Merrimack vs. MCLA

Comparable Facts

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

Merrimack College is larger than MCLA based on total student enrollment (5,862 students vs. 896 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Merrimack College is located in North Andover, MA (Large Suburban setting); Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts is in North Adams, MA (Distant Town setting).
• Merrimack College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Merrimack College 13:1; Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts 8:1.

Merrimack vs. MCLA Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Merrimack or MCLA? 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 Merrimack ($16,544 vs. $38,504).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts are 28.5% lower than at Merrimack College ($15,386 vs. $21,525).
• Merrimack College is 333.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than MCLA (about $41,526 more per year; $53,962.00 vs. $12,436.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 152.4% higher at Merrimack than at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (about $32,581 more per year; $53,962.00 vs. $21,381.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Merrimack College than at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (100% vs. 99%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Merrimack College students is 248.8% larger than aid received by Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts students ($31,550 vs. $9,045).

Merrimack vs. MCLA Admissions comparison

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

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsMassachusetts College of Liberal Arts 960/1180.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsMassachusetts College of Liberal Arts 17/21.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Merrimack - Test-free; MCLA - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Merrimack Sep 1, 2026.
• Accepted freshman Merrimack students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.3) than students at MCLA (3.2).
• MCLA has a higher acceptance rate (89.7%) than Merrimack (70%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.9% at Merrimack vs. 11.5% at MCLA.

Merrimack vs. MCLA Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Merrimack and MCLA? 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).

• Merrimack College's six-year graduation rate (70%) is higher than Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts's (53%).
• Graduates from Merrimack College earn a median of about $20,900 more per year than MCLA graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,000 vs. $37,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts graduates have a $2,341 lower median loan debt than Merrimack graduates ($24,659 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, MCLA graduates have an estimated $25 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Merrimack graduates ($254 vs. $279).
• More Merrimack graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MCLA students, three years after graduation. (78% 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.