Maine College of Art & Design — College Profile

About

Located in the heart of Portland’s vibrant Arts District, Maine College of Art & Design (MECA&D) is renowned for its immersive, hands-on visual arts education, particularly its highly regarded BFA programs in Illustration, Graphic Design, and Painting. The student experience is defined by a tight-knit, collaborative community of makers who thrive in an urban campus setting that blends seamlessly with Portland's bustling culinary and gallery scenes. What truly sets MECA&D apart is its historic, five-story Porteous Building, which grants sophomore-to-senior BFA students 24/7 access to their own dedicated, individual studio spaces. This creative independence is paired with the college's distinctive "Artists at Work" program, which provides students with concrete entrepreneurial resources and professional opportunities to bridge the gap between studio practice and a viable career.

Wikipedia: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.

Location

Portland, ME, 04101-3494 · City campus

✈

Nearest airport from college

PWM · Portland ME

2 mi away

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Cost

Cost of attendance

$60,128

Avg net price

$38,338

Room & board

$17,184

Tuition

$42,942

Books & supplies

$1,250/yr

Average net price by family income

$0–30k

$31,589

$30–48k

$33,075

$48–75k

$35,283

$75–110k

$40,992

$110k+

$42,001

Admissions

Admit rate

76%

Test policy

Not required

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Essay Requirements

Maine College of Art & Design accepts the Common Application. All Common App schools require the personal statement essay. Some schools also require supplemental essays — check the school's page on Common App for current prompts and word limits.

See the current Common App essay prompts for the personal statement options.

Outcomes

Graduation rate

50%

4-yr on-time completion

47%

1st-yr retention

72%

Transfer-out rate

17%

8-year outcomes

Graduated

45%

Transferred

27%

Still enrolled

Dropped out / unknown

28%

Median earnings (6yr)

$24,333

Median earnings (10yr)

$40,778

Median debt

$27,000

Monthly loan payment

$286

Debt range (25th–75th)

$5,500–$27,000

Debt (90th percentile)

$31,000

Student Body

Men 22%Women 78%

Student : Faculty ratio

■Students ■ Faculty

Pell grant recipients

29%

First-generation

24%

Median family income

$56,585

Independent students

12%

Avg age at entry

20.0

Part-time students

Race & ethnicity

White

78%

Hispanic

Black

Asian

Two or more

Unknown

Programs & Earnings

Bachelor's degrees by annual completions · 4yr national median earnings

Median earnings for graduates across all programs

6 years after entry

$24,333

10 years after entry

$40,778

Design and Applied Arts33

Fine and Studio Arts22

Graphic Communications14

Crafts/Craft Design, Folk Art and Artisanry7

Film/Video and Photographic Arts4

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Institutional

Endowment

$18M

Classification

Special Focus (Law)

Undergraduate profile

Four-year, selective admissions

Full-time faculty

32%

Avg faculty salary

$7,529/mo

Instructional spend/student

$15,840