal arts, preparing students for careers in unexpected sectors like defense, IT, and healthcare. Alumni testimonials highlight the program’s balance of technical skill and conceptual daring, though some note that ROI varies by major (e.g., Game Design grads report strong outcomes). The faculty are working artists, and the vibe is .
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
Life at MICA revolves around studios, critiques, and Baltimore’s gritty arts scene. The campus culture is inclusive and DIY, with students from diverse backgrounds collaborating on projects that often spill into the city’s galleries and maker spaces. A Facebook post from a student captures the ethos: 'At MICA, I found more than studios—I found a community rooted in art and humanity.' There’s no Greek life; socializing happens at gallery openings, film screenings, and the annual 'Artwalk' festival. The school’s tagline—'a good life and a good living through art'—hints at its pragmatic idealism.
MICA’s 53% graduation rate lags behind national averages, but its alumni network is scrappy and entrepreneurial. Early-career earnings hover around $30,000 (below expectations for similar institutions), though grads land in eclectic roles—from SpaceX designers to nonprofit founders. The school’s cash-flow margins have dipped recently (8.4% in fiscal 2025), per Fitch Ratings, but its focus on real-world skills means many students freelance or launch businesses before graduation. One outlier: Art Education grads, who benefit from the program’s strong reputation.
Tuition and fees are $53,340 (2024 estimate), but Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. varies widely. The school offers merit scholarships and Need-based aidFinancial aid awarded based on your family's ability to pay, as measured by forms like the FAFSA, rather than on achievements., with some students reporting net costs as low as $7,819 after grants. MICA’s Net Price Calculator emphasizes that aid packages often include federal loans and work-study—critical context for families budgeting for an art degree. One parent in a Facebook group noted their child’s aid package covered ~60% of costs, though outliers exist.
MICA is Baltimore’s art engine, where students learn to weld, code, and paint—often in the same semester. Its scrappy, urban energy sets it apart from bucolic art schools**, and its alumni infiltrate industries far beyond galleries. The trade-off? Graduates may hustle harder for financial stability, but they leave with a rare blend of technical chops and creative fearlessness. For students who want to 'make art that works' (and maybe pay rent doing it), MICA delivers.
