MCLA at a Glance
Fall 2011 Enrollment
1,680 undergraduate students
210 graduate students
77% from Massachusetts, 16% from New York, 17 states represented
59% female, 41% male
20% new students from diverse backgrounds
Admission statistics: 500 new students (310 freshmen, 195 transfers)
970 students live on campus
Affordability
64% of MCLA students receive need based financial aid (grants, loans, and work study)
15 million dollars in financial aid distributed annually
Merit scholarships available at the time of admission
MCLA offers tuition reduction through the New England Board of Higher Education (NEBHE) program
New York residents
Admission
Rolling admission; applications are reviewed beginning in early December for Fall admission
Spring admission: applications are reviewed beginning in October for January enrollment
Rolling admission for Fast-Track
Admission criteria for first year student based on high school record, SAT I or ACT scores, and personal statement; transfer student admission based on academic performance at previous college(s)
Early Action (non-binding) for fall enrollments: December 1 deadline
Average high school GPA for entering freshmen class of fall 2011: 3.1; SAT I: 1,044
1894 - Founded as North Adams Normal School, a two-year diploma program for teachers
1932 - Renamed the State Teachers College of North Adams, offering a four-year program leading to a Bachelor of Science in Education
1960 - Renamed the North Adams State College, with additional degrees in liberal arts, Business Administration, and Computer Science
1997 - Renamed the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA), reflective of specialty school status within the Massachusetts State College public system as The Public Liberal Arts College of Massachusetts; embarked on a campus Beautification Project through the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education Campus Performance Improvement Program (CPIP)
2004 - President Grant initiated collaborations with other institutions to strengthen MCLA's leadership position, launching Berkshire Compact for Higher Education, MCLA Gallery 51, and MCLA lead partner status for Berkshire STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Pipeline Network
2006, 2007 - Major renovations completed on historic Murdock Hall and Smith House, restoring these landmark buildings to their former grandeur and equipping them with the latest technology
2008 - Governor Deval Patrick signs into law a Higher Education Bond Bill that includes $54.5 million for a new Center for Science and Innovation at MCLA
2011 - Groundbreaking begins on the Center for Science and Innovation
