# 57QS WUR Ranking By Subject
39Undergrad & Postgrad Programmes
23 % International students
About Maryland Institute College of Art
Based in Baltimore, an artist-run mecca of DIY culture, Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) is the oldest independent university of art and design in the US. MICA has created a model for the education of artists and designers. Our transformative education encourages originality, nourishes creativity, inspired innovation and challenges your intellect.
MICA offers undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in:
- Fine arts
- Design
- Electronic media
- Art education
- Liberal arts
Why MICA?
- Top 10 - MFA programs in the visual arts, #3 in Graphic Design and Sculpture, and #4 in Painting and Drawing according to US News & World Report
- Ranked 3rd - MICA is ranked 3rd among the top 50 graphic design schools and colleges in the US, Animation Career Review 2015
- Top Producer - MICA is a top producer of Fulbright Scholars among specialty schools, Chronicle of Higher Education
- Best Northeastern College - for the last nine years, Princeton Review
- MICA is - an "education powerhouse," Fast Company Magazine; "world class," Huffington Post; "highly esteemed," Washington Post
- Unique Partnerships - with Johns Hopkins University, including a dual degree program
MICA is a diverse and vibrant place to story - it is home to more than 1,200 undergraduate and graduate students from almost every state and more than 40 countries, with international students making up almost a fifth of the student body.
Find out about scholarships here!
Follow MICA on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram,LinkedIn and YouTube!
About Maryland Institute College of Art
Based in Baltimore, an artist-run mecca of DIY culture, Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) is the oldest independent university of art and design in the US. MICA has created a model for the education of artists and designers. Our transformative education encourages originality, nourishes creativity, inspired innovation and challenges your intellect.
MICA offers undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in:
- Fine arts
- Design
- Electronic media
- Art education
- Liberal arts
Why MICA?
- Top 10 - MFA programs in the visual arts, #3 in Graphic Design and Sculpture, and #4 in Painting and Drawing according to US News & World Report
- Ranked 3rd - MICA is ranked 3rd among the top 50 graphic design schools and colleges in the US, Animation Career Review 2015
- Top Producer - MICA is a top producer of Fulbright Scholars among specialty schools, Chronicle of Higher Education
- Best Northeastern College - for the last nine years, Princeton Review
- MICA is - an "education powerhouse," Fast Company Magazine; "world class," Huffington Post; "highly esteemed," Washington Post
- Unique Partnerships - with Johns Hopkins University, including a dual degree program
MICA is a diverse and vibrant place to story - it is home to more than 1,200 undergraduate and graduate students from almost every state and more than 40 countries, with international students making up almost a fifth of the student body.
Find out about scholarships here!
Follow MICA on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram,LinkedIn and YouTube!
Available programmes
University information
MICA is highly selective. Our applicants have made a serious commitment to art and demonstrated that commitment through their accomplishments and a strong portfolio of artwork. Visit our web site at www.mica.edu/20questions for application procedures, deadlines, and current costs.
General
Bachelor
Master
Spaces for Creators and Innovators
At MICA, you’ll find an amazing range of spaces and
tools for artmaking that allow you to explore every avenue of creative
expression.
From traditional lost-wax casting to interactive video and sound, wet-processing for film-based photography to advanced digital workstations, 3D imaging and software to foundry, chisels and metalworking equipment, MICA gives our students the tools to turn ideas into works of art. If you can imagine it, you can make it at MICA.
- MICA provides state-of-the-art hardware and software for 3D animation, video and sound editing, graphic design and illustration applications, and awide range of fine arts applications – from 3D modeling to computer- assisted printmaking.
- Fabrication studios provide space and equipment for conventional building – wood shop, metalworking foundry and a model shop – as well asceramic, fiber and printmaking studios.
- Our digital fabrication studio houses 3D printers and scanners, computer controlled milling machines, laser cutters and other equipment that allows you to integrate digital modeling and control into fabricated objects.
- Full time graduate students are provided independent studios or collaborative workspaces with 24/7 access while their classes are in session and during spring break periods for the duration of their residencies. Full-time MFA students maintain studio access during the summer months between their first and second year of study.
- With over 40,000 square feet of studio space, most undergraduate departments offer independent studios for upper-division students.
- The JHU-MICA Film Centre is a state-of-the-art production facility housed in Baltimore’s historic Centre Theatre, renovated in conjunction with Johns Hopkins University.
- Brown Center features the versatile, 525-seat Falvey Hall, renowned asa venue for performance art, video and film, dance, theater, poetry readings and lectures. The Gateway is home to BBOX, a black box performance space that is the site of interdisciplinary, experimental, traditional and multimedia works created by MICA students, faculty and staff as well as the greater Baltimore arts community.
- The Fred Lazarus IV Graduate Center houses 12 of our 16 graduate programs and is the hub of graduate study at MICA. The center houses independent studios and collaborative workspaces, a public café and public galleries, digital computer and photo labs, fabrication shops, dedicated meeting spaces, seminar rooms, casual lounges, and student exhibition and critique areas.
- Decker Library has approximately 100,000 monographs and over 300current periodicals. The library’s website provides access to more than 9,200full-text research journals and 140,000 E-Books. Media resources include 40,000digital images, two streaming video collections and a circulating video/DVD collection of more than 5,000 titles.
- MICA has 12 gallery spaces and mounts more than 100 exhibitions each academic year, with work ranging from visiting artists to faculty and student shows.
Student life
With a bevy of exhibitions, artists talks and more than 3 dozen clubs and organizations on campus, life for both graduate and undergraduate students is lively and diverse. What's more, Baltimore is a hub for arts and culture located at the center of the northeast creative corridor.
Learn more about undergraduate student activities at MICA.
Discover opportunities to get involved in graduate student-run initiatives and organizations.
Find out more about The Graduate Experience at MICA and life as a graduate student in Baltimore.
Housing
MICA’s undergraduate housing complexes are designed for artists, who need a balance of independence and community.
- Founders Green is specifically designed with the needs of new students to MICA in mind. The sprawling green space and common areas in the heart of the complex make it ideal for meeting new people and interacting with your classmates. Home to more than 500 students, Founders Green consists of apartment spaces with either two or three bedrooms.
- Upper-level students can ease into independent living in Meyerhoff House or the Gateway—cutting-edge residential life experiences. Each apartment in Meyerhoff House has a unique character: high ceilings, exposed brick, interesting geometries, and, especially from the upper floors, spectacular views. Every bedroom is single occupancy. The Gateway anchors the north end of MICA’s campus (which is the gateway to Baltimore’s cultural corridor) and offers apartments, a studio tower, and BBOX, a multi-use performance space focusing on student events and performances, and the new home for the Joseph Meyerhoff Center for Career Development.
Dining
Meal service at MICA is provided by Parkhurst, a company that has earned its reputation as one of the nation’s best collegiate food service providers by offering dishes made from the freshest ingredients and innovative recipes prepared by thoughtful and service-oriented staff. Meal plans and service have been tailored to the unique tastes and schedules of student artists, with a diverse array of options, including ethnic and exotic entrées, vegetarian and vegan offerings, fresh side dishes and salads, and homemade desserts.
On-campus coffee shops and cafes include Meyerhoff Dining Room, located in the Meyerhoff Hous; Glace Grille, located in Founders Green; Java Corner, located on the 2nd floor of the Bunting Center; Café Doris, located in the Fox Building; and Nancy in the Lazarus Center.
Cost of Living
Accommodation
Food
Transport
Utilities
Tuition fees
Domestic
Domestic (Out of State)
International
Scholarships
Selecting the right scholarship can be a daunting process. With countless options available, students often find themselves overwhelmed and confused. The decision can be especially stressful for those facing financial constraints or pursuing specific academic or career goals.
To help students navigate this challenging process, we recommend the following articles:
How to get a full scholarship
Looking for a fully-funded scholarship to see you into university? Find out how to boost your chances of getting one.
Scholarships to study abroad
Find scholarships to study abroad with our lists of international scholarships – categorized by country, by subject, and by type of student.
Scholarship Applications: Frequently Asked Questions
Get answers to all your questions about scholarship applications, including tips on how to find scholarships and chances of success.
Employability
Undergraduate Alumni
MICA alumni use their vision and skills across industries and are powering the creative economy throughout the Baltimore region - and around the world. They are exhibiting artists, creative entrepreneurs, Google animators, filmmakers, comic artists, graphic designers, educators, mobile app developers, architects and so much more. Here are just a few examples of MICA's alumni who are finding success in traditional creative careers - and inventing new roles for themselves as creative makers.
Creatives at Work features the stories of successful MICA alumni who are fine artists, designers, media artists, art educators and entrepreneurs.
Graduate Alumni
MICA's 360-degree approach to graduate education - focused not only on creative skills but also on community engagement, professional development, collaboration and risk taking - produces graduates who are highly regarded leaders in a wide array of fields.
Here are just a few examples of alumni from MICA's graduate programs who are successfully pursuing creative careers - on their own terms.
Rankings & Ratings
Maryland Institute College of Art is one of the top Private not for Profit universities in Baltimore, United States. It is ranked #57 in QS WUR Ranking By Subject 2026.
QS WUR Ranking By Subject
- 2020#51-100
- 2021#44
- 2022#38
- 2023#33
- 2024#36
- 2025#51-100
- 2026#57
QS WUR Ranking By Subject
- 2020#51-100
- 2021#44
- 2022#38
- 2023#33
- 2024#36
- 2025#51-100
- 2026#57
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