Academic Comparison between Amherst and MCLA

Amherst College and Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts are frequently compared when students or parents prepare college admissions. Amherst is a four-year, private (not-for-profit) school located in Amherst, MA and MCLA is a four-year, public school located in North Adams, MA.

Comparison at a Glance

The following list compares two colleges briefly in important perspectives. You can compare them with comprehensive information on full comparison page.

  • Amherst is a private (not-for-profit) and MCLA is a public school and both are four-year schools.
  • Amherst has more expensive tuition & fees ($70,480) than MCLA ($21,381).
  • It is harder to admit to Amherst than MCLA.
  • Amherst has more students with 1,914 students while MCLA has 896 students.
  • Amherst has a lower number of students per faculty with 6 to 1 while MCLA's ratio is 8 to 1.
  • Amherst has more full-time faculties with 282 faculties while MCLA has 79 full-time faculties.
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Comparison Table with important Academic Factors

Amherst Collegevs.Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
Amherst, MassachusettsLocationNorth Adams, Massachusetts
Four-year, Private (not-for-profit)School Typefour-year, Public
Bachelor's degreeHighest Degree OfferedMaster's degree
Baccalaureate College - Arts & SciencesCarnegie ClassificationBaccalaureate College - Arts & Sciences
$70,4802025 Tuition & Fees
In-State$12,436
Out-Of-State$21,381
62%% Receiving Financial Aid82%
$67,234Average Amount of Financial Aid$9,946
9.01 %Acceptance Rates89.74 %
38.77 %Yield (Enrollment Rates)11.53 %
1,540SAT Score-
34ACT Score-
94 %Graduation Rate56 %
3 %Transfer-out Rate-
97 %Retention Rate76 %
1,914Student Population896
282Number of Faculties79
6 to 1Students to Faculty Ratio8 to 1
ROTC, Study Abroad, Teacher CertificationSpecial Learning OpportunitiesDistance Learning (Online Classes), Study Abroad, Weekend/Evening College, Teacher Certification
Academic/career counseling service, Employment services, Placement servicesOn Campus Student ServicesAcademic/career counseling service, Employment services, Placement services