Maryland Institute College of Art — ROI, Cost & Payback
Maryland Institute College of Art charges a net price of $42,729/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $170,916. Median earnings ten years after entry are $45,212, below the $48,360 high-school baseline, so on this institution-wide metric the degree does not clear its cost. Program choice is what changes that. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
On institution-wide earnings, Maryland Institute College of Art does not clear its cost — it ranks #40 of 52 Maryland colleges we track by ROI. The specific program you pick moves this more than the school average.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $42,729/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $170,916 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $45,212 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$3,148/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $26,500 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$233,876 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Maryland Institute College of Art's own numbers. Net price $42,729 × 4 years = $170,916 total. Median earnings $45,212 fall $3,148 short of the $48,360 high-school baseline, so the premium this formula divides by is not positive and no break-even year exists on institution-wide pay. A programme here earning $58,360 would clear the $170,916 bill in about 17.1 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do Maryland Institute College of Art students graduate with?
A median $26,500 in federal loans among completers, or 59% of the $45,212 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Maryland Institute College of Art students graduate?
72% finish their degree. Spread the $170,916 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $237,383 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Maryland Institute College of Art expensive compared with other Maryland colleges?
Its $42,729 net price runs $25,151 above the $17,578 median across the 52 Maryland colleges we profile, or $100,604 more across the full degree.