375 Church St, North Adams, MA 01247
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts is a public, residential, liberal arts college, which offers both undergraduate and graduate programs. Its distinctive purpose is to provide a high quality alternative to private liberal arts institutions at a lower cost.
We offer liberal arts and professional majors. Our students balance courses within their major, in core courses, and electives. We infuse this work with experiences designed to maximize your engagement and deepen learning. Our graduate programs include a Master's in Education, Leadership Academy for school administrators and a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study (CAGS).
Our faculty will know your name and share your dreams, and our classes will be small and personalized. It is this rare combination of value and values that ensures students get their money's worth at MCLA, right from the start, while also earning a substantial lifelong return on their investment.
Our graduates are the powerful result of this commitment to high-quality, affordable education. That's the promise of a public liberal arts college whose value is as enduring as the beautiful mountains that surround us.
To complement your coursework, out-of-the-classroom experiences allow for new ways of thinking and promote personal growth as you develop the social skills and ethics you will need in a rapidly changing global society.
MCLA is located in North Adams, in the northwestern corner of Massachusetts, in Berkshire County's vibrant arts community. While North Adams is the smallest city in the state, it offers a number of great shops, artists' galleries and museums within walking distance of the College, and a full-service regional hospital less than two miles away.
North Adams also boasts the state's highest mountain peak and numerous state parks and natural wonders. The city is home to MASS MoCA, one of the nation's largest contemporary art museums.
We are located close to the Vermont and New York borders, and within a three-hour drive of both Boston and New York City. Our students come from all over the Northeast, and our professors and staff enjoy the benefits of living where nature and culture are in harmony. Our campus is safe, beautiful, and a place where you can focus on learning.
The Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) is a public, residential, liberal arts college, which offers both undergraduate and graduate programs. It is a member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges and is located in North Adams, Massachusetts. Originally established as part of the state's normal school system for training teachers, it now offers a variety of programs leading to Bachelor of Science and Arts degrees, as well as a Master of Education track. MCLA is the smallest college in the state system.
From the 1960s, the college's athletic teams were known as the Mohawks. In response to concerns about racial stereotyping, the name Trailblazers was adopted in 2002.
Founded in 1894 as North Adams Normal School; offered first instruction at postsecondary level in 1897; changed name in 1932 to State Teachers College of North Adams, added upper division curriculum, and awarded first degree (baccalaureate) in 1932; added upper graduate program in 1937; in 1960, the college changed its name to North Adams State College; in 1997, the name changed to Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA), reflective of specialty school status within the Massachusetts State College public system.
MCLA is located in North Adams, MA, 1 mile from the downtown area of 14,700, in the northwestern corner of the state, bordering both Vermont and New York. Approximate travel time from Boston is 2 ½ hours; 3 hours from New York City; 1 ¼ hours from Albany, NY and 2 hours from Hartford, CT. Located 50 miles from Albany, NY; 180 miles from New York City; 135 miles from Boston, MA
Awards on the undergraduate level B.A. and a B.S. and also confers a Masters in Education M.Ed. and a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study (CAGS). MCLA offers 19 majors and 35 minors, on average 300 academic courses offered each semester (Fall/Spring)
MCLA has over 40 student clubs, 11 competitive NCAA Division III sports (men only: baseball, basketball, cross-country, soccer, golf; women only: softball, basketball, cross-country, soccer, tennis, volleyball) competes in the ECAC and the MASCAC
Learn more about Bachelor’s Degree Programs
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Learn more about Master’s Degree Programs
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| Percent of Students International: | 0% |
| On-Campus Housing Available: | Yes |
| Percent of Students Living On-Campus: | 59% |
| Freshman Students Required to Live on Campus: | Yes |
| Member of: | NAA, NCAA |
| Sports Include: |
Basketball (Massachusetts State College Ath Assoc) Baseball (Massachusetts State College Ath Assoc) Track (Massachusetts State College Ath Assoc) |
| Tuition & Fees (undergraduate) | In-State | Out-of-State | |
Published Tuition and Fees: |
$ 6,168 | $ 15,113 | |
Average Tuition for Full-Time Undergrads: |
$ 1,030 | $ 9,975 | |
Required Fees for Full-Time Undergrads: |
$ 5,138 | $ 5,138 | |
| Financial Aid | Avg. Amount Received | % of Students Receiving Aid | |
Federal Grants: |
$ 3,299 | 25% | |
State and Local Grants: |
$ 2,339 | 27% | |
Institutional Grants: |
$ 2,393 | 50% | |
Student Loans: |
$ 4,036 | 75% | |
Any Aid: |
92% |
| Acceptance Rate: | 71% (Selective) |
| Test Scores | |
| SAT Scores: | |
| % of Students Submitting SAT Scores: | 95% |
| Bottom 25th Percentile: | Verbal: 440, Math: 430 |
| Top 75th Percentile: | Verbal: 570, Math: 550 |
| Application Fee: | $ 25.00 |
| Formal Demonstration of Competencies: | Not Required |
| High School Diploma or Equivalent: | Required |
| High School GPA: | Required |
| High School Rank: | Not Required |
| High School Record: | Required |
| Recommendations: | Not Required |
| TOEFL: | Not Required |
| Test Scores: | Required |
College Advice on Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts |
Question: which is the best/worst Massachusetts state college?Bridgewater State College, Bridgewater Fitchburg State College, Fitchburg Framingham State College, Framingham Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Boston Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, North Adams Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Buzzards Bay Salem State College, Salem Westfield State College, Westfield Worcester State College, Worcester15 months ago
Best AnswerWorst (by far): Salem State College, Salem Best (a toss-up): Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Boston OR Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, North Adams |