Harvard vs. MCLA

Deciding between Harvard University and Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Harvard University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Harvard Cambridge, MA
  • MCLA North Adams, MA
  • Setting
  • Harvard Midsize City
  • MCLA Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Harvard 30,259
  • MCLA 896
  • Type
  • Harvard Private 4 Year
  • MCLA Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Harvard #4
  • MCLA
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Harvard -
  • MCLA -
  • Status
  • Harvard Non-profit
  • MCLA Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Harvard
  • MCLA

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • MCLA $12,436
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • MCLA $21,381
  • Room & Board
  • Harvard $21,190
  • MCLA $15,386
  • Average Net Price
  • Harvard $17,525
  • MCLA $16,544
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Harvard $68,015
  • MCLA $9,045
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Harvard 56%
  • MCLA 99%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Harvard 54,008
  • MCLA 1,208
  • Admitted
  • Harvard 1,970
  • MCLA 1,084
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Harvard 3.6%
  • MCLA 89.7%
  • Enrolled
  • Harvard 83.6%
  • MCLA 11.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Harvard 1550
  • MCLA 1070
  • Typical ACT score
  • Harvard 35
  • MCLA 19
  • Average High School GPA
  • Harvard 4.0
  • MCLA 3.2
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Harvard A/A+
  • MCLA B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Harvard Elite
  • MCLA Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • Harvard Extreme
  • MCLA
  • ACT Range
  • Harvard 34/36
  • MCLA 17/21
  • SAT Range
  • Harvard 1510/1580
  • MCLA 960/1180
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Harvard Required
  • MCLA Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • Harvard Jan 1, 2027
  • MCLA

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Harvard 7:1
  • MCLA 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Harvard
    • Social Sciences (32%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • History (9%)
    • Mathematics (6%)
  • MCLA
    • English and Literature (20%)
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • General Studies (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Harvard 97%
  • MCLA 53%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Harvard $136,700
  • MCLA $37,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Harvard 70%
  • MCLA 63%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Harvard $6,500
  • MCLA $24,659
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Harvard $67
  • MCLA $254

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Harvard 46%
  • MCLA 43%
  • % Women
  • Harvard 54%
  • MCLA 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Harvard Very High
  • MCLA Low
  • HBCU
  • Harvard No
  • MCLA No
  • % White
  • Harvard 44%
  • MCLA 74%
  • % Asian
  • Harvard 19%
  • MCLA 2%
  • % Black
  • Harvard 6%
  • MCLA 9%
  • % Hispanic
  • Harvard 10%
  • MCLA 8%
  • % Native American
  • Harvard 0%
  • MCLA 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Harvard 0%
  • MCLA 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Harvard 6%
  • MCLA 3%
  • % International
  • Harvard 11%
  • MCLA 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Harvard 3%
  • MCLA 4%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Harvard 14%
  • MCLA 63%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Harvard 68%
  • MCLA 36%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Harvard Yes
  • MCLA Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Harvard Yes
  • MCLA No
  • Meal Plan
  • Harvard Yes
  • MCLA Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Harvard No
  • MCLA Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Harvard Yes
  • MCLA No

Comparable Facts

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

Harvard University is larger than MCLA based on total student enrollment (30,259 students vs. 896 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Harvard University is located in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting); Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts is in North Adams, MA (Distant Town setting).
  • Harvard University 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: Harvard University 7:1; Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts 8:1.

Harvard vs. MCLA Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Harvard 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 Harvard ($16,544 vs. $17,525).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts are 27.4% lower than at Harvard University ($15,386 vs. $21,190).
  • Harvard University is 395.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than MCLA (about $49,240 more per year; $61,676.00 vs. $12,436.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 188.5% higher at Harvard than at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (about $40,295 more per year; $61,676.00 vs. $21,381.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts than at Harvard University (99% vs. 56%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harvard University students is 652% larger than aid received by Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts students ($68,015 vs. $9,045).

Harvard vs. MCLA Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Harvard 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 Harvard.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Harvard University (1550) is 480 points higher than at MCLA (1070).
  • Incoming Harvard students have a 16 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 19 at MCLA).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 1510/1580; Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts 960/1180.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 34/36; Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts 17/21.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Harvard - Required; MCLA - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Harvard Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Harvard students have a 0.8 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at MCLA (3.2).
  • MCLA has a higher acceptance rate (89.7%) than Harvard (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 83.6% at Harvard vs. 11.5% at MCLA.

Harvard vs. MCLA Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Harvard 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).

  • Harvard University's six-year graduation rate (97%) is higher than Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts's (53%).
  • Graduates from Harvard University earn a median of about $99,600 more per year than MCLA graduates about ten years after starting college ($136,700 vs. $37,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Harvard University graduates have a $18,159 lower median loan debt than MCLA graduates ($6,500 vs. $24,659).
  • Among borrowers, Harvard graduates have an estimated $187 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than MCLA graduates ($67 vs. $254).
  • More Harvard graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MCLA students, three years after graduation. (70% vs. 63%)

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.