Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts #1090 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts sits in the 32.9 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts #1063 for access among nonprofit four-year institutions — reflecting broad enrollment of Pell-eligible and first-generation students.
Azimuth ranks Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts #1090 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public baccalaureate college in North Adams, Massachusetts, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts enrolls roughly 713 undergraduates. Retention stands at 75.7% and the six-year graduation rate is 55.6%, reflecting solid completion outcomes for a regional public institution. Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts delivers meaningful returns on investment for its students. Azimuth ranks Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts #1304 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $48,835, and Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts earn about $5,942 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 32.9 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. This performance reflects the institution's strength in Psychology and related fields, where graduates move into stable careers with solid earning trajectories. Access and affordability form the foundation of Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts's value proposition. 41.3% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 33.0% are first-generation college students, positioning the institution as a genuine access point for students from lower-income and non-college-educated backgrounds. Azimuth ranks Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in the 28.2 percentile for access and the 68.3 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. As a public regional college, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts combines broad enrollment access with manageable costs and outcomes that exceed what many comparable institutions deliver, making it a practical choice for students seeking a clear path to degree completion and early-career financial stability.
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts prices accessibly across income levels, reflecting its public mission and regional cost structure. Low-income families pay approximately $9,845, mid-low-income families pay around $10,762, middle-income families pay about $13,250, mid-high-income families pay approximately $15,958, and higher-income families pay roughly $22,698. Azimuth ranks Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts #453 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The relatively narrow spread across income bands reflects the institution's public tuition structure and need-based aid approach, where most students benefit from grant aid that reduces the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $23,750, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $15,000; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For the typical graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $48,835, median federal debt of $23,750 projects to a monthly payment of about $268 under standard ten-year repayment. In a downside earnings scenario anchored on lower-earning program clusters, projected four-year earnings of $42,764 would tighten the monthly payment-to-income ratio — a pattern worth exploring at the program level and through personalized scenarios. For detailed projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning and income-driven repayment options — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts is a strong fit for students seeking a small public college experience in the Northeast with a focus on Psychology and related liberal arts fields. Its outcomes are especially compelling for first-generation and Pell-eligible students, who make up 33.0% and 41.3% of undergraduates respectively. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $48,835, placing Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in the 9.7 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $5,942 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 32.9 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The aid structure supports broad access, with published cost of attendance at $22,698 and median federal debt at graduation of $23,750. The 57.6% Pell completion rate shows meaningful support for low-income students through graduation. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 89.7% admit rate makes the application process moderately selective, and the program mix favors liberal arts over professional fields. Students whose interests align with these areas will find a supportive environment with solid outcomes relative to MA's no-degree baseline of $37,113.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
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Financial GPS Tool
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This is the Massachusetts College Of Liberal Arts hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts prices accessibly across income levels, reflecting its public mission and regional cost structure. Low-income families pay approximately $9,845, mid-low-income families pay around $10,762, middle-income families pay about $13,250, mid-high-income families pay approximately $15,958, and higher-income families pay roughly $22,698.
Azimuth ranks Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts #453 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The relatively narrow spread across income bands reflects the institution's public tuition structure and need-based aid approach, where most students benefit from grant aid that reduces the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $23,750, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $15,000; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For the typical graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $48,835, median federal debt of $23,750 projects to a monthly payment of about $268 under standard ten-year repayment.
In a downside earnings scenario anchored on lower-earning program clusters, projected four-year earnings of $42,764 would tighten the monthly payment-to-income ratio — a pattern worth exploring at the program level and through personalized scenarios. For detailed projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning and income-driven repayment options — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts earn median 4-year earnings of $48,835, placing Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in the 9.7 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That figure runs below the $52,536 median at comparable institutions.
Graduates earn about $5,942 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in the 32.9 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts #1304 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 11.9 percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The earnings pattern reflects the institution's concentration in psychology and social sciences. Psychology, General is the largest program with 40 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $49,826, performing at 1.0x the national benchmark for the field.
The Business Administration program graduates 38 students with median 4-year earnings of $53,753, while Interdisciplinary Studies and Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General round out the top programs with similar early-career earnings trajectories. These figures represent lifetime returns relative to MA's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $37,113 — the state median earnings of working adults age 25–34 with only a high school credential.
Computer and Information Sciences, General
18 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
38 graduates
Biology, General
16 graduates
Psychology, General
40 graduates
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
28 graduates
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts's program mix centers on the social sciences and liberal arts — a signature anchored in psychology, business, and education. Psychology, General is the largest program with 40 graduates, followed by Business Administration, Interdisciplinary Studies, Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General, and Sociology.
Across 15 total programs, 0 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold, reflecting the institution's breadth as a regional liberal arts college. The highest-earning programs cluster in applied fields and business.
Artificial Intelligence graduates earn median earnings of $87,671 four years after enrollment, followed by Business Administration at $53,753, Biology, General at $52,808, Psychology, General at $49,826, and Interdisciplinary Studies at $47,162. Psychology, General, the institution's dominant program, graduates 40 students annually and delivers median earnings of $49,826, anchoring the institution's overall earnings profile.
Several of these programs represent grad-school-dependent pathways — particularly Psychology, General and related social-science fields — where four-year earnings undercount lifetime trajectory because graduates often continue to graduate or professional school. Business and applied-professional programs, by contrast, are direct-to-workforce pathways where four-year earnings reflect immediate labor-market outcomes.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts's dominant program families align with regional and national labor-market demand.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Delta State University Similar quality tier (#30573 ranked) | MS | 100% | $41,991 | #30573 | Compare |
Southern University At New Orleans Similar quality tier (#30536 ranked) | LA | 79% | $34,042 | #30536 | Compare |
University Of South Carolina-Lancaster Similar quality tier (#30522 ranked) | SC | 83% | $39,426 | #30522 | Compare |
University Of Wisconsin-Superior Similar quality tier (#29997 ranked) | WI | 93% | $49,606 | #29997 | Compare |
Puerto Rico Conservatory Of Music Similar quality tier (#29481 ranked) | PR | 78% | $19,474 | #29481 | Compare |
