MCLA vs. UNH Manchester

Should I go to Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts or University of New Hampshire at Manchester? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if MCLA or UNH Manchester 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.
Add a college to compare up to four schools

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

URI Southern New Hampshire University JMU UMass Dartmouth Plymouth UNH University of New Hampshire-Main Campus KSC Saint Anselm College Bridgewater State UMass University of Maine
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts vs. University of New Hampshire at Manchester comparison
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts University of New Hampshire at Manchester College 3 College 4
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

 MCLA UNH Manchester
Location North Adams, MA Manchester, NH
Setting Distant Town Midsize City
Enrollment 938 534
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website mcla.edu unh.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 MCLA UNH Manchester
Tuition (In State) $1,030 $15,150
Tuition (Out of State) $9,975 $34,010
Room & Board $13,632 $14,968
Avg Net Price $15,377 $18,923
Avg Grant Aid $9,044 $7,822
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 94%

Admission

 MCLA UNH Manchester
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,456 360
Admitted 1,346 307
Acceptance Rate 92.4% 85.3%
Enrolled % 13.2% 17.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.2 3.35
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 17/21
SAT Range 960/1180 1040/1170
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Apr 1, 2025

Academics

 MCLA UNH Manchester
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 7:1
Popular Majors
  • English and Literature (20%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Social Sciences (15%)
  • General Studies (10%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Psychology (13%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (11%)
  • Communication (11%)
  • Engineering Technology (8%)

Outcomes

 MCLA UNH Manchester
Graduation Rate 53% 55%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $37,100 $53,300
Making Student Loan Payments 63% 82%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,659 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $254 $279

Diversity

 MCLA UNH Manchester
% Men 42% 50%
% Women 58% 50%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 74% 74%
% Black 9% 1%
% Hispanic 8% 4%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 0% 0%
% Unknown Race 4% 15%

Students

 MCLA UNH Manchester
% In-State 55% 94%
% Out-of-State 45% 6%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts is larger than than UNH Manchester based on total student enrollment (938 students vs. 534 students)

MCLA vs. UNH Manchester Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MCLA or UNH Manchester?

  • University of New Hampshire at Manchester is 1,370.9% more expensive to attend than MCLA for in-state tuition ($15,150.00 vs. $1,030.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 241% higher at UNH Manchester than Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts ($34,010.00 vs. $9,975.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts than UNH Manchester ($15,377 vs. $18,923)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts are 9.8% lower than costs at University of New Hampshire at Manchester ($13,632 vs. $14,968)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts than University of New Hampshire at Manchester (100% vs. 94%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts students is 15.6% larger than aid received University of New Hampshire at Manchester ($9,044 vs. $7,822)

MCLA vs. UNH Manchester Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (1016) is 6 points higher than at UNH Manchester (1010)
  • Accepted freshman UNH Manchester students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.35) than students at MCLA (3.2)
  • MCLA has a higher acceptance rate (92.4%) than UNH Manchester (85.3%)

MCLA vs. UNH Manchester Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, MCLA or UNH Manchester? 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 UNH Manchester and MCLA.

  • The graduation rate at UNH Manchester is higher than Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (55% vs. 53%)
  • Graduates from University of New Hampshire at Manchester earn on average $16,200 more per year than MCLA graduates after ten years. ($53,300 vs. $37,100)
  • Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts students graduate with a $2,341 lower median federal student loan debt than UNH Manchester graduates. ($24,659 vs. $27,000)
  • MCLA graduates are paying $25 less per month on federal student loans than UNH Manchester graduates. ($254 vs. $279)
  • More UNH Manchester graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MCLA students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 63%)

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