MICA vs. Penn State Beaver

Comparable Facts

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

Maryland Institute College of Art is larger than Penn State Beaver based on total student enrollment (1,687 students vs. 482 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Maryland Institute College of Art is located in Baltimore, MD (Large City setting); Penn State Beaver is in Monaca, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Maryland Institute College of Art is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Beaver is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Maryland Institute College of Art 9:1; Penn State Beaver 12:1.

MICA vs. Penn State Beaver Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MICA or Penn State Beaver? 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 Beaver than MICA ($18,581 vs. $47,834).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Beaver are 29% lower than at Maryland Institute College of Art ($14,474 vs. $20,400).
• Maryland Institute College of Art is 294.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Beaver (about $42,392 more per year; $56,800.00 vs. $14,408.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 135.4% higher at MICA than at Penn State Beaver (about $32,666 more per year; $56,800.00 vs. $24,134.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Maryland Institute College of Art than at Penn State Beaver (100% vs. 88%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Maryland Institute College of Art students is 227% larger than aid received by Penn State Beaver students ($29,578 vs. $9,045).

MICA vs. Penn State Beaver Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Maryland Institute College of Art (1190) is the same as at Penn State Beaver (1190).
• Incoming MICA students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 25 at Penn State Beaver).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Maryland Institute College of Art 1078/1305; Penn State Beaver 1080/1290.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Maryland Institute College of Art 25/33; Penn State Beaver 24/27.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: MICA - Test optional; Penn State Beaver - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: MICA Feb 1, 2027.
• Penn State Beaver has a higher acceptance rate (95.7%) than MICA (76.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.4% at MICA vs. 9.5% at Penn State Beaver.

MICA vs. Penn State Beaver Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MICA and Penn State Beaver? 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 Beaver's (47%).
• Graduates from Penn State Beaver 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 Beaver graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than MICA graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Penn State Beaver 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 Beaver 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.