Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) vs Lewis & Clark College
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) and Lewis & Clark College (L&C) stand out as two distinct institutions of higher learning, each offering unique educational experiences. MCLA, a public liberal arts college in North Adams, Massachusetts, boasts a 90% acceptance rate, welcoming a diverse student body of over 1,800 undergraduates. In contrast, L&C, a private liberal arts college located in Portland, Oregon, has a more selective admissions process with a 55% acceptance rate, resulting in a smaller undergraduate population of around 2,000 students. While both colleges offer a comprehensive range of undergraduate programs, MCLA's popular majors include Business Administration, Psychology, and Criminal Justice, while L&C's strengths lie in Environmental Studies, Economics, and Psychology. With graduation rates of 58% and 78% respectively, MCLA and L&C provide valuable insights into the diverse landscapes of higher education, inviting prospective
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![]() Lewis & Clark College |
![]() Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts |
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Overview |
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Location | Portland, Oregon | North Adams, Massachusetts |
Campus setting | City: Large | Town: Fringe |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Public |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 86.0% | 63.0% |
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Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 79.5% | 91.0% |
Application fees | $50 | $50 |
SAT range | 1240 - 1420 | N/A |
ACT range | 27 - 32 | N/A |
Students submitting SAT score | 16.0% | |
Students submitting ACT score | 11.0% | |
Total number of applicants | 5,519 | 1,371 |
Total number of admissions given out | 4,385 | 1,247 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 677 | 167 |
Yield rate | 15.4% | 13.4% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Not required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Not required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $74,452 |
In state:
$25,928
Out of state:
$34,873
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Average net price | $37,155 | $14,902 |
Tuition | $56,970 |
In state:
$1,030
Out of state:
$9,975
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Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$7,870
Meal plan:
$6,104
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Room/dormitory:
$7,240
Meal plan:
$5,044
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
99.0%
Average amount $34,274 |
99.0%
Average amount $8,496 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
78.0%
Average amount $5,430 |
97.0%
Average amount $3,734 |
Students taking out private loans |
6.0%
Average amount $19,885 |
12.0%
Average amount $9,492 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
2,116
Men 36.3% Women 63.7% |
870
Men 39.2% Women 60.8% |
Graduate students |
1,383
Men 28.7% Women 71.3% |
124
Men 33.1% Women 66.9% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
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Low
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Out-of-state students | N/A | N/A |
International students | 3.8% | N/A |
Campus local/setting | City: Large | Town: Fringe |
Dormitory capacity | 1,450 | 1,020 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | N/A | Mississippi New York Vermont Connecticut Rhode Island |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 12:1 | 9:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities | New England Commission on Higher Education |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 74.2% | 58.4% |
Dropout rate | 17.4% | 41.6% |
Transferred out | 8.3% | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Law (Doctoral Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Master's Degrees)
Student Counseling and Personnel Services (Master's Degrees)
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions (Master's Degrees)
Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Master's Degrees)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
International Relations and National Security Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Education, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Sociology (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other (Bachelor's Degrees)
Education, General (Master's Degrees)
Visual and Performing Arts, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
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