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Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts

MCLA

North Adams, Massachusetts 01247-4100

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Data last updated: May 29, 2026

Campus Vibe

Tight-knitCollege townGreek life

Known for business — close-knit campus

Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts is a public institution in North Adams with particular strength in business and psychology.

A small campus of 748 undergraduates with a 8:1 student-faculty ratio. The town location creates a classic college-town feel.

49% of students graduate within four years, and graduates earn a median of $48,102 a decade after enrollment. Net price after aid averages $18,707.

Established
1894
Mascot
Murdock the Mountain Lion
Type
Public liberal arts college
Division
Division III

Campus Visits

57 upcoming visits · Next: Mon, Jun 1 · Campus Tour, Campus Visit, Open House
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Plan Your Visit

Admission Office

375 Church Street, North Adams, MA 01247

413-662-5410[email protected]
Virtual Tour →Campus Map →
92%Acceptance
—SAT Avg
748Students
8:1Student:Faculty
49%Grad Rate
$48,102Earnings 10yr
$18,707Net Price

Admissions

Acceptance Rate92.3%

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard / IPEDS.

Admissions

Test-OptionalTracks InterestOn-Campus Interviews

Application Platforms

Common ApplicationMassTransfer

Early Action

December 1

Regular Decision

March 1

Financial Aid

Merit Scholarships

Cost & Financial Aid

Sticker Price

Tuition (in-state)$11,884
Tuition (out-of-state)$20,559
Room & Board$14,634
Books & Supplies$1,000
Total Cost of Attendance$27,705
Average Net Price$18,707
Median Debt at Graduation$23,750
Monthly Payment (10yr)$252

Net Price by Family Income

$0–30K$14,440
$30–48K$16,990
$48–75K$15,698
$75–110K$19,147
$110K+$23,800

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Net price reflects most recent cohort of federally-aided undergraduates.

Debt & Aid Detail

Net Price Trend

Tuition Trend

Graduate w/ Zero Debt

40.0%

Avg Tuition Increase

1.9%/yr

Median Debt at Grad

$15,750

Campus Safety

Total Incidents (2024)

4

Peer Average

3

3-Year Trend

Emergency System

Campus security, emergency notification system

Incident Breakdown (2024)

1

Burglary

0

Aggravated Assault

0

Robbery

0

Motor Vehicle Theft

1

Sex Offenses

0

Arson

1

Drug Arrests

1

Liquor Arrests

Source: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety & Security data (Clery Act, 2024 reporting year).

Academics

semester
Majors
40
Avg class size
16
Student-faculty ratio
12:1

Programs (29)

Student Life

Student Satisfaction

Retention Rate

69%

Below Average

Campus Life

Division IIIMassachusetts State Collegiate Athletic ConferenceGreek Life

Housing & Residential Life

freshman and sophomore years

Housing Styles

traditional residence hallssuite-styletownhouses

Dining

Student Body

Undergrads
748
Gender Split
55% / 45%
Women / Men
First Generation
33%
Pell Grant Recipients
40%

Race & Ethnicity

White 72%
Black 9%
Hispanic 10%
Asian 2%
Two+ 4%
Int'l 1%

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate49.1%
Freshman Retention68.9%

Median Earnings After Graduation

6 Years$36,803
10 Years$48,102

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings reflect federally-aided students 6 and 10 years after entry.

Rankings

U.S. News
#149
—
vs 2024

More About This School

Varsity Sports — Mohawks

Ice hockeyAnd women

History & Fun Facts

  • •MCLA was founded in 1894 as "North Adams Normal School", and it offered first instruction at post-secondary level three years later.
  • •By 1897, the Normal School enrolled 32 students (29 women, 3 men) and employed 4 teachers.
  • •In 1932, North Adams Normal School became "State Teachers College of North Adams", added an upper-division curriculum, and started awarding bachelor's degrees.
  • •In 2004, President Mary Grant led in the creation of the Berkshire Compact for Higher Education and MCLA Gallery 51.

Source: Wikipedia

Location & Lifestyle

Cost of Living

132Very High

Estimated from MA state average

Climate (School Year)

Snowfall: 60"Sunny days: 200Rainy days: 125

Nearest Cities

Bostonpop. 675K
107 mi(185 min)
New Yorkpop. 8.3M
144 mi(250 min)
Philadelphiapop. 1.6M
217 mi(376 min)

Getting There

Nearest Airports

ALB Albany36 mi
BDL Hartford Bradley56 mi
MHT Manchester-Boston86 mi

Distance to Cities

Boston, MA107 mi · ~3h 5m drive
New York, NY144 mi · ~4h 10m drive
Hartford, CT68 mi · ~1h 58m drive
Providence, RI105 mi · ~3h 2m drive
Albany, NY33 mi · ~57 min drive
Syracuse, NY156 mi · ~4h 30m drive
Rochester, NY230 mi · ~6h 39m drive
Buffalo, NY293 mi · ~8h 28m drive
Philadelphia, PA217 mi · ~6h 16m drive
Pittsburgh, PA389 mi · ~11h 14m drive
Harrisburg, PA257 mi · ~7h 25m drive
Newark, NJ146 mi · ~4h 13m drive
Trenton, NJ191 mi · ~5h 31m drive
Central (cold winters, warm summers)

Visit Planning

Nearby Attractions

•

MASS MoCAwalkable

One of the largest contemporary art museums in the United States

•

Mount Greylock

Highest mountain in Massachusetts with hiking and skiing

•

Downtown North Adamswalkable

Revitalized downtown with galleries, cafes, and cultural venues

•

The Clark Art Institute

World-class art museum in Williamstown

Transfer Admission

Minimum credits
12 semester hours

International Students

Countries
20

Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts Application Checklist

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Decision Notifications

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