MCLA vs. Keystone College

Comparable Facts

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

Keystone College is larger than MCLA based on total student enrollment (952 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); Keystone College is in La Plume, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Keystone College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts 8:1; Keystone College 12:1.

MCLA vs. Keystone College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MCLA or Keystone 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 Keystone College ($16,544 vs. $21,952).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Keystone College are 18.1% lower than at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts ($12,600 vs. $15,386).
• Keystone College is 47.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than MCLA (about $5,864 more per year; $18,300.00 vs. $12,436.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 16.8% higher at MCLA than at Keystone College (about $3,081 more per year; $21,381.00 vs. $18,300.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts than at Keystone College (99% vs. 84%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Keystone College students is 11.9% larger than aid received by Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts students ($10,119 vs. $9,045).

MCLA vs. Keystone College Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (1070) is 50 points higher than at Keystone College (1020).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts 960/1180; Keystone College 910/1130.
• 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; Keystone College - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman MCLA students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.2) than students at Keystone College (3.0).
• MCLA has a higher acceptance rate (89.7%) than Keystone College (84.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.5% at MCLA vs. 10.8% at Keystone College.

MCLA vs. Keystone College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MCLA and Keystone 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 Keystone College's (39%).
• Graduates from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts earn a median of about $3,700 more per year than Keystone College graduates about ten years after starting college ($37,100 vs. $33,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts graduates have a $1,341 lower median loan debt than Keystone College graduates ($24,659 vs. $26,000).
• Among borrowers, MCLA graduates have an estimated $14 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Keystone College graduates ($254 vs. $268).
• More MCLA graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Keystone College students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 57%)

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.