MCLA vs. MUW

Should I go to Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts or Mississippi University for Women? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if MCLA or MUW is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts vs. Mississippi University for Women comparison
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts Mississippi University for Women College 3 College 4
Mississippi University for Women
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Overview

 MCLA MUW
Location North Adams, MA Columbus, MS
Setting Distant Town Remote Town
Enrollment 938 2,339
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #841
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website mcla.edu muw.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 MCLA MUW
Tuition (In State) $1,030 $7,766
Tuition (Out of State) $9,975 $7,766
Room & Board $13,632 $8,212
Avg Net Price $15,377 $12,691
Avg Grant Aid $9,044 $9,887
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 97%

Admission

 MCLA MUW
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,456 450
Admitted 1,346 446
Acceptance Rate 92.4% 99.1%
Enrolled % 13.2% 28%
Avg High School GPA 3.2 3.49
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 17/21 18/24
SAT Range 960/1180 850/1180
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline

Academics

 MCLA MUW
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • English and Literature (20%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Social Sciences (15%)
  • General Studies (10%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • Health Professions (42%)
  • Business (10%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (10%)
  • Psychology (5%)

Outcomes

 MCLA MUW
Graduation Rate 53% 39%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $37,100 $37,800
Making Student Loan Payments 63% 57%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,659 $15,000
Median Loan Payment $254 $155

Diversity

 MCLA MUW
% Men 42% 22%
% Women 58% 78%
Racial Diversity Low High
HBCU No No
% White 74% 57%
% Black 9% 37%
% Hispanic 8% 0%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 0%
% International 0% 4%
% Unknown Race 4% 0%

Students

 MCLA MUW
% In-State 55% 74%
% Out-of-State 45% 26%

Campus

 MCLA MUW
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

  • Mississippi University for Women is larger than than MCLA based on total student enrollment (2,339 students vs. 938 students)

MCLA vs. MUW Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MCLA or MUW?

  • Mississippi University for Women is 654% more expensive to attend than MCLA for in-state tuition ($7,766.00 vs. $1,030.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 28.4% higher at MCLA than Mississippi University for Women ($9,975.00 vs. $7,766.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Mississippi University for Women than MCLA ($12,691 vs. $15,377)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mississippi University for Women are 66% lower than costs at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts ($8,212 vs. $13,632)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts than Mississippi University for Women (100% vs. 97%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Mississippi University for Women students is 9.3% larger than aid received Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts ($9,887 vs. $9,044)

MCLA vs. MUW Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, MCLA or MUW? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between MUW or MCLA .

  • The average SAT score at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (1016) is 4 points higher than at MUW (1012)
  • Incoming MCLA students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at MUW (21)
  • Accepted freshman MUW students have a 0.29 point higher average high school GPA (3.49) than students at MCLA (3.2)
  • MUW has a higher acceptance rate (99.1%) than MCLA (92.4%)

MCLA vs. MUW Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, MCLA or MUW? 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 MUW and MCLA.

  • The graduation rate at MCLA is higher than Mississippi University for Women (53% vs. 39%)
  • Graduates from Mississippi University for Women earn on average $700 more per year than MCLA graduates after ten years. ($37,800 vs. $37,100)
  • Mississippi University for Women students graduate with a $9,659 lower median federal student loan debt than MCLA graduates. ($15,000 vs. $24,659)
  • MUW graduates are paying $99 less per month on federal student loans than MCLA graduates. ($155 vs. $254)
  • More MCLA graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MUW 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/