Anna Maria College vs. MCLA

Comparable Facts

Compare Anna Maria College in Paxton, MA with Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in North Adams, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Anna Maria College is larger than MCLA based on total student enrollment (1,202 students vs. 896 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Anna Maria College is located in Paxton, MA (Rural Fringe setting); Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts is in North Adams, MA (Distant Town setting).
• Anna Maria College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Anna Maria College 12:1; Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts 8:1.

Anna Maria College vs. MCLA Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Anna Maria College or MCLA? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts than Anna Maria College ($16,544 vs. $29,094).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts are 14% lower than at Anna Maria College ($15,386 vs. $17,892).
• Anna Maria College is 258.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than MCLA (about $32,135 more per year; $44,571.00 vs. $12,436.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 108.5% higher at Anna Maria College than at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (about $23,190 more per year; $44,571.00 vs. $21,381.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Anna Maria College than at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (100% vs. 99%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Anna Maria College students is 258% larger than aid received by Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts students ($32,385 vs. $9,045).

Anna Maria College vs. MCLA Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Anna Maria College or MCLA? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between MCLA and Anna Maria College.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsMassachusetts College of Liberal Arts 960/1180.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsMassachusetts College of Liberal Arts 17/21.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Anna Maria College - Test optional; MCLA - Test-free.
• Accepted freshman MCLA students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (3.2) than students at Anna Maria College (2.94).
• MCLA has a higher acceptance rate (89.7%) than Anna Maria College (50.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 6.5% at Anna Maria College vs. 11.5% at MCLA.

Anna Maria College vs. MCLA Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Anna Maria College and MCLA? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts's six-year graduation rate (53%) is higher than Anna Maria College's (49%).
• Graduates from Anna Maria College earn a median of about $7,500 more per year than MCLA graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,600 vs. $37,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts graduates have a $341 lower median loan debt than Anna Maria College graduates ($24,659 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers, MCLA graduates have an estimated $4 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Anna Maria College graduates ($254 vs. $258).
• More MCLA graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Anna Maria College students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 59%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.