MICA Admission Requirements

Admission Rate & Difficulty

Acceptance Rate

The acceptance rate at MICA is 77.3%.  Its admission rate is the 13th lowest in Maryland.

Admission Selectivity

How hard is it to get into MICA and can you get accepted?

Maryland Institute College of Art is an easy school to get into and you have a very good chance of acceptance if you meet the admission criteria. Last year, 2,417 out of the 3,127 who applied were admitted.

Maryland Institute College of Art typically accepts and attracts "B+" average high school students with an average GPA around 3.47. 11% of those admitted chose to enroll in the school.

Can you get into MICA?

77% are accepted, can you get in? Use the admission calculator to see if you have the grades and test scores needed to get in. See your admission chances based on your extracurriculars, intended major, background, and more.

Admission Requirements in Brief

To have the best chance of getting into to Maryland Institute College of Art you should:

• Have a high school GPA of 3.47 or better
• Earn B+ grades in high school
• Score 1070 on the SAT
• Score 28 on the ACT

GPA Requirements & Average GPA

What GPA do you need to get into Maryland Institute College of Art?

GPA Requirements

The GPA requirements for getting into MICA are to have around a 3.47 high school GPA. You are required to have above average high school grades.

If your high school grades are above the average 3.47 GPA, you have a very good chance of being admitted as MICA accepts 77% of applicants.

Average GPA

The average unweighted GPA at MICA is 3.47 on the 4.0 scale. To achieve the average GPA for admission, you need to earn B+ letter grades and regularly score around 87-89 percent on tests and assignments in high school.  The school ranks #13 in Maryland for highest average GPA.

Importance of GPA

Since MICA is a test optional college, extra focus will be placed on your GPA when the school considers your application. As a result, it is very important that you meet the GPA requirements.

See additional colleges accepting applicants in the 3.5 GPA range.

GPA Data Source, Peterson's Data 2024

Testing Requirements

Submission of SAT or ACT scores is not required for admission to Maryland Institute College of Art. If you optionally submit test scores, they will be considered with your application, but they are not mandatory. 11% of students submitted SAT scores and 8% submitted ACT scores for admission for the most recent academic year..

SAT Requirements & Average SAT Score

SAT Scores you need to get in

What are the SAT requirements for you to be admitted to Maryland Institute College of Art?

Average Score & Range

The average SAT score at MICA is 1070 out of 1600 and the range for the middle 50% of accepted students is 915-1220. Students who get into Maryland Institute College of Art score in the top 100 percent of all SAT test takers..  MICA ranks #14 in the state of Maryland for highest average SAT composite score.

Score for Acceptance

You should target scoring 1070 or above to be most competitive with other applicants. MICA regularly admits students with SAT scores down to 915 on a 1600 scale. However, three quarter of admitted students score higher. If you score below a 915, admission should be considered a reach. Some students may be accepted with minimum SAT's as low as 760, but scores this low are outside the normal range.

Score Submission Requirements

Maryland Institute College of Art is a test optional school meaning do not have to submit SAT scores with your application. The position on SAT scores from the college is "not required for admission, but considered if submitted (test optional)".

View other colleges which accept students in the 1070 SAT score range.

Chance of Acceptance by SAT Score

The table below outlines your predicted admission chances based on SAT score alone. If you are an average applicant with a score of 1067, you have around a 77% chance of being admitted. A 1220 places you well ahead of most other applicants and gives you about a 86% chance of getting in.

ACT Requirements & Average ACT Score

ACT Scores needed to get accepted

What are the ACT requirements for students to get into MICA?

Score Range

The average ACT score for admitted students to MICA is 28, while the middle 50% of students (25th to 75th percentile) score between a 26 and 30.  The school ranks #6 in Maryland and #215 in the U.S. for highest average ACT composite score.

Score for Acceptance

For the best chance of admission, you should have an ACT of 28. This will place you in solid competition against other applicants. At a minimum, you should aim for a 26 and score in the score in the top 18 percent nationally. The lowest ACT score likely to be admitted is a 24.

8 percent of applicants submit ACT scores to Maryland Institute College of Art.

Score Submission Requirements

You do not have to to submit ACT scores with your application as Maryland Institute College of Art is test optional. The policy from the school on ACT scores is "not required for admission, but considered if submitted (test optional)".

Find other colleges with similar ACT score requirements

Chance of Acceptance by ACT Score

Here are your predicted chances of getting into MICA for different ACT score ranges. A typical applicant with a 28 score has around 77% chance of getting in. Your odds increase to about 86% with a 30 ACT score.

Admission Statistics

Admission and enrollment rates by gender are detailed the the table below.

Fall 2025 Application Deadline

Application Fee

The cost for prospective students to apply to Maryland Institute College of Art is $70.

Application Requirements

What are the requirements for admission to Maryland Institute College of Art and what student information is used for admission decisions?

Credits Accepted

Admission Requirements Summary

Because Maryland Institute College of Art is lightly competitive to get into, you have a very good chance of acceptance with the right GPA and test scores. If you have a 3.47 GPA, you are almost certain to getting in. Combining this with an SAT score of 1070 and ACT of 28 will almost guarantee your admission.