Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) vs Davidson College
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and Davidson College, while both offering a strong liberal arts education, present distinct experiences for prospective students. MCLA, a public college in North Adams, Massachusetts, boasts an acceptance rate of 88%, making it more accessible to a wider range of students. Davidson, a private college in Davidson, North Carolina, is more selective, with an acceptance rate of 24%. MCLA's student body is predominantly female (62%), while Davidson's is more evenly balanced (51% female, 49% male). Both colleges offer a variety of popular majors, including Business, Psychology, and Biology, but Davidson also offers a wider range of specialized programs, such as Engineering and Computer Science. With a graduation rate of 58%, MCLA provides ample support to help students complete their degrees, while Davidson's impressive 91% graduation rate reflects its commitment to student success. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover more key differences and
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![]() Davidson College |
![]() Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts |
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Overview |
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Location | Davidson, North Carolina | North Adams, Massachusetts |
Campus setting | Suburb: Large | Town: Fringe |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Public |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 95.0% | 63.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | Presbyterian | |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 17.8% | 91.0% |
Application fees | $50 | $50 |
SAT range | N/A | N/A |
ACT range | N/A | N/A |
Students submitting SAT score | ||
Students submitting ACT score | ||
Total number of applicants | 6,434 | 1,371 |
Total number of admissions given out | 1,145 | 1,247 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 547 | 167 |
Yield rate | 47.8% | 13.4% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | 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 | $73,200 |
In state:
$25,928
Out of state:
$34,873
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Average net price | $25,794 | $14,902 |
Tuition | $54,460 |
In state:
$1,030
Out of state:
$9,975
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Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$7,700
Meal plan:
$7,525
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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) |
64.0%
Average amount $47,889 |
99.0%
Average amount $8,496 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
10.0%
Average amount $5,095 |
97.0%
Average amount $3,734 |
Students taking out private loans |
2.0%
Average amount $33,219 |
12.0%
Average amount $9,492 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
1,973
Men 47.2% Women 52.8% |
870
Men 39.2% Women 60.8% |
Graduate students | N/A |
124
Men 33.1% Women 66.9% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
|
Low
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Out-of-state students | 76.8% | N/A |
International students | 8.2% | N/A |
Campus local/setting | Suburb: Large | Town: Fringe |
Dormitory capacity | 1,830 | 1,020 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | Yes | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | North Carolina Virginia Texas New Jersey Florida | 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 | 10:1 | 9:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges | New England Commission on Higher Education |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 89.6% | 58.4% |
Dropout rate | 10.0% | 41.6% |
Transferred out | N/A | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Economics (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas)
Political Science and Government (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas)
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas)
English Language and Literature, General (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas)
Biology, General (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas)
Psychology, General (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas)
Anthropology (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas)
History (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas)
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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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