MCLA vs. Rider University

Should I go to Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts or Rider University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if MCLA or Rider University is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts vs. Rider University comparison
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts Rider University College 3 College 4
Rider University
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Overview

MCLA Rider University
Location North Adams, MA Lawrenceville, NJ
Setting Distant Town Large Suburban
Enrollment 938 4,054
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #263
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website mcla.edu rider.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

MCLA Rider University
Tuition (In State) $1,030 $36,000
Tuition (Out of State) $9,975 $36,000
Room & Board $13,632 $16,130
Avg Net Price $15,377 $26,388
Avg Grant Aid $9,044 $26,336
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 99%

Admission

MCLA Rider University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,456 9,340
Admitted 1,346 7,858
Acceptance Rate 92.4% 84.1%
Enrolled % 13.2% 9.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.2 3.41
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Challenging
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 17/21 21/29
SAT Range 960/1180 1100/1300
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline

Academics

MCLA Rider University
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 10:1
Popular Majors
  • English and Literature (20%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Social Sciences (15%)
  • General Studies (10%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • Business (34%)
  • Education (15%)
  • English and Literature (13%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)

Outcomes

MCLA Rider University
Graduation Rate 53% 63%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $37,100 $53,000
Making Student Loan Payments 63% 73%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,659 $25,750
Median Loan Payment $254 $266

Diversity

MCLA Rider University
% Men 42% 41%
% Women 58% 59%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 74% 62%
% Black 9% 12%
% Hispanic 8% 12%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 0% 3%
% Unknown Race 4% 2%

Students

MCLA Rider University
% In-State 55% 74%
% Out-of-State 45% 23%

Campus

MCLA Rider University
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

  • Rider University is larger than than MCLA based on total student enrollment (4,054 students vs. 938 students)

MCLA vs. Rider University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MCLA or Rider University?

  • Rider University is 3,395.1% more expensive to attend than MCLA for in-state tuition ($36,000.00 vs. $1,030.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 260.9% higher at Rider University than Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts ($36,000.00 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 Rider University ($15,377 vs. $26,388)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts are 18.3% lower than costs at Rider University ($13,632 vs. $16,130)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts than Rider University (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rider University students is 191.2% larger than aid received Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts ($26,336 vs. $9,044)

MCLA vs. Rider University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, MCLA or Rider University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Rider University or MCLA .

  • The average SAT score at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (1016) is 2 points higher than at Rider University (1014)
  • Incoming MCLA students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Rider University (22)
  • Accepted freshman Rider University students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.41) than students at MCLA (3.2)
  • MCLA has a higher acceptance rate (92.4%) than Rider University (84.1%)

MCLA vs. Rider University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, MCLA or Rider University? 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 Rider University and MCLA.

  • The graduation rate at Rider University is higher than Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (63% vs. 53%)
  • Graduates from Rider University earn on average $15,900 more per year than MCLA graduates after ten years. ($53,000 vs. $37,100)
  • Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts students graduate with a $1,091 lower median federal student loan debt than Rider University graduates. ($24,659 vs. $25,750)
  • MCLA graduates are paying $12 less per month on federal student loans than Rider University graduates. ($254 vs. $266)
  • More Rider University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MCLA students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 63%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/