At $38,429/yr net price, Maryland Institute College of Art graduates earn $45,212/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $11,212/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $38,429 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $153,716 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $45,212/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$11,212/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 13.7 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 71.3% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $26,500 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $27,796/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $31,148/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $38,922/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $45,577/yr |
| $110,001+ | $44,851/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design and Applied Arts. | Master | $67,240 | $39,905 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas. | Master | $50,782 | $44,330 |
| Arts, Entertainment,and Media Management. | Master | $38,289 | |
| Design and Applied Arts. | Bachelor | $27,504 | $26,842 |
| Fine and Studio Arts. | Master | $21,964 | $98,610 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts. | Bachelor | $21,508 | $27,000 |
| Fine and Studio Arts. | Bachelor | $19,786 | $26,677 |
The Risk Factor
71.3% of students at Maryland Institute College of Art graduate within 6 years. A significant share of students finish, but roughly 29% do not complete their degree.
Analysis
Maryland Institute College of Art asks you to pay $38,429 a year and pays you back a median of $45,212 a decade later. That gap is the whole story. Four years of net price runs past $150,000, and the median MICA graduate earns less than what many bachelor's holders make nationally. This is one of the harder financial bets among four-year private schools.
The program numbers are worse than the school-wide median suggests. Design and Applied Arts, the top-earning bachelor's track here, pays $27,504 early on. Film/Video and Photographic Arts sits at $21,508, and Fine and Studio Arts at $19,786. Every one of these carries roughly $27,000 in debt against a starting salary that a job outside the arts might match without any degree. Design is your best odds of the three, but "best" here still means below a living wage in Baltimore for the first years.
The specific risk is that MICA is an art school, so there is no engineering, nursing, or business major to pull the average up. Your earnings floor and ceiling are both set by creative fields that pay slowly. The 71% graduation rate also means close to three in ten of you leave with debt and no degree.
The net price tiers punish the middle. If your family earns under $30,000, you pay about $27,796. over $110,000, you pay $44,851. But the jump from the $48-75k tier to the $75-110k tier is steep, so a solidly middle-income family pays nearly full freight.
This school fits you if you have outside funding, low family cost, or a clear commercial design path and accept the early lean years. If you need your degree to service $26,500 in debt on a predictable salary, look elsewhere.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Maryland Institute College of Art worth the debt?
MICA graduates earn $45,212 after 10 years while carrying a median debt of $26,500, making the debt manageable for most programs. However, fine arts graduates averaging $21,964 may struggle with loan payments on that income level.
What are the highest paying majors at Maryland Institute College of Art?
Design and Applied Arts leads at $67,240 annually, followed by Teacher Education at $50,782. Fine and Studio Arts graduates earn significantly less at $21,964, creating a wide income gap between programs.
How does Maryland Institute College of Art financial aid work?
The net price averages $38,429 per year after aid, which is high for the eventual earnings most graduates see. Students should carefully compare aid packages since the school's 79% acceptance rate means merit aid may be limited.
Should I attend Maryland Institute College of Art for fine arts?
Fine arts graduates from MICA earn just $21,964 annually, making it difficult to justify the $38,429 yearly cost. Consider this program only if you have significant family support or alternative income plans.