MICA vs. Penn State Harrisburg

Comparable Facts

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

Penn State Harrisburg is larger than MICA based on total student enrollment (4,478 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 Harrisburg is in Middletown, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Maryland Institute College of Art is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Harrisburg is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Maryland Institute College of Art 9:1; Penn State Harrisburg 15:1.

MICA vs. Penn State Harrisburg Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MICA or Penn State Harrisburg? 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 Harrisburg than MICA ($23,788 vs. $47,834).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Harrisburg are 29% lower than at Maryland Institute College of Art ($14,474 vs. $20,400).
• Maryland Institute College of Art is 255.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Harrisburg (about $40,828 more per year; $56,800.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 110.7% higher at MICA than at Penn State Harrisburg (about $29,842 more per year; $56,800.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Maryland Institute College of Art than at Penn State Harrisburg (100% vs. 63%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Maryland Institute College of Art students is 219.9% larger than aid received by Penn State Harrisburg students ($29,578 vs. $9,245).

MICA vs. Penn State Harrisburg Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Harrisburg (1220) is 30 points higher than at MICA (1190).
• Incoming MICA students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 26 at Penn State Harrisburg).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Maryland Institute College of Art 1078/1305; Penn State Harrisburg 1120/1310.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Maryland Institute College of Art 25/33; Penn State Harrisburg 22/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: MICA - Test optional; Penn State Harrisburg - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: MICA Feb 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Penn State Harrisburg students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.48) than students at MICA (3.47).
• Penn State Harrisburg has a higher acceptance rate (97.6%) than MICA (76.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.4% at MICA vs. 11.2% at Penn State Harrisburg.

MICA vs. Penn State Harrisburg Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MICA and Penn State Harrisburg? 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 Harrisburg's (63%).
• Graduates from Penn State Harrisburg 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 Harrisburg graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than MICA graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Penn State Harrisburg 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 Harrisburg 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.