MICA vs. Penn State Abington

Comparable Facts

Compare Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore, MD with Penn State Abington in Abington, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Penn State Abington is larger than MICA based on total student enrollment (2,885 students vs. 1,687 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Maryland Institute College of Art is located in Baltimore, MD (Large City setting); Penn State Abington is in Abington, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Maryland Institute College of Art is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Abington is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Maryland Institute College of Art 9:1; Penn State Abington 14:1.

MICA vs. Penn State Abington Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MICA or Penn State Abington? 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 Penn State Abington than MICA ($19,232 vs. $47,834).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Abington are 29% lower than at Maryland Institute College of Art ($14,474 vs. $20,400).
• Maryland Institute College of Art is 272% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Abington (about $41,532 more per year; $56,800.00 vs. $15,268.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 121.3% higher at MICA than at Penn State Abington (about $31,136 more per year; $56,800.00 vs. $25,664.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Maryland Institute College of Art than at Penn State Abington (100% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Maryland Institute College of Art students is 199.3% larger than aid received by Penn State Abington students ($29,578 vs. $9,883).

MICA vs. Penn State Abington Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, MICA or Penn State Abington? 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 Penn State Abington and MICA.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Maryland Institute College of Art (1190) is 20 points higher than at Penn State Abington (1170).
• Incoming MICA students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 25 at Penn State Abington).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Maryland Institute College of Art 1078/1305; Penn State Abington 1070/1265.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Maryland Institute College of Art 25/33; Penn State Abington 23/27.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: MICA - Test optional; Penn State Abington - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: MICA Feb 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman MICA students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.47) than students at Penn State Abington (3.42).
• Penn State Abington has a higher acceptance rate (96.8%) than MICA (76.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.4% at MICA vs. 11.2% at Penn State Abington.

MICA vs. Penn State Abington Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MICA and Penn State Abington? 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 Penn State Abington's (44%).
• Graduates from Penn State Abington earn a median of about $15,000 more per year than MICA graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $40,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Abington graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than MICA graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Penn State Abington graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than MICA graduates ($277 vs. $279).
• More MICA graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Abington students, three years after graduation. (72% vs. 69%)

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.