Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
North Adams, MA
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) is a public liberal arts college located in North Adams, Massachusetts. Established in 1894, MCLA offers a wide range of undergraduate programs in arts, sciences, and professional fields. The college takes pride in its small class sizes and emphasis on personalized attention, fostering a close-knit community of students and faculty.
MCLA has a strong commitment to liberal arts education and provides a well-rounded academic experience to its students. With over 50 academic programs, students can choose from majors in areas such as biology, business, computer science, education, fine arts, psychology, and more. The college also offers minors and concentrations to complement students' areas of study and enhance their learning experiences.
Beyond academics, MCLA provides a vibrant campus life with numerous extracurricular activities and organizations. Students can participate in clubs and organizations centered around their interests, join student government, or engage in community service through various volunteer opportunities. The college also hosts a wide range of cultural and social events, including art exhibitions, music performances, and guest lectures.
Overall, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts offers a comprehensive liberal arts education, combining rigorous academic programs with a supportive and inclusive campus community. With its commitment to small class sizes and personal attention, students can expect to receive a high-quality education and have many opportunities for personal and intellectual growth during their time at MCLA.
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts is a public comprehensive higher education institution located in North Adams, MA. Its campus is 105 acres in size. This educational institution operates on a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 94%. The freshman retention rate at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts is 64% and the six-year graduation rate is 56%.
Find out more about what you can expect if you get into Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.
Quick Facts
838
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
94%
Acceptance Rate
11:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
56%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
If you know as much as possible about the institution's criteria for admission, your chances of getting accepted will greatly improve. What are the admission requirements for Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts?
In 2023, the school accepted 1,348 new students. As far as admission difficulty is considered, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is moderately difficult to get into.
Test Scores
The latest reported average GPA of the enrolled students was 3.29. That means that you need a GPA that's above average in order to get into Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.
Retention Rate
What is the freshman retention rate? The freshman retention rate is the percentage of full-time students who entered the institution as freshmen in the previous academic year and returned for the fall term of the current academic year. Why is that metric important? Because it tells you if the majority of freshmen enjoyed their first year at a school enough to come back.
The freshman retention rate for Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts was 64% in 2023.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. This rate shows how many students complete their degrees in a certain number of years. The six-year graduation rate at this institution stands at 56%.
Student Body
It is always challenging to figure out which school is best for you. You can have a better understanding of the school's culture and way of life by finding out more about the student body.
Main Student Body
In 2023, the institution enrolled 938 students.
The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 32% for that year. 75 students enrolled as transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 320 male and 407 female full-time students in 2023, which speaks volumes for gender equality at this institution. This school had 17 full-time graduate male and 34 full-time graduate female students at this school.
Student Population Diversity
The importance of student diversity cannnot be denied, when it comes to the overall feeling of inclusion and beloning among the students of any school. In a diverse learning space, you will be exposed to people from different backgrounds, which promotes the feeling of inclusion and acceptance. Find out more about different ethnic groups you can meet at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.
In 2023, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of students of Asian origin was 20, while the number of Afro-American students was 82. 81 undergraduate students at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 30 identified with more than one race. The school also had 2 students who identified as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and 2 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 25 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Before submitting an application to any college or university, the financial component should be taken into consideration. Here are some details you should know about the expenses at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts that the majority of students face.
Tuition and Fees
Wondering about tuition at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts? Here is what you need to know.
According to the reports from public county and municipal institutions, tuition fees were $1,030 for area residents. Tuition fees were $9,975 for students coming from a different state. If you are an international student at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, you should know that the 2023 tuition was $9,975, as well. Fees per academic year required of full-time students totaled $10,276 in 2023.
| Tuition | Fees | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Out-of-State | $9,975 | $10,276 | $20,251 |
| In-State | $1,030 | $10,276 | $11,306 |
Books and Supplies
The estimated cost of books and supplies for a college or university should also be taken into account as another significant expense. The cost of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is estimated at about $1,000.
Boarding
Besides tuition, another cost to consider is the price of housing in the dorms and eating at the school cafeteria. What is the typical amount colleges and universities charge for room and board?
In 2023, room and board cost at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts amounted to $14,524 a year. Room-only (on campus) cost per academic year at this school came to $8,200, according to the data from 2023. The estimated expense of room-only (on campus) for commuters not living at home was $5,400.
| Tuition | $ 1,030 |
| Room and Board | $ 14,524 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,000 |
| Total Expense | $ 16,554 |
Financial Aid
There are different types of financial support: grants, loans, scholarships, and work-study programs. If you want to find out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, here are some recent data you should consider.
According to the most recent data, 140 freshmen were awarded financial aid. The average financial aid package awarded to students amounted to $19,849.
Need-based
Need-based aid is financial aid that a student can receive if they are determened to have financial need and meet other eligibility criteria.
457 students were granted some form of need-based financial aid. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts isn't available to international students. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need amounted to 508. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution summed up to $1,779,010, and state $1,607,865. The students of Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $2,211,285, and external in the amount of $215,600.
$3,446
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based aid is any type of financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid. Most students get non-need-based financial aid as Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the TEACH Grant.
422 students, including freshmen, got institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid at this institution in 2023. Institutional grants or scholarships that are not based on financial need were given to 135 full-time freshman. The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants was $470,643. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $38,615 USD.
Open Applications
Find open programs by choosing your preferred academic interest from the list below, and select your desired term start. Get started with your application process and find more information using the Apply button.
Majors
Faculty
11:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty ratio can tell you a lot about the teaching resources a school provides for its students.
According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts was 11:1: that means 11 students per one teacher, which is considered a good ratio. According to the most recent information, there are 62 faculty members at this school. Out of that number, there were 24 male and 38 female faculty members. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school speaks volumes for gender equality at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Knowing what to expect out of campus life at a college or university can set you up for success. Check out some details about students' life at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.
Student Organizations
Exploring a variety of student organizations can contribute to a more vibrant and rewarding educational experience.
There are 50 student organizations and groups with open membership at this school. The student organization that is most favored by students is Dance Company, followed by Harlequin-Musical Theatre Company and The Beacon (Student Newspaper). Other popular organizations among the students at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts are Student Government Association and Student Activities Council.
If you're a fan of the performing arts, there is a drama club you can get involved in. Interested in media and communication? Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
At Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, there are many amenities required for a comfortable and safe life on campus.
There are 24-hour emergency phone and alarm devices. The dormitory entrances are electronically operated. There is a round-the-clock security patrol. The late-night transport/escort service is available.
There is a medical clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Veteran's Affairs and Women's Center are available to the students of Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.
All in all, campus life at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts is rich and vibrant and provides all you need for a comfortable stay.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.
Career Counselling
At Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. There is campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be excellent for your future career. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
FAQ
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Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts is located in North Adams, MA.
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Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts doesn't offer need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
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The most recent data indicate that the acceptance rate for Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts is 94%.
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According to the latest information, the freshman retention rate for Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts is 64%.
Contact Information
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts,
375 Church Street
North Adams, MA
01247-4100
413 662-5000
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.