MCLA vs. Saint Francis University

Deciding between Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and Saint Francis University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Saint Francis University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • MCLA North Adams, MA
  • Saint Francis University Loretto, PA
  • Setting
  • MCLA Distant Town
  • Saint Francis University Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • MCLA 896
  • Saint Francis University 2,963
  • Type
  • MCLA Public 4 Year
  • Saint Francis University Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • MCLA
  • Saint Francis University #503
  • Religious Affiliation
  • MCLA -
  • Saint Francis University Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • MCLA Non-profit
  • Saint Francis University Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • MCLA
  • Saint Francis University

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • MCLA $12,436
  • Saint Francis University $44,000
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • MCLA $21,381
  • Saint Francis University $44,000
  • Room & Board
  • MCLA $15,386
  • Saint Francis University $13,500
  • Average Net Price
  • MCLA $16,544
  • Saint Francis University $28,326
  • Average Grant Aid
  • MCLA $9,045
  • Saint Francis University $31,610
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • MCLA 99%
  • Saint Francis University 99%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • MCLA 1,208
  • Saint Francis University 2,623
  • Admitted
  • MCLA 1,084
  • Saint Francis University 2,015
  • Acceptance Rate
  • MCLA 89.7%
  • Saint Francis University 76.8%
  • Enrolled
  • MCLA 11.5%
  • Saint Francis University 19.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • MCLA 1070
  • Saint Francis University 1140
  • Typical ACT score
  • MCLA 19
  • Saint Francis University 24
  • Average High School GPA
  • MCLA 3.2
  • Saint Francis University 3.69
  • Typical High School Grades
  • MCLA B+
  • Saint Francis University A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • MCLA Extremely Easy
  • Saint Francis University Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • MCLA
  • Saint Francis University
  • ACT Range
  • MCLA 17/21
  • Saint Francis University 21/27
  • SAT Range
  • MCLA 960/1180
  • Saint Francis University 1050/1230
  • Submit Test Scores
  • MCLA Test-free
  • Saint Francis University Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • MCLA
  • Saint Francis University

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • MCLA 8:1
  • Saint Francis University 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • MCLA
    • English and Literature (20%)
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • General Studies (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • Saint Francis University
    • Business (28%)
    • Health Professions (28%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Education (7%)
    • Psychology (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • MCLA 53%
  • Saint Francis University 64%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • MCLA $37,100
  • Saint Francis University $54,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • MCLA 63%
  • Saint Francis University 74%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • MCLA $24,659
  • Saint Francis University $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • MCLA $254
  • Saint Francis University $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • MCLA 43%
  • Saint Francis University 39%
  • % Women
  • MCLA 57%
  • Saint Francis University 61%
  • Racial Diversity
  • MCLA Low
  • Saint Francis University Low
  • HBCU
  • MCLA No
  • Saint Francis University No
  • % White
  • MCLA 74%
  • Saint Francis University 46%
  • % Asian
  • MCLA 2%
  • Saint Francis University 2%
  • % Black
  • MCLA 9%
  • Saint Francis University 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • MCLA 8%
  • Saint Francis University 1%
  • % Native American
  • MCLA 1%
  • Saint Francis University 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • MCLA 0%
  • Saint Francis University 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • MCLA 3%
  • Saint Francis University 1%
  • % International
  • MCLA 0%
  • Saint Francis University 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • MCLA 4%
  • Saint Francis University 41%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • MCLA 63%
  • Saint Francis University 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • MCLA 36%
  • Saint Francis University 25%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • MCLA Yes
  • Saint Francis University Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • MCLA No
  • Saint Francis University No
  • Meal Plan
  • MCLA Yes
  • Saint Francis University Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • MCLA Yes
  • Saint Francis University Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • MCLA No
  • Saint Francis University No

Comparable Facts

Compare Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in North Adams, MA with Saint Francis University in Loretto, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Saint Francis University is larger than MCLA based on total student enrollment (2,963 students vs. 896 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts is located in North Adams, MA (Distant Town setting); Saint Francis University is in Loretto, PA (Distant Town setting).
  • Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Saint Francis University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts 8:1; Saint Francis University 16:1.

MCLA vs. Saint Francis University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MCLA or Saint Francis University? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts than Saint Francis University ($16,544 vs. $28,326).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Saint Francis University are 12.3% lower than at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts ($13,500 vs. $15,386).
  • Saint Francis University is 253.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than MCLA (about $31,564 more per year; $44,000.00 vs. $12,436.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 105.8% higher at Saint Francis University than at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (about $22,619 more per year; $44,000.00 vs. $21,381.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts as at Saint Francis University (99% vs. 99%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Saint Francis University students is 249.5% larger than aid received by Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts students ($31,610 vs. $9,045).

MCLA vs. Saint Francis University Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, MCLA or Saint Francis University? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Saint Francis University and MCLA.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Saint Francis University (1140) is 70 points higher than at MCLA (1070).
  • Incoming Saint Francis University students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (24 vs. 19 at MCLA).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts 960/1180; Saint Francis University 1050/1230.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts 17/21; Saint Francis University 21/27.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: MCLA - Test-free; Saint Francis University - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman Saint Francis University students have a 0.49 point higher average high school GPA (3.69) than students at MCLA (3.2).
  • MCLA has a higher acceptance rate (89.7%) than Saint Francis University (76.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.5% at MCLA vs. 19.6% at Saint Francis University.

MCLA vs. Saint Francis University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MCLA and Saint Francis University? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Saint Francis University's six-year graduation rate (64%) is higher than Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts's (53%).
  • Graduates from Saint Francis University earn a median of about $16,900 more per year than MCLA graduates about ten years after starting college ($54,000 vs. $37,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts graduates have a $2,341 lower median loan debt than Saint Francis University graduates ($24,659 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, MCLA graduates have an estimated $25 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Saint Francis University graduates ($254 vs. $279).
  • More Saint Francis University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MCLA students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 63%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.