The average acceptance rate at MCLA over the past 10 years is 83.57%, and the most recent acceptance rate is 89.74%. Compared to the previous year, it became slightly more competitive to gain admission to MCLA in 2025. The acceptance rate at MCLA is relatively high, giving applicants a greater chance of admission.
The average yield (enrollment rate) over the period is 16.18%, and the 2025 yield is 11.53%. Overall, the yield has decreased by 34.44% from 2015 to 2025.
The number of MCLA applicants decreased by 21.71% (335 applicants) compared to the previous year. Over the entire 10-year period, applicants decreased by 42.23% overall.
The current acceptance rate for the 2025 admission cycle is 89.74%, showing a decreasing selectivity trend. This suggests that MCLA is admitting a higher proportion of applicants, which may indicate either an increase in application quality or a strategic enrollment decision by the institution.
The admission yield (the percentage of admitted students who enroll) for the 2025 academic year is 11.53%. The declining yield trend suggests that a lower percentage of admitted students are choosing to enroll at MCLA. This pattern may reflect increased competition from peer institutions, changing student demographics, or shifts in institutional enrollment strategy.
For the 2025 admission cycle, MCLA received approximately 1,208 applications, admitted 1,084 students, and enrolled 125 students. The declining application volume may indicate shifts in student interest patterns or broader demographic changes affecting college enrollment. Understanding these trends is crucial for prospective students and families assessing MCLA's position in the competitive admissions landscape.
MCLA 10-Year Admission Rate Summary: The acceptance rate trends at MCLA over the past decade show a relatively stable trend, with fluctuations in both directions. The average acceptance rate over this period is 83.57%, while the most recent rate stands at 89.74%. This data reflects the institution's evolving competitiveness in the higher education admissions landscape.
For the most recent admission cycle (2025), the acceptance rate is 89.74%. By gender, the average acceptance rate for men is 79.33% and for women is 85.80%.
The following table and chart show how acceptance rates at MCLA have changed over the past 10 years (2015-2025).
| Year | Total | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 73.41% | 66.71% | 76.78% |
| 2016-17 | 77.10% 3.69% |
77.11% 10.40% |
77.07% 0.29% |
| 2017-18 | 76.63% -0.47% |
69.99% -7.13% |
80.30% 3.23% |
| 2018-19 | 73.69% -2.94% |
68.03% -1.95% |
76.96% -3.34% |
| 2019-20 | 81.64% 7.95% |
78.11% 10.07% |
83.86% 6.90% |
| 2020-21 | 87.68% 6.03% |
82.92% 4.81% |
90.29% 6.43% |
| 2021-22 | 91.03% 3.35% |
87.03% 4.11% |
92.97% 2.68% |
| 2022-23 | 92.45% 1.42% |
89.18% 2.15% |
94.18% 1.21% |
| 2023-24 | 92.35% -0.09% |
90.34% 1.16% |
93.39% -0.79% |
| 2024-25 | 89.74% -2.62% |
83.85% -6.49% |
92.24% -1.15% |
| Average | 83.57% | 79.33% | 85.80% |
MCLA has demonstrated a decline in admission yield over the past 10 years. The institution's yield rate has decreased from 17.59% in 2015 to 11.53% in 2025, representing a 34.44% decrease. The 10-year average yield stands at 16.18%, reflecting weakening enrollment performance.
The following table and chart illustrate the changes in yield at MCLA from 2015 to 2025. The admission yield has decreased by 34.44% over this period.
| Year | Total | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 17.59% | 18.20% | 16.39% |
| 2016-17 | 21.07% 3.48% |
11.83% -6.37% |
39.35% 22.96% |
| 2017-18 | 19.37% -1.70% |
22.27% 10.43% |
17.97% -21.37% |
| 2018-19 | 18.41% -0.96% |
21.62% -0.65% |
16.77% -1.20% |
| 2019-20 | 19.90% 1.49% |
22.16% 0.54% |
18.58% 1.81% |
| 2020-21 | 14.39% -5.51% |
16.83% -5.32% |
13.16% -5.42% |
| 2021-22 | 12.98% -1.41% |
17.06% 0.23% |
11.03% -2.14% |
| 2022-23 | 13.15% 0.17% |
18.54% 1.47% |
10.60% -0.43% |
| 2023-24 | 13.40% 0.25% |
18.49% -0.05% |
11.08% 0.48% |
| 2024-25 | 11.53% -1.87% |
14.86% -3.62% |
10.19% -0.89% |
| Average | 16.18% | 18.19% | 16.51% |
Over the past 10 years, The average number of applicants is 1,667, the average number of admitted is 1,373, and the average number of first-year enrolled students is 226.
The number of MCLA applicants decreased by 21.71% (335 applicants) compared to the previous year. Over the entire 10-year period, applicants decreased by 42.23% overall.
The following table and chart show the changes of applicants, admitted, and enrolled headcount at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts from 2015 to 2025.
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 2,091 | 1,535 | 270 |
| 2016-17 | 2,013 -3.73% |
1,552 1.11% |
327 21.11% |
| 2017-18 | 1,947 -3.28% |
1,492 -3.87% |
289 -11.62% |
| 2018-19 | 1,931 -0.82% |
1,423 -4.62% |
262 -9.34% |
| 2019-20 | 1,754 -9.17% |
1,432 0.63% |
285 8.78% |
| 2020-21 | 1,355 -22.75% |
1,188 -17.04% |
171 -40.00% |
| 2021-22 | 1,371 1.18% |
1,248 5.05% |
162 -5.26% |
| 2022-23 | 1,456 6.20% |
1,346 7.85% |
177 9.26% |
| 2023-24 | 1,543 5.98% |
1,425 5.87% |
191 7.91% |
| 2024-25 | 1,208 -21.71% |
1,084 -23.93% |
125 -34.55% |
| Average | 1,667 | 1,373 | 226 |
The following table compares Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts' acceptance rate to similar schools.
| 2024 | 2025 | Change % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts | 92.35% | 89.74% | -2.83% |
| University of Massachusetts-Amherst | 59.73% | 57.77% | 3.39% |
| University of Massachusetts-Lowell | 83.04% | 85.24% | -2.58% |
| University of Massachusetts-Boston | 83.78% | 82.96% | 0.99% |
| Bridgewater State University | 87.81% | 89.19% | -1.55% |
| University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth | 90.64% | 92.16% | -1.65% |
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