MCLA vs. RIC

Deciding between Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and Rhode Island College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Rhode Island College

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • MCLA North Adams, MA
  • RIC Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • MCLA Distant Town
  • RIC Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • MCLA 896
  • RIC 6,155
  • Type
  • MCLA Public 4 Year
  • RIC Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • MCLA
  • RIC #843
  • Religious Affiliation
  • MCLA -
  • RIC -
  • Status
  • MCLA Non-profit
  • RIC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • MCLA
  • RIC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • MCLA $12,436
  • RIC $11,300
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • MCLA $21,381
  • RIC $27,299
  • Room & Board
  • MCLA $15,386
  • RIC $13,414
  • Average Net Price
  • MCLA $16,544
  • RIC $10,346
  • Average Grant Aid
  • MCLA $9,045
  • RIC $6,706
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • MCLA 99%
  • RIC 95%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • MCLA 1,208
  • RIC 5,415
  • Admitted
  • MCLA 1,084
  • RIC 4,972
  • Acceptance Rate
  • MCLA 89.7%
  • RIC 91.8%
  • Enrolled
  • MCLA 11.5%
  • RIC 23.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • MCLA 1070
  • RIC 1000
  • Typical ACT score
  • MCLA 19
  • RIC
  • Average High School GPA
  • MCLA 3.2
  • RIC 3.08
  • Typical High School Grades
  • MCLA B+
  • RIC B
  • Admissions Standards
  • MCLA Extremely Easy
  • RIC Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • MCLA
  • RIC
  • ACT Range
  • MCLA 17/21
  • RIC
  • SAT Range
  • MCLA 960/1180
  • RIC 870/1120
  • Submit Test Scores
  • MCLA Test-free
  • RIC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • MCLA
  • RIC Mar 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • MCLA 8:1
  • RIC 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • MCLA
    • English and Literature (20%)
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • General Studies (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • RIC
    • Education (21%)
    • Business (17%)
    • Psychology (12%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • MCLA 53%
  • RIC 44%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • MCLA $37,100
  • RIC $42,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • MCLA 63%
  • RIC 59%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • MCLA $24,659
  • RIC $21,200
  • Median Loan Payment
  • MCLA $254
  • RIC $219

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • MCLA 43%
  • RIC 30%
  • % Women
  • MCLA 57%
  • RIC 70%
  • Racial Diversity
  • MCLA Low
  • RIC Medium
  • HBCU
  • MCLA No
  • RIC No
  • % White
  • MCLA 74%
  • RIC 62%
  • % Asian
  • MCLA 2%
  • RIC 3%
  • % Black
  • MCLA 9%
  • RIC 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • MCLA 8%
  • RIC 16%
  • % Native American
  • MCLA 1%
  • RIC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • MCLA 0%
  • RIC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • MCLA 3%
  • RIC 2%
  • % International
  • MCLA 0%
  • RIC 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • MCLA 4%
  • RIC 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • MCLA 63%
  • RIC 87%
  • % Out-of-State
  • MCLA 36%
  • RIC 13%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • MCLA Yes
  • RIC Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • MCLA No
  • RIC No
  • Meal Plan
  • MCLA Yes
  • RIC Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • MCLA Yes
  • RIC Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • MCLA No
  • RIC Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in North Adams, MA with Rhode Island College in Providence, RI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rhode Island College is larger than MCLA based on total student enrollment (6,155 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); Rhode Island College is in Providence, RI (Large Suburban setting).
  • Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Rhode Island College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts 8:1; Rhode Island College 15:1.

MCLA vs. RIC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MCLA or RIC? 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 Rhode Island College than MCLA ($10,346 vs. $16,544).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rhode Island College are 12.8% lower than at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts ($13,414 vs. $15,386).
  • Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts is 10.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than RIC (about $1,136 more per year; $12,436.00 vs. $11,300.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 27.7% higher at RIC than at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (about $5,918 more per year; $27,299.00 vs. $21,381.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts than at Rhode Island College (99% vs. 95%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts students is 34.9% larger than aid received by Rhode Island College students ($9,045 vs. $6,706).

MCLA vs. RIC Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (1070) is 70 points higher than at RIC (1000).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts 960/1180; Rhode Island College 870/1120.
  • 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; RIC - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: RIC Mar 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman MCLA students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.2) than students at RIC (3.08).
  • RIC has a higher acceptance rate (91.8%) than MCLA (89.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.5% at MCLA vs. 23.1% at RIC.

MCLA vs. RIC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MCLA and RIC? 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 Rhode Island College's (44%).
  • Graduates from Rhode Island College earn a median of about $4,900 more per year than MCLA graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,000 vs. $37,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Rhode Island College graduates have a $3,459 lower median loan debt than MCLA graduates ($21,200 vs. $24,659).
  • Among borrowers, RIC graduates have an estimated $35 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than MCLA graduates ($219 vs. $254).
  • More MCLA graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former RIC students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 59%)

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.