MICA vs. Penn State Brandywine

Comparable Facts

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

Maryland Institute College of Art is larger than Penn State Brandywine based on total student enrollment (1,687 students vs. 1,236 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Maryland Institute College of Art is located in Baltimore, MD (Large City setting); Penn State Brandywine is in Media, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Maryland Institute College of Art is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Brandywine is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Maryland Institute College of Art 9:1; Penn State Brandywine 15:1.

MICA vs. Penn State Brandywine Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MICA or Penn State Brandywine? 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 Brandywine than MICA ($22,710 vs. $47,834).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Brandywine are 29% lower than at Maryland Institute College of Art ($14,474 vs. $20,400).
• Maryland Institute College of Art is 273.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Brandywine (about $41,592 more per year; $56,800.00 vs. $15,208.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 123.7% higher at MICA than at Penn State Brandywine (about $31,408 more per year; $56,800.00 vs. $25,392.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Maryland Institute College of Art than at Penn State Brandywine (100% vs. 73%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Maryland Institute College of Art students is 224.6% larger than aid received by Penn State Brandywine students ($29,578 vs. $9,113).

MICA vs. Penn State Brandywine Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Brandywine (1200) is 10 points higher than at MICA (1190).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Maryland Institute College of Art 1078/1305; Penn State Brandywine 1080/1310.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Maryland Institute College of Art 25/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: MICA - Test optional; Penn State Brandywine - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: MICA Feb 1, 2027.
• Penn State Brandywine has a higher acceptance rate (98.1%) than MICA (76.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.4% at MICA vs. 16.8% at Penn State Brandywine.

MICA vs. Penn State Brandywine Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MICA and Penn State Brandywine? 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 Brandywine's (37%).
• Graduates from Penn State Brandywine 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 Brandywine graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than MICA graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Penn State Brandywine 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 Brandywine 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.