September 18, 2023
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts has earned the No. 7 spot on the list of Top
Public Liberal Arts Schools in the nation for a third year in a row. The College’s
continued commitment to affordable education and economic prosperity is reflected
in the 2024 U.S. News and World Report with additional rankings: No. 1 for Top Performer
on Social Mobility in the state, No. 2 in the country, and No. 22 for National Liberal
Arts Colleges.
MCLA has appeared on U.S. News’ list of Top Ten Public Colleges for 9 consecutive
years. The College has also been acknowledged in its list of National Liberal Arts
Colleges for Social Mobility since the organization adopted this ranking in 2019.
This list measures how well institutions graduate students who receive federal Pell
Grants, typically awarded to students whose families make less than $50,000, though
most Pell Grant money goes to families with income below $20,000.
“Each year that MCLA appears in the Top Ten Public College rankings I am reminded
how incredibly committed our faculty and staff are when it comes to the growth and
success of our Trailblazers by demonstrating an unwavering dedication to excellence,”
said President James F. Birge, Ph.D. “I am grateful to be part of an institution like
MCLA that has made enormous improvements over the last year and its rankings for Top
Performer on Social Mobility.”
More than 42 percent of MCLA undergraduate students receive Pell Grants, and 51 percent
are the first in their families to go to college. Overall, 93 percent of students
receive some kind of financial aid.
“Enrolling at MCLA makes such a difference on student and faculty lives as well as
on the community at large,” said Brenda Burdick, Chair of the MCLA Board of Trustees.
“I'm truly amazed by the ongoing success of MCLA – an institution that consistently
shines as a top-notch provider of high quality, accessible, and affordable education.
Being recognized as a Top Ten Public College affirms this commitment.”
U.S. News ranks colleges based on indicators that reflect a school’s student body,
its faculty, and its financial resources, along with outcome measures that signal
how well the institution achieves its mission of educating students.
For more information, go to usnews.com/colleges.
About MCLA:
At MCLA, we’re here for all — and focused on each — of our students. Classes are taught
by educators who care deeply about teaching, and about seeing their students thrive
on every level of their lives. In nearly every way possible, the experience at MCLA
is designed to elevate our students as individuals, leaders, and communicators, fully
empowered to make their impressions on the world. In addition to our 128-year commitment
to public education, we have fortified our commitment to equitable academic excellence.
For 10 of the last 12 years, MCLA has been named a Top Ten College by U.S. News and
World Report. MCLA also appears on the organization’s list of top National Public
Liberal Arts Colleges. Since the list was created, MCLA has risen to #33 as a Top
Performer on Social Mobility and ranks first among all
Massachusetts liberal arts schools, which measures how well schools graduate students who receive Federal Pell Grants. Learn more at www.mcla.edu
