MCLA vs. Shepherd University

Should I go to Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts or Shepherd University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if MCLA or Shepherd University 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. Shepherd University comparison
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts Shepherd University College 3 College 4
Shepherd University
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Overview

 MCLA Shepherd University
Location North Adams, MA Shepherdstown, WV
Setting Distant Town Town Fringe
Enrollment 938 3,235
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #866
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website mcla.edu shepherd.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 MCLA Shepherd University
Tuition (In State) $1,030 $6,288
Tuition (Out of State) $9,975 $15,774
Room & Board $13,632 $10,987
Avg Net Price $15,377 $9,827
Avg Grant Aid $9,044 $7,328
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 93%

Admission

 MCLA Shepherd University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,456 1,690
Admitted 1,346 1,620
Acceptance Rate 92.4% 95.9%
Enrolled % 13.2% 34.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.2 3.6
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 17/21 19/24
SAT Range 960/1180 930/1170
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline

Academics

 MCLA Shepherd University
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • English and Literature (20%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Social Sciences (15%)
  • General Studies (10%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (15%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (7%)

Outcomes

 MCLA Shepherd University
Graduation Rate 53% 46%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $37,100 $41,500
Making Student Loan Payments 63% 53%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,659 $22,223
Median Loan Payment $254 $229

Diversity

 MCLA Shepherd University
% Men 42% 37%
% Women 58% 63%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 74% 82%
% Black 9% 10%
% Hispanic 8% 3%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 0% 0%
% Unknown Race 4% 1%

Students

 MCLA Shepherd University
% In-State 55% 64%
% Out-of-State 45% 35%

Campus

 MCLA Shepherd University
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Shepherd University is larger than than MCLA based on total student enrollment (3,235 students vs. 938 students)

MCLA vs. Shepherd University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MCLA or Shepherd University?

  • Shepherd University is 510.5% more expensive to attend than MCLA for in-state tuition ($6,288.00 vs. $1,030.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 58.1% higher at Shepherd University than Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts ($15,774.00 vs. $9,975.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Shepherd University than MCLA ($9,827 vs. $15,377)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Shepherd University are 24.1% lower than costs at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts ($10,987 vs. $13,632)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts than Shepherd University (100% vs. 93%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts students is 23.4% larger than aid received Shepherd University ($9,044 vs. $7,328)

MCLA vs. Shepherd University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (1016) is 21 points higher than at Shepherd University (995)
  • Incoming MCLA students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Shepherd University (22)
  • Accepted freshman Shepherd University students have a 0.4 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at MCLA (3.2)
  • Shepherd University has a higher acceptance rate (95.9%) than MCLA (92.4%)

MCLA vs. Shepherd University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, MCLA or Shepherd University? 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 Shepherd University and MCLA.

  • The graduation rate at MCLA is higher than Shepherd University (53% vs. 46%)
  • Graduates from Shepherd University earn on average $4,400 more per year than MCLA graduates after ten years. ($41,500 vs. $37,100)
  • Shepherd University students graduate with a $2,436 lower median federal student loan debt than MCLA graduates. ($22,223 vs. $24,659)
  • Shepherd University graduates are paying $25 less per month on federal student loans than MCLA graduates. ($229 vs. $254)
  • More MCLA graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Shepherd University students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 53%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/