MCLA vs. Simon's Rock

Comparable Facts

Compare Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in North Adams, MA with Bard College at Simon's Rock in Great Barrington, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts is larger than Simon's Rock based on total student enrollment (896 students vs. 314 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts is located in North Adams, MA (Distant Town setting); Bard College at Simon's Rock is in Great Barrington, MA (Distant Town setting).
• Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Bard College at Simon's Rock is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts 8:1; Bard College at Simon's Rock 6:1.

MCLA vs. Simon's Rock Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MCLA or Simon's Rock? 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 Simon's Rock ($16,544 vs. $41,013).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts are 18.4% lower than at Bard College at Simon's Rock ($15,386 vs. $18,852).
• Bard College at Simon's Rock is 453.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than MCLA (about $56,344 more per year; $68,780.00 vs. $12,436.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 221.7% higher at Simon's Rock than at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (about $47,399 more per year; $68,780.00 vs. $21,381.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts as at Bard College at Simon's Rock (99% vs. 99%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Bard College at Simon's Rock students is 371.4% larger than aid received by Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts students ($42,635 vs. $9,045).

MCLA vs. Simon's Rock Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, MCLA or Simon's Rock? 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 Simon's Rock and MCLA.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts 960/1180.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts 17/21.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: MCLA - Test-free; Simon's Rock - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Simon's Rock Jun 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Simon's Rock students have a 0.34 point higher average high school GPA (3.54) than students at MCLA (3.2).
• Simon's Rock has a higher acceptance rate (95.9%) than MCLA (89.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.5% at MCLA vs. 53.6% at Simon's Rock.

MCLA vs. Simon's Rock Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MCLA and Simon's Rock? 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).

• Graduates from Bard College at Simon's Rock earn a median of about $2,800 more per year than MCLA graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,900 vs. $37,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Bard College at Simon's Rock graduates have a $10,159 lower median loan debt than MCLA graduates ($14,500 vs. $24,659).
• Among borrowers, Simon's Rock graduates have an estimated $105 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than MCLA graduates ($149 vs. $254).
• More Simon's Rock graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MCLA students, three years after graduation. (68% 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.