MCLA vs. KSC

Deciding between Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and Keene State College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Keene State College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • MCLA North Adams, MA
  • KSC Keene, NH
  • Setting
  • MCLA Distant Town
  • KSC Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • MCLA 896
  • KSC 2,848
  • Type
  • MCLA Public 4 Year
  • KSC Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • MCLA
  • KSC #769
  • Religious Affiliation
  • MCLA -
  • KSC -
  • Status
  • MCLA Non-profit
  • KSC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • MCLA
  • KSC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • MCLA $12,436
  • KSC $14,784
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • MCLA $21,381
  • KSC $26,840
  • Room & Board
  • MCLA $15,386
  • KSC $13,766
  • Average Net Price
  • MCLA $16,544
  • KSC $19,997
  • Average Grant Aid
  • MCLA $9,045
  • KSC $12,302
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • MCLA 99%
  • KSC 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • MCLA 1,208
  • KSC 5,314
  • Admitted
  • MCLA 1,084
  • KSC 4,800
  • Acceptance Rate
  • MCLA 89.7%
  • KSC 90.3%
  • Enrolled
  • MCLA 11.5%
  • KSC 14.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • MCLA 1070
  • KSC 1070
  • Typical ACT score
  • MCLA 19
  • KSC 24
  • Average High School GPA
  • MCLA 3.2
  • KSC 3.1
  • Typical High School Grades
  • MCLA B+
  • KSC B
  • Admissions Standards
  • MCLA Extremely Easy
  • KSC Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • MCLA
  • KSC
  • ACT Range
  • MCLA 17/21
  • KSC 24/25
  • SAT Range
  • MCLA 960/1180
  • KSC 970/1170
  • Submit Test Scores
  • MCLA Test-free
  • KSC Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • MCLA
  • KSC Dec 1, 2026

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • MCLA 8:1
  • KSC 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • MCLA
    • English and Literature (20%)
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • General Studies (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • KSC
    • Education (16%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • MCLA 53%
  • KSC 57%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • MCLA $37,100
  • KSC $44,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • MCLA 63%
  • KSC 76%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • MCLA $24,659
  • KSC $26,295
  • Median Loan Payment
  • MCLA $254
  • KSC $271

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • MCLA 43%
  • KSC 48%
  • % Women
  • MCLA 57%
  • KSC 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • MCLA Low
  • KSC Extremely Low
  • HBCU
  • MCLA No
  • KSC No
  • % White
  • MCLA 74%
  • KSC 86%
  • % Asian
  • MCLA 2%
  • KSC 1%
  • % Black
  • MCLA 9%
  • KSC 1%
  • % Hispanic
  • MCLA 8%
  • KSC 4%
  • % Native American
  • MCLA 1%
  • KSC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • MCLA 0%
  • KSC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • MCLA 3%
  • KSC 2%
  • % International
  • MCLA 0%
  • KSC 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • MCLA 4%
  • KSC 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • MCLA 63%
  • KSC 49%
  • % Out-of-State
  • MCLA 36%
  • KSC 50%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • MCLA Yes
  • KSC Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • MCLA No
  • KSC No
  • Meal Plan
  • MCLA Yes
  • KSC Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • MCLA Yes
  • KSC No
  • Daycare Facility
  • MCLA No
  • KSC No

Comparable Facts

Compare Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in North Adams, MA with Keene State College in Keene, NH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Keene State College is larger than MCLA based on total student enrollment (2,848 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); Keene State College is in Keene, NH (Distant Town setting).
  • Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Keene State College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts 8:1; Keene State College 17:1.

MCLA vs. KSC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MCLA or KSC? 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 KSC ($16,544 vs. $19,997).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Keene State College are 10.5% lower than at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts ($13,766 vs. $15,386).
  • Keene State College is 18.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than MCLA (about $2,348 more per year; $14,784.00 vs. $12,436.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 25.5% higher at KSC than at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (about $5,459 more per year; $26,840.00 vs. $21,381.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Keene State College than at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (100% vs. 99%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Keene State College students is 36% larger than aid received by Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts students ($12,302 vs. $9,045).

MCLA vs. KSC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, MCLA or KSC? 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 KSC and MCLA.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (1070) is the same as at KSC (1070).
  • Incoming KSC students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (24 vs. 19 at MCLA).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts 960/1180; Keene State College 970/1170.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts 17/21; Keene State College 24/25.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: MCLA - Test-free; KSC - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: KSC Dec 1, 2026.
  • Accepted freshman MCLA students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.2) than students at KSC (3.1).
  • KSC has a higher acceptance rate (90.3%) than MCLA (89.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.5% at MCLA vs. 14.5% at KSC.

MCLA vs. KSC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MCLA and KSC? 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).

  • Keene State College's six-year graduation rate (57%) is higher than Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts's (53%).
  • Graduates from Keene State College earn a median of about $7,300 more per year than MCLA graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,400 vs. $37,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts graduates have a $1,636 lower median loan debt than KSC graduates ($24,659 vs. $26,295).
  • Among borrowers, MCLA graduates have an estimated $17 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than KSC graduates ($254 vs. $271).
  • More KSC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MCLA students, three years after graduation. (76% 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.