Maryland Institute College of Art
Maryland Institute College of Art is an independent art school in Baltimore offering undergraduate and postgraduate fine art and design programmes; admission requires a portfolio of 10-15 works and, for international students, English proficiency evidence.
Baltimore, MD, United StatesIndependent art schoolmica.edu
Schools and subjects
- Fine Art
- Graphic Design
- Illustration
- Filmmaking
- Photography
- Social Design
Listed under: film schools, photography schools, illustration schools, graphic design schools, fine art schools.
Undergraduate requirements
BFA
Must submit 10-15 pieces of artwork (portfolio of 10-15 pieces of artwork), no prompts, no home exam; may include class and independent works, and should show finished pieces. Uploaded via the Applicant Portal after submitting the application.
International applicants (English not first language) must submit TOEFL / IELTS / PTE / Duolingo. Minimum IELTS 6.0; minimum TOEFL iBT 75 (before 21 January 2026) or 4 (afterwards); PTE 58; Duolingo 105. MICA institution code 5399.
2026-2027 full-time undergraduate tuition: Full-Time Academic Year $58,310 (per credit $2,430, 12.0-19.5 credits/year).
Fall 2027 first-year priority/regular deadline 1 February 2027; Spring 2027 deadline 16 November 2026; Transfer Fall 2027 deadline 15 March 2027; rolling review thereafter.
Postgraduate requirements
MA / MFA / MPS / MAT
Each programme requires a portfolio (via SlideRoom, etc.), requirements vary by programme. For example, Graphic Design MA suggests 15-18 digital images; Filmmaking MFA may submit up to 10 videos (total duration not exceeding 40 minutes) or up to 10 visual/writing works; Photography MFA limits still images to 20 and moving-image works to 5 minutes maximum. A work description must be attached.
Graduate applicants whose first language is not English must demonstrate English proficiency. Minimum IELTS 6.0; minimum TOEFL iBT 75 (before 21 January 2026) or 4 (afterwards); in some cases a degree taught in English may be accepted for exemption. MICA institution code 5399.
2026-2027 Fall/Spring graduate tuition: Academic year $58,310 (per credit $2,430); low-residency programme $29,155/summer term.
Residential MFA/MA: Round 1 19 January, Round 2 19 March (both Fall entry); Online graduate: 20 August (Fall) / 6 January (Spring) / 27 April (Summer).
Other notes
First Year Experience (FYE), a foundation-level exploratory programme for undergraduates, comprising 8 studio courses (24 credits); plus Pre-College Summer Intensive (ages 15-17, may earn college credit, requires a portfolio of 4 works).
International new students are automatically entered into merit scholarship review; includes the Creative Vision Award ($5,000-$17,500/year), Thalheimer Scholarship, and C.V. Starr Scholarship for International Students (up to $40,000/four years), among others.
Sources for this page
- https://www.mica.edu/
- https://www.mica.edu/admissions/undergraduate-admission/
- https://www.mica.edu/admissions/undergraduate-admission/portfolio-preparation/
- https://www.mica.edu/admissions/financial-aid/tuition-fees/undergraduate-tuition-fees/
- https://www.mica.edu/admissions/
- https://www.mica.edu/admissions/graduate-admission/
- https://www.mica.edu/admissions/graduate-admission/international/
- https://www.mica.edu/admissions/financial-aid/tuition-fees/graduate-tuition-fees/fall-spring-programs/
Taken from the school’s website and checked on 2026-10-27. Schools change their requirements every year; open the official pages above to confirm the current version before you apply.