MCLA vs. Cedar Crest College

Comparable Facts

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

Cedar Crest College is larger than MCLA based on total student enrollment (1,290 students vs. 896 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts is located in North Adams, MA (Distant Town setting); Cedar Crest College is in Allentown, PA (Midsize City setting).
• Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Cedar Crest College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts 8:1; Cedar Crest College 9:1.

MCLA vs. Cedar Crest College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MCLA or Cedar Crest College? 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 Cedar Crest College ($16,544 vs. $23,691).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cedar Crest College are 12.9% lower than at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts ($13,406 vs. $15,386).
• Cedar Crest College is 272.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than MCLA (about $33,878 more per year; $46,314.00 vs. $12,436.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 116.6% higher at Cedar Crest College than at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (about $24,933 more per year; $46,314.00 vs. $21,381.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts as at Cedar Crest College (99% vs. 99%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Cedar Crest College students is 268.4% larger than aid received by Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts students ($33,323 vs. $9,045).

MCLA vs. Cedar Crest College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, MCLA or Cedar Crest College? 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 Cedar Crest College and MCLA.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Cedar Crest College (1120) is 50 points higher than at MCLA (1070).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts 960/1180; Cedar Crest College 1000/1230.
• 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; Cedar Crest College - Test-free.
• Accepted freshman Cedar Crest College students have a 0.22 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at MCLA (3.2).
• MCLA has a higher acceptance rate (89.7%) than Cedar Crest College (84.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.5% at MCLA vs. 13.5% at Cedar Crest College.

MCLA vs. Cedar Crest College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MCLA and Cedar Crest College? 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 Cedar Crest College's (50%).
• Graduates from Cedar Crest College earn a median of about $10,700 more per year than MCLA graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,800 vs. $37,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts graduates have a $3,091 lower median loan debt than Cedar Crest College graduates ($24,659 vs. $27,750).
• Among borrowers, MCLA graduates have an estimated $32 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cedar Crest College graduates ($254 vs. $286).
• More MCLA graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cedar Crest College students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 59%)

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.