WestConn vs. MCLA

Should I go to Western Connecticut State University or Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if WestConn or MCLA 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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Western Connecticut State University vs. Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts comparison
Western Connecticut State University Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts College 3 College 4
Western Connecticut State University
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Overview

 WestConn MCLA
Location Danbury, CT North Adams, MA
Setting Small City Distant Town
Enrollment 4,417 938
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #466
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website wcsu.edu mcla.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 WestConn MCLA
Tuition (In State) $6,464 $1,030
Tuition (Out of State) $19,358 $9,975
Room & Board $14,568 $13,632
Avg Net Price $15,862 $15,377
Avg Grant Aid $9,057 $9,044
% Receiving Grant Aid 72% 100%

Admission

 WestConn MCLA
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,093 1,456
Admitted 4,253 1,346
Acceptance Rate 83.5% 92.4%
Enrolled % 14.8% 13.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.38 3.2
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Average Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 19/29 17/21
SAT Range 1010/1230 960/1180
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline

Academics

 WestConn MCLA
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (27%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (12%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Education (8%)
  • English and Literature (20%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Social Sciences (15%)
  • General Studies (10%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)

Outcomes

 WestConn MCLA
Graduation Rate 40% 53%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $47,400 $37,100
Making Student Loan Payments 65% 63%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $24,659
Median Loan Payment $258 $254

Diversity

 WestConn MCLA
% Men 45% 42%
% Women 55% 58%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 61% 74%
% Black 12% 9%
% Hispanic 18% 8%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 3%
% International 0% 0%
% Unknown Race 3% 4%

Students

 WestConn MCLA
% In-State 70% 55%
% Out-of-State 30% 45%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Western Connecticut State University is larger than than MCLA based on total student enrollment (4,417 students vs. 938 students)

WestConn vs. MCLA Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, WestConn or MCLA?

  • Western Connecticut State University is 527.6% more expensive to attend than MCLA for in-state tuition ($6,464.00 vs. $1,030.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 94.1% higher at WestConn than Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts ($19,358.00 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 WestConn ($15,377 vs. $15,862)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts are 6.9% lower than costs at Western Connecticut State University ($13,632 vs. $14,568)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts than Western Connecticut State University (100% vs. 72%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Western Connecticut State University students is 0.1% larger than aid received Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts ($9,057 vs. $9,044)

WestConn vs. MCLA Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman WestConn students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.38) than students at MCLA (3.2)
  • MCLA has a higher acceptance rate (92.4%) than WestConn (83.5%)

WestConn vs. MCLA Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at MCLA is higher than Western Connecticut State University (53% vs. 40%)
  • Graduates from Western Connecticut State University earn on average $10,300 more per year than MCLA graduates after ten years. ($47,400 vs. $37,100)
  • Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts students graduate with a $341 lower median federal student loan debt than WestConn graduates. ($24,659 vs. $25,000)
  • MCLA graduates are paying $4 less per month on federal student loans than WestConn graduates. ($254 vs. $258)
  • More WestConn graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MCLA students, three years after graduation. (65% vs. 63%)

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