MCLA vs. WPI

Should I go to Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts or Worcester Polytechnic Institute? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if MCLA or WPI 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. Worcester Polytechnic Institute comparison
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts Worcester Polytechnic Institute College 3 College 4
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
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Overview

MCLA WPI
Location North Adams, MA Worcester, MA
Setting Distant Town Midsize City
Enrollment 938 7,308
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website mcla.edu wpi.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

MCLA WPI
Tuition (In State) $1,030 $56,000
Tuition (Out of State) $9,975 $56,000
Room & Board $13,632 $16,544
Avg Net Price $15,377 $46,876
Avg Grant Aid $9,044 $27,059
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 96%

Admission

MCLA WPI
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,456 11,599
Admitted 1,346 6,667
Acceptance Rate 92.4% 57.5%
Enrolled % 13.2% 20.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.2 3.9
Typical High School Grades B A-
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Unavailable
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 17/21
SAT Range 960/1180
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Feb 15, 2024

Academics

MCLA WPI
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • English and Literature (20%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Social Sciences (15%)
  • General Studies (10%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • Engineering (61%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (9%)
  • General Studies (5%)
  • Business (4%)

Outcomes

MCLA WPI
Graduation Rate 53% 76%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $37,100 $82,700
Making Student Loan Payments 63% 92%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,659 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $254 $279

Diversity

MCLA WPI
% Men 42% 64%
% Women 58% 36%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 74% 63%
% Black 9% 2%
% Hispanic 8% 8%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 0% 12%
% Unknown Race 4% 6%

Students

MCLA WPI
% In-State 55% 45%
% Out-of-State 45% 47%

Campus

MCLA WPI
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Worcester Polytechnic Institute is larger than than MCLA based on total student enrollment (7,308 students vs. 938 students)

MCLA vs. WPI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MCLA or WPI?

  • Worcester Polytechnic Institute is 5,336.9% more expensive to attend than MCLA for in-state tuition ($56,000.00 vs. $1,030.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 461.4% higher at WPI than Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts ($56,000.00 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 WPI ($15,377 vs. $46,876)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts are 21.4% lower than costs at Worcester Polytechnic Institute ($13,632 vs. $16,544)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts than Worcester Polytechnic Institute (100% vs. 96%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Worcester Polytechnic Institute students is 199.2% larger than aid received Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts ($27,059 vs. $9,044)

MCLA vs. WPI Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman WPI students have a 0.7 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at MCLA (3.2)
  • MCLA has a higher acceptance rate (92.4%) than WPI (57.5%)

MCLA vs. WPI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, MCLA or WPI? 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 WPI and MCLA.

  • The graduation rate at WPI is higher than Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (76% vs. 53%)
  • Graduates from Worcester Polytechnic Institute earn on average $45,600 more per year than MCLA graduates after ten years. ($82,700 vs. $37,100)
  • Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts students graduate with a $2,341 lower median federal student loan debt than WPI graduates. ($24,659 vs. $27,000)
  • MCLA graduates are paying $25 less per month on federal student loans than WPI graduates. ($254 vs. $279)
  • More WPI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MCLA students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 63%)

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