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.
Special features include selective admission, small classes, individualized attention, and academic excellence in an attractive college
setting. A challenging curriculum provides flexibility for motivated students to shape their own course of study and encourages
them to combine traditional coursework with experiential learning, such as internships, study abroad, and other field experiences.
Working with a diverse student body in an intellectually challenging environment, MCLA faculty and staff develop liberally
educated citizens with the knowledge, perspectives, critical thinking abilities, and values necessary to become active members of
their communities and leaders in their chosen professions.
To accomplish this mission, we seek to develop curricula that integrate liberal arts and professional studies; affirm the value of
excellent teaching and reward scholarly and creative activity; expand opportunities for experiential learning to include field
experiences, community service, international programs and independent studies; create a campus community that fosters
intellectual, cultural, social and recreational activities that enrich education and where the value and worth of all people are affirmed
and celebrated; achieve greater diversity within our faculty, administration, staff, and student body; challenge students to succeed
and support them in their efforts; and extend our cultural and educational resources to enhance the quality of life in the Berkshires.
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts is a public, residential, liberal arts college, which offers both undergraduate and graduate programs. The Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) is a public liberal arts college and is a member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges. It 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 15 majors 35 minors, on average 300 academic courses offered each semester (Fall/Spring)
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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: | No |
| 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: |
$ 5,617 | $ 14,562 | |
Average Tuition for Full-Time Undergrads: |
$ 1,030 | $ 9,975 | |
Required Fees for Full-Time Undergrads: |
$ 4,587 | $ 4,587 | |
| Financial Aid | Avg. Amount Received | % of Students Receiving Aid | |
Federal Grants: |
$ 2,895 | 27% | |
State and Local Grants: |
$ 2,435 | 36% | |
Institutional Grants: |
$ 2,413 | 42% | |
Student Loans: |
$ 2,817 | 69% | |
Any Aid: |
85% |
| Acceptance Rate: | 75% (Selective) |
| Test Scores | |
| SAT Scores: | |
| % of Students Submitting SAT Scores: | 94% |
| Bottom 25th Percentile: | Verbal: 475, Math: 450 |
| Top 75th Percentile: | Verbal: 590, Math: 560 |
| 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 |
