Massachusetts College of Art and Design vs. MCLA

Comparable Facts

Compare Massachusetts College of Art and Design 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.

Massachusetts College of Art and Design is larger than MCLA based on total student enrollment (1,989 students vs. 896 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Massachusetts College of Art and Design is located in Boston, MA (Large City setting); Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts is in North Adams, MA (Distant Town setting).
• Massachusetts College of Art and Design 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: Massachusetts College of Art and Design 9:1; Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts 8:1.

Massachusetts College of Art and Design vs. MCLA Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Massachusetts College of Art and Design 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 Massachusetts College of Art and Design ($16,544 vs. $24,864).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts are 20.7% lower than at Massachusetts College of Art and Design ($15,386 vs. $19,412).
• Massachusetts College of Art and Design is 23.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than MCLA (about $2,964 more per year; $15,400.00 vs. $12,436.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 103% higher at Massachusetts College of Art and Design than at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (about $22,019 more per year; $43,400.00 vs. $21,381.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts than at Massachusetts College of Art and Design (99% vs. 84%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Massachusetts College of Art and Design students is 15.2% larger than aid received by Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts students ($10,421 vs. $9,045).

Massachusetts College of Art and Design vs. MCLA Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Massachusetts College of Art and Design 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 Massachusetts College of Art and Design.

• 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: Massachusetts College of Art and Design - Test-free; MCLA - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Massachusetts College of Art and Design Feb 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Massachusetts College of Art and Design students have a 0.33 point higher average high school GPA (3.53) than students at MCLA (3.2).
• MCLA has a higher acceptance rate (89.7%) than Massachusetts College of Art and Design (76.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.3% at Massachusetts College of Art and Design vs. 11.5% at MCLA.

Massachusetts College of Art and Design vs. MCLA Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Massachusetts College of Art and Design 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 Art and Design's six-year graduation rate (68%) is higher than Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts's (53%).
• Graduates from Massachusetts College of Art and Design earn a median of about $1,600 more per year than MCLA graduates about ten years after starting college ($38,700 vs. $37,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts graduates have a $591 lower median loan debt than Massachusetts College of Art and Design graduates ($24,659 vs. $25,250).
• Among borrowers, MCLA graduates have an estimated $7 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Massachusetts College of Art and Design graduates ($254 vs. $261).
• More Massachusetts College of Art and Design graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MCLA students, three years after graduation. (64% 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.