Fisher College vs. MCLA

Comparable Facts

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

Fisher College is larger than MCLA based on total student enrollment (1,652 students vs. 896 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Fisher College is located in Boston, MA (Large City setting); Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts is in North Adams, MA (Distant Town setting).
• Fisher 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: Fisher College 14:1; Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts 8:1.

Fisher College vs. MCLA Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Fisher 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 Fisher College ($16,544 vs. $28,596).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts are 14.7% lower than at Fisher College ($15,386 vs. $18,041).
• Fisher College is 187% more expensive for in-state tuition than MCLA (about $23,253 more per year; $35,689.00 vs. $12,436.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 66.9% higher at Fisher College than at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (about $14,308 more per year; $35,689.00 vs. $21,381.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts than at Fisher College (99% vs. 94%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Fisher College students is 180.6% larger than aid received by Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts students ($25,379 vs. $9,045).

Fisher College vs. MCLA Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Fisher 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 Fisher College.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (1070) is 130 points higher than at Fisher College (940).
• Incoming Fisher College students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 19) as students at MCLA (19).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Fisher College 800/1070; Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts 960/1180.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Fisher College 15/24; Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts 17/21.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Fisher College - Test-free; MCLA - Test-free.
• Accepted freshman MCLA students have a 0.48 point higher average high school GPA (3.2) than students at Fisher College (2.72).
• MCLA has a higher acceptance rate (89.7%) than Fisher College (70.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 6.1% at Fisher College vs. 11.5% at MCLA.

Fisher College vs. MCLA Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Fisher 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 Fisher College's (48%).
• Graduates from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts earn a median of about $1,100 more per year than Fisher College graduates about ten years after starting college ($37,100 vs. $36,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Fisher College graduates have a $5,472 lower median loan debt than MCLA graduates ($19,187 vs. $24,659).
• Among borrowers, Fisher College graduates have an estimated $56 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than MCLA graduates ($198 vs. $254).
• More MCLA graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fisher College students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 45%)

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.