Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in North Adams, Massachusetts. It enrolls 713 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorNew England Commission on Higher Education
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
65/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes41
Value61
Affordability70
Selectivity22
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 89.7%, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
89.7%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyTest OptionalApplicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
10.7 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $16,068 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$16,068
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
41%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
61%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$12,436
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$21,381
Room & Board (on-campus)
$15,386
Room & Board (off-campus)
$10,035
Books & Supplies
$1,000
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$2,290
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$2,290
Total Cost of Attendance
$26,026
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$9,845
$30,001 – $48,000
$10,762
$48,001 – $75,000
$13,250
$75,001 – $110,000
$15,958
Over $110,000
$22,698
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$3,50010%percentile
$6,59825%percentile
$23,750Medianpercentile
$26,66875%percentile
$32,10590%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $16,844
↓ $6,906
No Pell $15,000
↓ $8,750
Dependent students $15,750
↓ $8,000
Independent students $15,531
↓ $8,219
Female students $16,260
↓ $7,490
Male students $15,000
↓ $8,750
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $7,500, less than completers ($23,750), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
61% of full-time students who enrolled at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts graduate within six years, and 72% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
61%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
72%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts earn a median of $48,102 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$48,102
Earning > $25K
80%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$34,500
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$44,000
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$33,200
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$40,600
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$39,300
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $9,500, about 22% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
13.6 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 79% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts is home to 713 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 33% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
713
Part-Time
8%
First-Generation
33%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 72.8%519
Black 8.7%62
Hispanic 6.7%48
Other 5.5%39
Asian 1.7%12
International 1.4%10
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: FringeNorth Adams, Massachusetts
Housing
Strongly residential1,020 beds for 713 students
Adult Learners
13%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts offers
a varied set of programs:
24 distinct programs across
15 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts is 8:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).
Student : Faculty
8:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$24,607
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$19M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$84,211
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
79 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
34
43%
$100,742
Associate Professors
26
33%
$75,417
Assistant Professors
18
23%
$67,256
Instructors
1
1%
$56,000
Pros & Cons of Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Tight-knit, close community feel
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
CONS
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Modest first-year retention
Best for:
Based on the data, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.
Is Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts hard to get into?
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 89.7%.
What is the acceptance rate at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts?
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts has an acceptance rate of 89.7%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts cost?
The average net price after aid at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts is $16,068 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $48,102 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $16,068 per year. That's roughly 3.0x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts known for?
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Education, General, Psychology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts are $48,102, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts accredited?
Yes. Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts is accredited by the New England Commission on Higher Education.
How many students attend Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts?
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts enrolls 713 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts?
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts graduates 61% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts a public or private college?
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts is a Public institution.
Where is Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts located?
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts is located in North Adams, Massachusetts.
What programs does Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts offer?
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts offers 24 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Education, General, Psychology.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts is 8:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in Massachusetts
Other colleges in Massachusetts share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
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