MCLA vs. Penn State Schuylkill

Comparable Facts

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

Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts is larger than Penn State Schuylkill based on total student enrollment (896 students vs. 624 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts is located in North Adams, MA (Distant Town setting); Penn State Schuylkill is in Schuylkill Haven, PA (Distant Town setting).
• Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Schuylkill is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts 8:1; Penn State Schuylkill 14:1.

MCLA vs. Penn State Schuylkill Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MCLA or Penn State Schuylkill? 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 Schuylkill ($16,544 vs. $19,039).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Schuylkill are 5.9% lower than at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts ($14,474 vs. $15,386).
• Penn State Schuylkill is 22.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than MCLA (about $2,772 more per year; $15,208.00 vs. $12,436.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 18.8% higher at Penn State Schuylkill than at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (about $4,011 more per year; $25,392.00 vs. $21,381.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts than at Penn State Schuylkill (99% vs. 85%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Schuylkill students is 28.7% larger than aid received by Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts students ($11,645 vs. $9,045).

MCLA vs. Penn State Schuylkill Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Schuylkill (1130) is 60 points higher than at MCLA (1070).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts 960/1180; Penn State Schuylkill 1020/1230.
• 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; Penn State Schuylkill - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman MCLA students have the same average high school GPA (3.2) as students at Penn State Schuylkill (3.2).
• Penn State Schuylkill has a higher acceptance rate (96.6%) than MCLA (89.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.5% at MCLA vs. 20% at Penn State Schuylkill.

MCLA vs. Penn State Schuylkill Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MCLA and Penn State Schuylkill? 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 Schuylkill's (47%).
• Graduates from Penn State Schuylkill 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 Schuylkill graduates ($24,659 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, MCLA graduates have an estimated $23 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Schuylkill graduates ($254 vs. $277).
• More Penn State Schuylkill 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.