MCLA vs. SFC

Comparable Facts

Compare Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in North Adams, MA with St. Francis College in Brooklyn, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

St. Francis College is larger than MCLA based on total student enrollment (4,567 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); St. Francis College is in Brooklyn, NY (Large City setting).
• Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. St. Francis College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts 8:1; St. Francis College 15:1.

MCLA vs. SFC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MCLA or SFC? 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 SFC ($16,544 vs. $17,698).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts are 14.5% lower than at St. Francis College ($15,386 vs. $18,000).
• St. Francis College is 131.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than MCLA (about $16,339 more per year; $28,775.00 vs. $12,436.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 34.6% higher at SFC than at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (about $7,394 more per year; $28,775.00 vs. $21,381.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts than at St. Francis College (99% vs. 97%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by St. Francis College students is 121.1% larger than aid received by Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts students ($20,003 vs. $9,045).

MCLA vs. SFC Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at St. Francis College (1120) is 50 points higher than at MCLA (1070).
• Incoming SFC students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (24 vs. 19 at MCLA).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts 960/1180; St. Francis College 990/1240.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts 17/21; St. Francis College 22/26.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: MCLA - Test-free; SFC - Not reported.
• Accepted freshman MCLA students have a 0.3 point higher average high school GPA (3.2) than students at SFC (2.9).

MCLA vs. SFC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MCLA and SFC? 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 St. Francis College's (50%).
• Graduates from St. Francis College earn a median of about $12,900 more per year than MCLA graduates about ten years after starting college ($50,000 vs. $37,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, St. Francis College graduates have a $234 lower median loan debt than MCLA graduates ($24,425 vs. $24,659).
• Among borrowers, SFC graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than MCLA graduates ($252 vs. $254).
• More MCLA graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SFC 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.