MCLA vs. YCP

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

MCLA YCP
Location North Adams, MA York, PA
Setting Distant Town Midsize Suburban
Enrollment 938 3,656
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #526
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website mcla.edu ycp.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

MCLA YCP
Tuition (In State) $1,030 $21,070
Tuition (Out of State) $9,975 $21,070
Room & Board $13,632 $12,430
Avg Net Price $15,377 $20,916
Avg Grant Aid $9,044 $14,978
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 99%

Admission

MCLA YCP
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,456 4,529
Admitted 1,346 4,330
Acceptance Rate 92.4% 95.6%
Enrolled % 13.2% 17.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.2 3.59
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Average
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 17/21 23/27
SAT Range 960/1180 1020/1230
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 23, 2025

Academics

MCLA YCP
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • English and Literature (20%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Social Sciences (15%)
  • General Studies (10%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Health Professions (15%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (9%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (7%)

Outcomes

MCLA YCP
Graduation Rate 53% 60%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $37,100 $50,700
Making Student Loan Payments 63% 75%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,659 $26,495
Median Loan Payment $254 $273

Diversity

MCLA YCP
% Men 42% 42%
% Women 58% 58%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 74% 83%
% Black 9% 5%
% Hispanic 8% 6%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 4%
% International 0% 0%
% Unknown Race 4% 1%

Students

MCLA YCP
% In-State 55% 66%
% Out-of-State 45% 33%

Campus

MCLA YCP
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

  • York College Pennsylvania is larger than than MCLA based on total student enrollment (3,656 students vs. 938 students)

MCLA vs. YCP Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MCLA or YCP?

  • York College Pennsylvania is 1,945.6% more expensive to attend than MCLA for in-state tuition ($21,070.00 vs. $1,030.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 111.2% higher at YCP than Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts ($21,070.00 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 YCP ($15,377 vs. $20,916)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at York College Pennsylvania are 9.7% lower than costs at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts ($12,430 vs. $13,632)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts than York College Pennsylvania (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by York College Pennsylvania students is 65.6% larger than aid received Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts ($14,978 vs. $9,044)

MCLA vs. YCP Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at York College Pennsylvania (1054) is 38 points higher than at MCLA (1016)
  • Incoming MCLA students have at the same average ACT score (23) as students at YCP (23)
  • Accepted freshman YCP students have a 0.39 point higher average high school GPA (3.59) than students at MCLA (3.2)
  • YCP has a higher acceptance rate (95.6%) than MCLA (92.4%)

MCLA vs. YCP Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, MCLA or YCP? 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 YCP and MCLA.

  • The graduation rate at YCP is higher than Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (60% vs. 53%)
  • Graduates from York College Pennsylvania earn on average $13,600 more per year than MCLA graduates after ten years. ($50,700 vs. $37,100)
  • Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts students graduate with a $1,836 lower median federal student loan debt than YCP graduates. ($24,659 vs. $26,495)
  • MCLA graduates are paying $19 less per month on federal student loans than YCP graduates. ($254 vs. $273)
  • More YCP 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/