Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) vs Kenyon College
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and Kenyon College, both esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. MCLA, a public liberal arts college in North Adams, Massachusetts, boasts an acceptance rate of 88%, while Kenyon, a private liberal arts college in Gambier, Ohio, has a more selective admissions process with an acceptance rate of 29%. MCLA's student body is predominantly female (62%), while Kenyon's is more evenly balanced (51% female, 49% male). Both colleges offer a diverse range of undergraduate programs, with popular majors at MCLA including Business Administration, Psychology, and Criminal Justice, and popular majors at Kenyon including English, Economics, and Biology. With graduation rates of 58% and 86% respectively, MCLA and Kenyon provide students with opportunities to succeed and achieve their academic goals. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover more about these two exceptional institutions and determine which one aligns best with your aspirations and
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![]() Kenyon College |
![]() Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts |
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Overview |
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Location | Gambier, Ohio | North Adams, Massachusetts |
Campus setting | Town: Distant | 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 | 91.0% | 63.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 36.5% | 91.0% |
Application fees | $50 | |
SAT range | 1340 - 1500 | N/A |
ACT range | 31 - 34 | N/A |
Students submitting SAT score | 25.0% | |
Students submitting ACT score | 28.0% | |
Total number of applicants | 7,601 | 1,371 |
Total number of admissions given out | 2,778 | 1,247 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 508 | 167 |
Yield rate | 18.3% | 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) | Not required | Not required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $80,270 |
In state:
$25,928
Out of state:
$34,873
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Average net price | $38,927 | $14,902 |
Tuition | $63,060 |
In state:
$1,030
Out of state:
$9,975
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Room & board | $13,310 |
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) |
79.0%
Average amount $32,553 |
99.0%
Average amount $8,496 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
26.0%
Average amount $3,119 |
97.0%
Average amount $3,734 |
Students taking out private loans |
13.0%
Average amount $3,894 |
12.0%
Average amount $9,492 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
1,875
Men 45.6% Women 54.4% |
870
Men 39.2% Women 60.8% |
Graduate students | N/A |
124
Men 33.1% Women 66.9% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
|
Low
|
Out-of-state students | N/A | N/A |
International students | 10.3% | N/A |
Campus local/setting | Town: Distant | Town: Fringe |
Dormitory capacity | 1,868 | 1,020 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | Yes | 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 | 9:1 | 9:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | New England Commission on Higher Education |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 86.5% | 58.4% |
Dropout rate | 6.5% | 41.6% |
Transferred out | 6.9% | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
International/Global Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
Film/Video and Photographic Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
Fine and Studio Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
History (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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