Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
Montclair State University New Jersey City University Rutgers University-Newark William Paterson University of New Jersey Rowan University Stockton Rutgers Rider University Rutgers University-Camden Saint Peters; SPC FDU Monmouth University| Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts | Kean University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
||||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
MCLA | Kean | ||
| Location | North Adams, MA | Union, NJ | ||
| Setting | Distant Town | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 938 | 12,884 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #663 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | mcla.edu | kean.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
MCLA | Kean | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $1,030 | $10,758 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $9,975 | $18,150 | ||
| Room & Board | $13,632 | $14,834 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $15,377 | $10,747 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $9,044 | $13,123 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 97% |
Admission |
MCLA | Kean | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 1,456 | 10,485 | ||
| Admitted | 1,346 | 8,661 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 92.4% | 82.6% | ||
| Enrolled % | 13.2% | 22.7% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.2 | 3.2 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B | B | ||
| Admissions Standards | Extremely Easy | Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 17/21 | 16/25 | ||
| SAT Range | 960/1180 | 900/1160 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Aug 15, 2025 |
Academics |
MCLA | Kean | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 9:1 | 16:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
MCLA | Kean | ||
| Graduation Rate | 53% | 49% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $37,100 | $46,400 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 63% | 52% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,659 | $25,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $254 | $258 |
Diversity |
MCLA | Kean | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 42% | 36% | ||
| % Women | 58% | 64% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 74% | 36% | ||
| % Black | 9% | 20% | ||
| % Hispanic | 8% | 27% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 2% | ||
| % International | 0% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 4% | 8% |
Students |
MCLA | Kean | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 55% | 92% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 45% | 3% | ||
Campus |
MCLA | Kean | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Kean University is larger than than MCLA based on total student enrollment (12,884 students vs. 938 students)
MCLA vs. Kean Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, MCLA or Kean?
- Kean University is 944.5% more expensive to attend than MCLA for in-state tuition ($10,758.00 vs. $1,030.00)
- Out of state tuition is 82% higher at Kean than Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts ($18,150.00 vs. $9,975.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Kean University than MCLA ($10,747 vs. $15,377)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts are 8.8% lower than costs at Kean University ($13,632 vs. $14,834)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts than Kean University (100% vs. 97%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Kean University students is 45.1% larger than aid received Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts ($13,123 vs. $9,044)
MCLA vs. Kean Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, MCLA or Kean? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Kean or MCLA .
- The average SAT score at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (1016) is 88 points higher than at Kean (928)
- Incoming MCLA students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Kean (19)
- Accepted freshman MCLA students have at the same average high school GPA (3.2) as students at Kean (3.2)
- MCLA has a higher acceptance rate (92.4%) than Kean (82.6%)
MCLA vs. Kean Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, MCLA or Kean? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Kean and MCLA.
- The graduation rate at MCLA is higher than Kean University (53% vs. 49%)
- Graduates from Kean University earn on average $9,300 more per year than MCLA graduates after ten years. ($46,400 vs. $37,100)
- Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts students graduate with a $341 lower median federal student loan debt than Kean graduates. ($24,659 vs. $25,000)
- MCLA graduates are paying $4 less per month on federal student loans than Kean graduates. ($254 vs. $258)
- More MCLA graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Kean students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 52%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/