MCLA vs. Elms College

Comparable Facts

Compare Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in North Adams, MA with College of Our Lady of the Elms in Chicopee, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

College of Our Lady of the Elms is larger than MCLA based on total student enrollment (1,268 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); College of Our Lady of the Elms is in Chicopee, MA (Large Suburban setting).
• Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. College of Our Lady of the Elms is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts 8:1; College of Our Lady of the Elms 11:1.

MCLA vs. Elms College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MCLA or Elms 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 Elms College ($16,544 vs. $19,870).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts are 1.4% lower than at College of Our Lady of the Elms ($15,386 vs. $15,605).
• College of Our Lady of the Elms is 248.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than MCLA (about $30,889 more per year; $43,325.00 vs. $12,436.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 102.6% higher at Elms College than at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (about $21,944 more per year; $43,325.00 vs. $21,381.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of Our Lady of the Elms than at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (100% vs. 99%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of Our Lady of the Elms students is 273.6% larger than aid received by Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts students ($33,794 vs. $9,045).

MCLA vs. Elms College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, MCLA or Elms 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 Elms College and MCLA.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at College of Our Lady of the Elms (1240) is 170 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; College of Our Lady of the Elms 1150/1320.
• 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; Elms College - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Elms 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 Elms College (85.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.5% at MCLA vs. 10.9% at Elms College.

MCLA vs. Elms College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MCLA and Elms 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).

• College of Our Lady of the Elms's six-year graduation rate (58%) is higher than Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts's (53%).
• Graduates from College of Our Lady of the Elms earn a median of about $9,200 more per year than MCLA graduates about ten years after starting college ($46,300 vs. $37,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts graduates have a $341 lower median loan debt than Elms College graduates ($24,659 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers, MCLA graduates have an estimated $4 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Elms College graduates ($254 vs. $258).
• More MCLA graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Elms College students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 61%)

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.