MCLA vs. Culinary Institute of America

Comparable Facts

Compare Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in North Adams, MA with Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Culinary Institute of America is larger than MCLA based on total student enrollment (3,147 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); Culinary Institute of America is in Hyde Park, NY (Large Suburban setting).
• Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Culinary Institute of America is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts 8:1; Culinary Institute of America 18:1.

MCLA vs. Culinary Institute of America Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MCLA or Culinary Institute of America? 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 Culinary Institute of America ($16,544 vs. $39,581).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Culinary Institute of America are 2.3% lower than at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts ($15,030 vs. $15,386).
• Culinary Institute of America is 220.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than MCLA (about $27,414 more per year; $39,850.00 vs. $12,436.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 86.4% higher at Culinary Institute of America than at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (about $18,469 more per year; $39,850.00 vs. $21,381.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts as at Culinary Institute of America (99% vs. 99%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Culinary Institute of America students is 113.9% larger than aid received by Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts students ($19,350 vs. $9,045).

MCLA vs. Culinary Institute of America Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, MCLA or Culinary Institute of America? 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 Culinary Institute of America and MCLA.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (1070) is 10 points higher than at Culinary Institute of America (1060).
• Incoming Culinary Institute of America students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (20 vs. 19 at MCLA).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts 960/1180; Culinary Institute of America 928/1183.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts 17/21; Culinary Institute of America 17/23.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: MCLA - Test-free; Culinary Institute of America - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Culinary Institute of America students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.26) than students at MCLA (3.2).
• Culinary Institute of America has a higher acceptance rate (91.1%) than MCLA (89.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.5% at MCLA vs. 31% at Culinary Institute of America.

MCLA vs. Culinary Institute of America Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MCLA and Culinary Institute of America? 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 Culinary Institute of America earn a median of about $9,500 more per year than MCLA graduates about ten years after starting college ($46,600 vs. $37,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Culinary Institute of America graduates have a $9,659 lower median loan debt than MCLA graduates ($15,000 vs. $24,659).
• Among borrowers, Culinary Institute of America graduates have an estimated $99 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than MCLA graduates ($155 vs. $254).
• More Culinary Institute of America graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MCLA students, three years after graduation. (74% 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.