MCLA at a Glance

• Fall 2012 Enrollment
  • 1,600 undergraduate students
    
    200 graduate students
    
    77% from Massachusetts, 16% from New York, 17 states represented
    
    59% female, 41% male
    
    21% new students from diverse backgrounds
    
    Admission statistics: 500 new students
    
    974 students live on campus
    


• Affordability
  • 69% of MCLA students receive need based financial aid (grants, loans, and work study)
    
    18 million dollars in financial aid distributed annually
    
    Merit scholarships available at the time of admission
    
    MCLA offers tuition reduction programs depending on where you reside and what you study
    


• 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 2012: 3.19; SAT I: 1,038
    


• History
  • 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