MCLA vs. Penn State Abington

Comparable Facts

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

Penn State Abington is larger than MCLA based on total student enrollment (2,885 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); Penn State Abington is in Abington, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Abington is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts 8:1; Penn State Abington 14:1.

MCLA vs. Penn State Abington Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MCLA or Penn State Abington? 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 Penn State Abington ($16,544 vs. $19,232).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Abington are 5.9% lower than at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts ($14,474 vs. $15,386).
• Penn State Abington is 22.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than MCLA (about $2,832 more per year; $15,268.00 vs. $12,436.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 20% higher at Penn State Abington than at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (about $4,283 more per year; $25,664.00 vs. $21,381.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts than at Penn State Abington (99% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Abington students is 9.3% larger than aid received by Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts students ($9,883 vs. $9,045).

MCLA vs. Penn State Abington Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, MCLA or Penn State Abington? 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 Penn State Abington and MCLA.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Abington (1170) is 100 points higher than at MCLA (1070).
• Incoming Penn State Abington students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (25 vs. 19 at MCLA).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts 960/1180; Penn State Abington 1070/1265.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts 17/21; Penn State Abington 23/27.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: MCLA - Test-free; Penn State Abington - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Penn State Abington students have a 0.22 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at MCLA (3.2).
• Penn State Abington has a higher acceptance rate (96.8%) than MCLA (89.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.5% at MCLA vs. 11.2% at Penn State Abington.

MCLA vs. Penn State Abington Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MCLA and Penn State Abington? 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 Penn State Abington's (44%).
• Graduates from Penn State Abington earn a median of about $18,200 more per year than MCLA graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $37,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts graduates have a $2,159 lower median loan debt than Penn State Abington graduates ($24,659 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, MCLA graduates have an estimated $23 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Abington graduates ($254 vs. $277).
• More Penn State Abington graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MCLA students, three years after graduation. (69% 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.