Maine College of Art & Design
A good fit for students who want accessible admissions and students who want small classes and close faculty access. no major red flags in the data. a private nonprofit school with 415 students.
About This School
Maine College of Art & Design is a private nonprofit institution located in Portland, Maine with approximately 415 undergraduate students enrolled. Maine College of Art & Design has an open or accessible admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 78%. The average net price after financial aid is $36,443 per year. The graduation rate is 49%, and the typical graduate earns $32,800 within 10 years of enrollment.
Maine College of Art & Design (MECA&D) is a private art school in Portland, Maine. Founded in 1882, Maine College of Art & Design is the oldest arts educational institution in Maine. Roughly 32% of MECA&D students are from Maine. The College is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education. In August 2021, the institution formerly named Maine College of Art changed its name to Maine College of Art & Design to reflect the school's emphasis on design.
The numbers tell a mixed story here: a 78% acceptance rate and small 415-student community make this accessible and intimate for serious art students, but a 49% graduation rate means roughly half of students who start don't finish — that's a significant red flag worth discussing before enrolling. Median earnings of $32,800 a decade out are modest, and while the $19,000 median debt at graduation is relatively manageable, the net price of $36,443 per year means you'll want to scrutinize your specific aid package carefully. Worth considering if you're committed to an arts-focused path in Portland and have a clear plan for finishing — but ask hard questions about student support and what's driving that low graduation rate.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Will This School Pay Off?
Solid return. Earnings outpace debt, though major choice matters.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (415 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Official Links
Other Schools in Maine
University of Maine
Orono, ME · Public
Unity Environmental University
New Gloucester, ME · Private nonprofit
Southern Maine Community College
South Portland, ME · Public
University of Southern Maine
Portland, ME · Public
Central Maine Community College
Auburn, ME · Public
University of Maine at Augusta
Augusta, ME · Public
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
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