MCLA vs. SUNY Cortland

Comparable Facts

Compare Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in North Adams, MA with State University of New York at Cortland in Cortland, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

State University of New York at Cortland is larger than MCLA based on total student enrollment (6,938 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); State University of New York at Cortland is in Cortland, NY (Rural Fringe setting).
• Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. State University of New York at Cortland is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts 8:1; State University of New York at Cortland 15:1.

MCLA vs. SUNY Cortland Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MCLA or SUNY Cortland? 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 SUNY Cortland ($16,544 vs. $19,847).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts are 1.1% lower than at State University of New York at Cortland ($15,386 vs. $15,560).
• Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts is 40.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than SUNY Cortland (about $3,562 more per year; $12,436.00 vs. $8,874.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 13.8% higher at MCLA than at State University of New York at Cortland (about $2,597 more per year; $21,381.00 vs. $18,784.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts than at State University of New York at Cortland (99% vs. 63%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts students is 9.6% larger than aid received by State University of New York at Cortland students ($9,045 vs. $8,254).

MCLA vs. SUNY Cortland Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at State University of New York at Cortland (1170) is 100 points higher than at MCLA (1070).
• Incoming SUNY Cortland 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; State University of New York at Cortland 1090/1240.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts 17/21; State University of New York at Cortland 22/27.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: MCLA - Test-free; SUNY Cortland - Test-free.
• Accepted freshman SUNY Cortland students have a 0.5 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at MCLA (3.2).
• MCLA has a higher acceptance rate (89.7%) than SUNY Cortland (59.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.5% at MCLA vs. 13.3% at SUNY Cortland.

MCLA vs. SUNY Cortland Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MCLA and SUNY Cortland? 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).

• State University of New York at Cortland's six-year graduation rate (67%) is higher than Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts's (53%).
• Graduates from State University of New York at Cortland earn a median of about $10,200 more per year than MCLA graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,300 vs. $37,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, State University of New York at Cortland graduates have a $3,159 lower median loan debt than MCLA graduates ($21,500 vs. $24,659).
• Among borrowers, SUNY Cortland graduates have an estimated $32 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than MCLA graduates ($222 vs. $254).
• More SUNY Cortland graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MCLA students, three years after graduation. (75% 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.