MICA vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley

Comparable Facts

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

Maryland Institute College of Art is larger than Penn State Lehigh Valley based on total student enrollment (1,687 students vs. 867 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

MICA vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MICA or Penn State Lehigh Valley? 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 Lehigh Valley than MICA ($19,066 vs. $47,834).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Lehigh Valley are 25.1% lower than at Maryland Institute College of Art ($15,274 vs. $20,400).
• Maryland Institute College of Art is 273.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Lehigh Valley (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 Lehigh Valley (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 Lehigh Valley (100% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Maryland Institute College of Art students is 226.3% larger than aid received by Penn State Lehigh Valley students ($29,578 vs. $9,065).

MICA vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Lehigh Valley (1230) is 40 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 Lehigh Valley 1130/1320.
• 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 Lehigh Valley - 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 Lehigh Valley (3.42).
• Penn State Lehigh Valley has a higher acceptance rate (97.4%) than MICA (76.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.4% at MICA vs. 14% at Penn State Lehigh Valley.

MICA vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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