MCLA vs. Mercy

Comparable Facts

Compare Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in North Adams, MA with Mercy University in Dobbs Ferry, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Mercy University is larger than MCLA based on total student enrollment (8,991 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); Mercy University is in Dobbs Ferry, NY (Large Suburban setting).
• Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Mercy University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts 8:1; Mercy University 16:1.

MCLA vs. Mercy Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MCLA or Mercy? 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 Mercy University than MCLA ($15,200 vs. $16,544).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mercy University are 0.9% lower than at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts ($15,250 vs. $15,386).
• Mercy University is 84% more expensive for in-state tuition than MCLA (about $10,444 more per year; $22,880.00 vs. $12,436.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 7% higher at Mercy than at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (about $1,499 more per year; $22,880.00 vs. $21,381.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts as at Mercy University (99% vs. 99%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Mercy University students is 95.3% larger than aid received by Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts students ($17,664 vs. $9,045).

MCLA vs. Mercy Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Mercy University (1130) is 60 points higher than at MCLA (1070).
• Incoming Mercy students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (23 vs. 19 at MCLA).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts 960/1180; Mercy University 1020/1230.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts 17/21; Mercy University 21/25.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: MCLA - Test-free; Mercy - Test-free.
• Accepted freshman MCLA students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.2) than students at Mercy (3.19).
• MCLA has a higher acceptance rate (89.7%) than Mercy (85.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.5% at MCLA vs. 14.3% at Mercy.

MCLA vs. Mercy Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MCLA and Mercy? 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 Mercy University's (31%).
• Graduates from Mercy University earn a median of about $5,100 more per year than MCLA graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,200 vs. $37,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Mercy University graduates have a $960 lower median loan debt than MCLA graduates ($23,699 vs. $24,659).
• Among borrowers, Mercy graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than MCLA graduates ($245 vs. $254).
• More MCLA graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mercy students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 40%)

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.