Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $26,026. College Scorecard.
Net price by family income
Average after grants and scholarships for Massachusetts residents receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard, latest reported year
Sticker price, line by line
| Per year, living on campus | In-state | Out-of-state |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & fees | $12,436 | $21,381 |
| Housing & meals | $14,634 | $14,634 |
| Books & supplies | $1,000 | $1,000 |
| Personal & travel | $2,150 | $2,150 |
| Living-at-home adjustment | −$4,194 | −$4,194 |
| Total cost of attendance | $26,026 | $34,971 |
Cost items: IPEDS 2023-24, on-campus budget. Total: College Scorecard, which averages students living on and off campus; the adjustment row reconciles the two. Out-of-state total = in-state total with out-of-state tuition.
Debt after graduation
College Scorecard; Urban Institute Education Data Portal
Who gets aid
College Scorecard
MCLA net price compared with other Massachusetts colleges
MCLA has the 6th-lowest average net price of 67 Massachusetts colleges we cover. Schools around it:
| Rank | College | Avg. net price | Graduation | Earnings, 10 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Fitchburg State University | $14,262 | 55% | $53,874 |
| 3 | Bay Path University | $14,271 | 44% | $55,383 |
| 4 | Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology | $15,488 | 46% | $57,556 |
| 5 | Salem State University | $15,996 | 50% | $56,662 |
| 6 | Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts | $16,068 | 56% | $48,102 |
| 7 | Framingham State University | $16,114 | 48% | $52,349 |
| 8 | Bridgewater State University | $16,383 | 53% | $57,466 |
| 9 | Westfield State University | $16,721 | 54% | $57,346 |
| 10 | Quincy College | $17,126 | 15% | $52,506 |
College Scorecard, latest year. Average for all aided students; your price depends on income. All Massachusetts colleges →
Why MCLA costs more or less than similar schools
| School | Acceptance | You'd pay | Graduation | Earnings, 10 yrs | Price gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts | 90% | $16,068 | 56% | $48,102 | This school |
| Fitchburg State University | 87% | $14,262 | 55% | $53,874 | |
| Massachusetts Maritime Academy | 95% | $21,582 | 74% | $82,392 | |
| Framingham State University | 84% | $16,114 | 48% | $52,349 | |
| Worcester State University | 88% | $13,381 | 61% | $60,624 |
College Scorecard, latest reported year. “You'd pay” follows your residency and income choices above.
Why the price is different
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts would cost you $1,806 more per year than Fitchburg State University, on average.
- Higher sticker price at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, mostly from higher tuition & fees (+$1,090).
- Fitchburg State University gives aided families $1,335 more in grants, on average.
| Per year, Massachusetts resident | MCLA | Fitchburg State University | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition & fees | $12,436 | $11,346 | +$1,090 |
| Books & supplies | $1,000 | $1,500 | −$500 |
| Housing & meals | $14,634 | $14,225 | +$409 |
| Personal & travel | $2,150 | $2,100 | +$50 |
| Living-at-home adjustment | −$4,194 | −$3,616 | −$578 |
| Sticker price | $26,026 | $25,555 | +$471 |
| Average grants | −$9,958 | −$11,293 | +$1,335 |
| You pay | $16,068 | $14,262 | +$1,806 |
“+” means MCLA costs more; “−” means it costs less. Grants are the sticker price minus the net price. Cost items: IPEDS, on-campus budget. Sticker and net price: College Scorecard, latest reported year; the adjustment reconciles the two. Net price is an average for first-time, full-time students receiving federal aid, not a quote.
MCLA cost questions
How much is tuition at MCLA?
Tuition and fees are $12,436 a year for Massachusetts residents and $21,381 for out-of-state students.
What is the total cost of attending MCLA?
The total cost of attendance, including housing, meals, books and personal costs, is $26,026 a year for Massachusetts residents living on campus and about $34,971 for out-of-state students.
What do families actually pay at MCLA?
After grants and scholarships, students receiving federal aid pay $16,068 a year on average. Families earning $0–30k pay $9,845; $48–75k pay $13,250; $110k+ pay $22,698. These figures are for Massachusetts residents.
How much debt do MCLA graduates have?
The median federal loan debt at graduation is $15,750, and 3.4% of borrowers defaulted within three years of entering repayment (2017 cohort).
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS; Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-By). Net price is an average for first-time, full-time students receiving federal aid, not a quote; confirm with the school's net price calculator. Back to Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts overview