MCLA vs. Ship

Comparable Facts

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

Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania is larger than MCLA based on total student enrollment (5,161 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); Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania is in Shippensburg, PA (Distant Town setting).
• Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts 8:1; Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania 18:1.

MCLA vs. Ship Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MCLA or Ship? 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 Ship ($16,544 vs. $23,772).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania are 13.3% lower than at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts ($13,340 vs. $15,386).
• Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania is 10.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than MCLA (about $1,284 more per year; $13,720.00 vs. $12,436.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 33.8% higher at MCLA than at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania (about $5,407 more per year; $21,381.00 vs. $15,974.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts than at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania (99% vs. 90%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts students is 33.9% larger than aid received by Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania students ($9,045 vs. $6,756).

MCLA vs. Ship Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania (1100) is 30 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; Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania 990/1210.
• 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; Ship - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Ship students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.23) than students at MCLA (3.2).
• MCLA has a higher acceptance rate (89.7%) than Ship (86.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.5% at MCLA vs. 17.5% at Ship.

MCLA vs. Ship Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MCLA and Ship? 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).

• Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania's six-year graduation rate (60%) is higher than Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts's (53%).
• Graduates from Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania earn a median of about $10,100 more per year than MCLA graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,200 vs. $37,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts graduates have a $341 lower median loan debt than Ship graduates ($24,659 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers, MCLA graduates have an estimated $4 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Ship graduates ($254 vs. $258).
• More Ship graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MCLA students, three years after graduation. (72% 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.