MICA College vs San Francisco Art Institute (SFAI)

Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) and San Francisco Art Institute (SFAI) stand as prominent institutions in the realm of art education, each offering a unique blend of programs, opportunities, and experiences. While both share a commitment to fostering creativity and artistic expression, they differ in several key aspects. MICA boasts a higher acceptance rate, making it a more accessible option for aspiring artists. SFAI, on the other hand, has a smaller student body, resulting in a more intimate learning environment. Additionally, the two institutions vary in their popular majors, with MICA excelling in Illustration and SFAI renowned for its Photography program. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to delve into further details regarding acceptance rates, popular majors, student body demographics, graduation rates, and more, empowering you to make an informed decision that aligns with your artistic aspirations and academic goals.
Maryland Institute College of Art logo

Maryland Institute College of Art

San Francisco Art Institute logo

San Francisco Art Institute

Overview

Location Baltimore, Maryland San Francisco, California
Campus setting City: Large City: Large
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (Non Profit) Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 86.0%
Common app member Yes No
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 85.7% 94.7%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $70

Graduate: $75
Undergraduate: $75

Graduate: $85
SAT range N/A N/A
ACT range N/A N/A
Students submitting SAT score
Students submitting ACT score
Total number of applicants 3,066 169
Total number of admissions given out 2,629 160
Admitted students who chose to enroll 311
Yield rate 11.8%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A
High school GPA Required N/A
Recommendation letters Required N/A
High school transcript Not required N/A
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required N/A

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $65,940
Average net price $28,569
Tuition $50,160
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $11,200

Meal plan: $3,570
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

100.0%
Average amount $27,261
Students receiving federal student loan 42.0%
Average amount $5,435
Students taking out private loans 5.0%
Average amount $18,522

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 1,540
Men 24.4% Women 75.6%
42
Men 50.0% Women 50.0%
Graduate students 607
Men 27.8% Women 72.2%
28
Men 32.1% Women 67.9%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Moderate
Out-of-state students 67.6% N/A
International students 20.7% N/A
Campus local/setting City: Large City: Large
Dormitory capacity 997 N/A
First year students are required to live on campus? No N/A
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from Maryland New Jersey Virginia New York California N/A

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Business
  • Education
  • Multidisciplinary Studies
  • Architecture
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Multidisciplinary Studies
  • Social Sciences
Students to faculty ratio 10:1 4:1
Institutional accreditation Middle States Commission on Higher Education N/A

Outcome

Graduation rate 74.0% 31.8%
Dropout rate 25.3% 68.2%
Transferred out N/A N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Design and Applied Arts (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $43,714
  • Year 2: $67,240
  • Year 3: $78,199
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $50,514
  • Year 2: $50,782
  • Year 3: $52,113
Design and Applied Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $30,590
  • Year 2: $27,504
  • Year 3: $39,224
Fine and Studio Arts (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $34,442
  • Year 2: $21,964
  • Year 3: $33,773
Film/Video and Photographic Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $27,950
  • Year 2: $21,508
  • Year 3: $28,812
Fine and Studio Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $19,904
  • Year 2: $19,786
  • Year 3: $24,942
Film/Video and Photographic Arts (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $33,381
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
Arts, Entertainment,and Media Management (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $38,289
  • Year 3: N/A
Film/Video and Photographic Arts (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: $32,786
Fine and Studio Arts (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $27,309
  • Year 2: $30,119
  • Year 3: $30,264
Film/Video and Photographic Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $22,116
  • Year 2: $28,381
  • Year 3: $29,237
Fine and Studio Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $24,494
  • Year 2: $22,420
  • Year 3: $16,882
Visual and Performing Arts, Other (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $16,008
  • Year 3: N/A

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