Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts

North Adams, MA · Public · Town (fringe) · MCLA

Public institution in North Adams, MA · 748 undergraduates · 92% acceptance rate · $48,102 median earnings 10 years after entry.

Top 10%Student-faculty ratio

Stats

College Scorecard figures, each with where this school sits nationally among institutions that report the same measure. A dash means the school does not report it.

Cost

Average net price: $18,707966th cheapest of 1,985 reporting
In-state tuition & fees: $11,884750th cheapest of 2,042 reporting
Out-of-state tuition & fees: $20,559893rd cheapest of 2,042 reporting
Cost of attendance: $27,705848th cheapest of 1,985 reporting
Median graduate debt: $23,7501,114th lowest of 1,880 reporting

Outcomes

Median earnings, 10 years after entry: $48,1021,185th highest of 1,969 reporting
Median earnings, 6 years after entry: $36,8031,435th highest of 1,964 reporting
Graduation rate (4-year): 49.1%1,201st highest of 2,031 reporting
Full-time retention: 68.9%1,299th highest of 1,853 reporting

Admissions

Acceptance rate: 92.3%1,320th most selective of 1,608 reporting
Average SAT: —
Median ACT: —

Campus

Undergraduates: 7481,538th largest of 2,162 reporting
Student-faculty ratio: 8.0:1216th smallest of 2,159 reporting
Pell Grant share: 40.5%687th highest of 2,140 reporting

Nearest large-hub airport: 109 mi (BOS)

On 1 of our 111 lists

Every published ranking this school appears on, with its rank there.

Most Selective Colleges in Massachusetts#55

Applying

EADec 1
RDMar 1

Common App member: Yes
Application fee: Free
Personal essay: Required
Writing supplement: No

Deadlines and essay flags come from the Common App Requirements Grid, joined by school name. Always confirm against the school’s own admissions page before applying.

Best-paying fields of study

Median earnings one and two years after graduating, by field. Showing 12 of 20 reported programs.

Field	Level	1 yr	2 yr
Computer and Information Sciences, GeneralComputer Science	bachelors	$64,493	$63,005
Biology, GeneralBiological Sciences	bachelors	$37,208	$27,181
SociologySocial Sciences	bachelors	$36,668	$31,828
Business Administration, Management and OperationsBusiness	bachelors	$33,993	$34,467
Education, GeneralEducation	bachelors	$32,925	$32,284
English Language and Literature, GeneralEnglish Language & Literature	bachelors	$31,495	$32,569
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, OtherMultidisciplinary Studies	bachelors	$29,322	$29,374
Arts, Entertainment,and Media ManagementVisual & Performing Arts	bachelors	$28,960	$25,194
History	bachelors	$25,194	$30,409
Visual and Performing Arts, GeneralVisual & Performing Arts	bachelors	$23,579	$25,194
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment ProfessionsHealth Professions	bachelors	—	—
ChemistryPhysical Sciences	bachelors	—	—

Campus facts

Founded in 1894source
Competes in NCAA Division IIIsource
School colors: Navy and Goldsource
Athletic nickname: "Trailblazers"source
Mascot: Murdock the Mountain Lionsource
Campus size: about 105 acressource
Formerly known as "North Adams State College" (1960–1997)source
Formerly known as "State Teachers College of North Adams" (1932–1960)source
Formerly known as "North Adams Normal School" (1894–1932)source
Athletic conference: Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conferencesource

Athletics — 10 sports

NCAA Division III without football · NCAA Division III

Athletic scholarships not allowed · Athletic aid $0 (M $0 · W $0)

Self-reported EADA participants (2024-2025). Athletic aid is institution-level, not per sport. Athletic scholarships are not allowed by association rule; non-athletic merit or need-based aid may still be available.