Maine Maritime Academy vs. MCLA

Comparable Facts

Compare Maine Maritime Academy in Castine, ME with Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in North Adams, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Maine Maritime Academy is larger than MCLA based on total student enrollment (971 students vs. 896 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Maine Maritime Academy is located in Castine, ME (Distant Rural setting); Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts is in North Adams, MA (Distant Town setting).
• Maine Maritime Academy is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Maine Maritime Academy 10:1; Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts 8:1.

Maine Maritime Academy vs. MCLA Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Maine Maritime Academy 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 Maine Maritime Academy ($16,544 vs. $23,618).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Maine Maritime Academy are 20.2% lower than at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts ($12,282 vs. $15,386).
• Maine Maritime Academy is 21.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than MCLA (about $2,722 more per year; $15,158.00 vs. $12,436.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 45.5% higher at Maine Maritime Academy than at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (about $9,721 more per year; $31,102.00 vs. $21,381.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Maine Maritime Academy than at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (100% vs. 99%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts students is 17.5% larger than aid received by Maine Maritime Academy students ($9,045 vs. $7,699).

Maine Maritime Academy vs. MCLA Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Maine Maritime Academy 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 Maine Maritime Academy.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Maine Maritime Academy (1180) is 110 points higher than at MCLA (1070).
• Incoming Maine Maritime Academy students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (23 vs. 19 at MCLA).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Maine Maritime Academy 1095/1260; Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts 960/1180.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Maine Maritime Academy 21/26; Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts 17/21.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Maine Maritime Academy - Test optional; MCLA - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Maine Maritime Academy Mar 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Maine Maritime Academy students have a 0.28 point higher average high school GPA (3.48) than students at MCLA (3.2).
• MCLA has a higher acceptance rate (89.7%) than Maine Maritime Academy (54.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 32.7% at Maine Maritime Academy vs. 11.5% at MCLA.

Maine Maritime Academy vs. MCLA Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Maine Maritime Academy 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).

• Maine Maritime Academy's six-year graduation rate (69%) is higher than Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts's (53%).
• Graduates from Maine Maritime Academy earn a median of about $63,200 more per year than MCLA graduates about ten years after starting college ($100,300 vs. $37,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts graduates have a $2,341 lower median loan debt than Maine Maritime Academy graduates ($24,659 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, MCLA graduates have an estimated $25 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Maine Maritime Academy graduates ($254 vs. $279).
• More Maine Maritime Academy graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MCLA students, three years after graduation. (85% 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.