Nichols vs. MCLA

Nichols College and Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Nichols College
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Nichols (80.8% admitted vs 89.7%). Typical SAT 1130 vs 1070.
  • Cheaper after aid: MCLA. Average net price is $16,544 vs $32,337 at Nichols.
  • Graduation: Nichols 43% vs MCLA 53%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Nichols $51,800 vs MCLA $37,100 (median).
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Key differences

Nichols College Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
Acceptance rate
Nichols more selective
Nichols80.8%
MCLA89.7%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Nichols higher
Nichols1028-1236
MCLA960-1180
Average net price
MCLA $15,793 less
Nichols$32,337
MCLA$16,544
In-state tuition
MCLA $30,269 less
Nichols$42,705
MCLA$12,436
Out-of-state tuition
MCLA $21,324 less
Nichols$42,705
MCLA$21,381
Graduation rate
MCLA +10 pts
Nichols43%
MCLA53%
Median earnings (10 years)
Nichols +$14,700
Nichols$51,800
MCLA$37,100

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Nichols 2,296
  • MCLA 1,208
  • Admitted
  • Nichols 1,856
  • MCLA 1,084
  • Acceptance rate
  • Nichols 80.8% Open
  • MCLA 89.7%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Nichols 18.1% Open
  • MCLA 11.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Nichols 1130
  • MCLA 1070
  • Typical ACT score
  • Nichols
  • MCLA 19
  • Average high school GPA
  • Nichols 2.9
  • MCLA 3.2
  • Typical high school grades
  • Nichols B
  • MCLA B+
  • Admissions standards
  • Nichols Moderate
  • MCLA Extremely Easy
  • Applicant competition
  • Nichols
  • MCLA
  • SAT range
  • Nichols 1028-1236
  • MCLA 960-1180
  • ACT range
  • Nichols
  • MCLA 17-21
  • Submit test scores
  • Nichols Open admission
  • MCLA Test-free
  • Application deadline
  • Nichols
  • MCLA
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Nichols $42,705
  • MCLA $12,436
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Nichols $42,705
  • MCLA $21,381
  • Room & board
  • Nichols $15,800
  • MCLA $15,386
  • Average net price
  • Nichols $32,337
  • MCLA $16,544
  • Average grant aid
  • Nichols $25,809
  • MCLA $9,045
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Nichols 99%
  • MCLA 99%
  • Graduation rate
  • Nichols 43%
  • MCLA 53%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Nichols $51,800
  • MCLA $37,100
  • Making student loan payments
  • Nichols 68%
  • MCLA 63%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Nichols $27,000
  • MCLA $24,659
  • Median loan payment
  • Nichols $279
  • MCLA $254
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Nichols 15:1
  • MCLA 8:1
  • Popular majors
  • Nichols
    • Business (75%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (12%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)
    • Psychology (3%)
    • Education (2%)
  • MCLA
    • English and Literature (20%)
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • General Studies (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • Location
  • Nichols Dudley, MA
  • MCLA North Adams, MA
  • Setting
  • Nichols Rural Fringe
  • MCLA Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Nichols 1,392
  • MCLA 896
  • Type
  • Nichols Private 4 Year
  • MCLA Public 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Nichols #855
  • MCLA

Comparable Facts

Compare Nichols College in Dudley, MA with Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in North Adams, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Nichols College is larger than MCLA based on total student enrollment (1,392 students vs. 896 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Nichols College is located in Dudley, MA (Rural Fringe setting); Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts is in North Adams, MA (Distant Town setting).
  • Nichols College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Nichols College 15:1; Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts 8:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts are 2.6% lower than at Nichols College ($15,386 vs. $15,800).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 99.7% higher at Nichols than at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (about $21,324 more per year; $42,705 vs. $21,381).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Nichols College as at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (99% vs. 99%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Nichols College students is 185.3% larger than aid received by Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts students ($25,809 vs. $9,045).

Admissions details

  • SAT or ACT scores are open admission at Nichols, test-free at MCLA.
  • Enrolled first-year students at MCLA average a 3.2 high school GPA, 0.3 higher than at Nichols (2.9).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.1% at Nichols vs. 11.5% at MCLA.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts graduates have a $2,341 lower median loan debt than Nichols graduates ($24,659 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, MCLA graduates have an estimated $25 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Nichols graduates ($254 vs. $279).
  • More Nichols graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MCLA students, three years after graduation (68% vs. 63%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

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