MCLA Maintains Top 10 Public Liberal Arts College Ranking for 11th Straight Year

NORTH ADAMS — Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) has maintained its position as the sixth-ranked public liberal arts school in the nation, according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2026 Best Colleges rankings, marking 11 consecutive years in the top 10.

“Eleven years of top ten recognition is a testament to our faculty, staff, and the entire MCLA community’s dedication to student success,” President James Birge said. “This consistency in rankings reflects our core mission: providing an affordable, transformative liberal arts education that empowers students from all backgrounds to achieve their goals and make meaningful contributions to society.”

More than 41% of MCLA undergraduate students receive Pell Grants, and 49% are the first in their families to attend college. Overall, 95% of MCLA students receive some form of financial aid.

“MCLA’s sustained excellence in the rankings reflects its unwavering commitment to providing accessible, high-quality education,” said Buffy Lord, chair of the MCLA board of trustees. “While some institutions may steeply discount their programs to attract students, MCLA uses an affordability model rather than a financial leveraging approach. The result is that MCLA graduates have the lowest student loan debt of any four-year public institution in Massachusetts, and 22% of graduates have no student loan debt at all.”

The college’s focus on individual attention and experiential learning continues to set it apart. Classes are taught by dedicated educators who prioritize teaching excellence and student development, creating an environment where every student can thrive academically and personally.

“At MCLA, we strike a balance between our strong identity rooted in practical education and our forward-looking approach,” Birge continued. “We understand the demanding expectations of today’s students, and we are committed to meeting their needs. This is why we have introduced new programs, such as nursing, radiologic technology, global studies, environmental studies, and music, industry, and production.”

Another one of the ways MCLA supports student success beyond the classroom is through its Essential Needs Center (ENC), which addresses the hardships outside of academics that can become obstacles to student achievement and overall well-being. This welcoming space offers food, essential items, housing and transportation assistance, seasonal clothes, SNAP applications, and much more. Importantly, the ENC is run by students who best understand these out-of-class challenges and are ready to help and support their peers.

“Our additional student support staff enables us to quickly and efficiently customize academic success plans, allowing students to focus on their classes without being sidelined by other stressors,” Birge noted. “At MCLA, students don’t just have a plan for their continued growth and success; they have the name of an MCLA mentor who is there from start to finish.”

U.S. News ranks colleges based on indicators including financial strength, faculty expertise, and educational outcomes.

“These rankings provide further validation that MCLA remains true to its 130-year commitment to public education and effectively prepares students for success in an increasingly complex world,” Lord concluded. “The liberal arts model is just as valuable now as it ever was, and we’re pleased to see our continued strengths highlighted in this way.”