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Northeastern BC NYU Babson Tufts UMass Brandeis University Lehigh Colgate George Washington Binghamton University Villanova| Boston University | Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
BU | MCLA | ||
| Location | Boston, MA | North Adams, MA | ||
| Setting | Large City | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 36,714 | 938 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #79 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | bu.edu | mcla.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
BU | MCLA | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $61,050 | $1,030 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $61,050 | $9,975 | ||
| Room & Board | $17,400 | $13,632 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $27,829 | $15,377 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $51,565 | $9,044 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 48% | 100% |
Admission |
BU | MCLA | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 80,796 | 1,456 | ||
| Admitted | 11,607 | 1,346 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 14.4% | 92.4% | ||
| Enrolled % | 31.3% | 13.2% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.79 | 3.2 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B | ||
| Admissions Standards | Exceptional | Extremely Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | Very High | |||
| ACT Range | 31/34 | 17/21 | ||
| SAT Range | 1350/1500 | 960/1180 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | ||
| Application Deadline | Jan 4, 2024 |
Academics |
BU | MCLA | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 11:1 | 9:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
BU | MCLA | ||
| Graduation Rate | 85% | 53% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $72,000 | $37,100 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 82% | 63% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $27,000 | $24,659 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $279 | $254 |
Diversity |
BU | MCLA | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 43% | 42% | ||
| % Women | 57% | 58% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 43% | 74% | ||
| % Black | 4% | 9% | ||
| % Hispanic | 11% | 8% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 3% | ||
| % International | 20% | 0% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 5% | 4% |
Students |
BU | MCLA | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 14% | 55% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 61% | 45% | ||
Campus |
BU | MCLA | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Boston University is larger than than MCLA based on total student enrollment (36,714 students vs. 938 students)
BU vs. MCLA Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, BU or MCLA?
- Boston University is 5,827.2% more expensive to attend than MCLA for in-state tuition ($61,050.00 vs. $1,030.00)
- Out of state tuition is 512% higher at BU than Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts ($61,050.00 vs. $9,975.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts than BU ($15,377 vs. $27,829)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts are 27.6% lower than costs at Boston University ($13,632 vs. $17,400)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts than Boston University (100% vs. 48%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Boston University students is 470.2% larger than aid received Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts ($51,565 vs. $9,044)
BU vs. MCLA Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, BU or MCLA? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between MCLA or BU .
- The average SAT score at Boston University (1303) is 287 points higher than at MCLA (1016)
- Incoming BU students have a 6 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at MCLA (23)
- Accepted freshman BU students have a 0.59 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at MCLA (3.2)
- MCLA has a higher acceptance rate (92.4%) than BU (14.4%)
BU vs. MCLA Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, BU or MCLA? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between MCLA and BU.
- The graduation rate at BU is higher than Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (85% vs. 53%)
- Graduates from Boston University earn on average $34,900 more per year than MCLA graduates after ten years. ($72,000 vs. $37,100)
- Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts students graduate with a $2,341 lower median federal student loan debt than BU graduates. ($24,659 vs. $27,000)
- MCLA graduates are paying $25 less per month on federal student loans than BU graduates. ($254 vs. $279)
- More BU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MCLA students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 63%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/