MCLA Ranked Among Top Public Liberal Arts Colleges by U.S. News & World Report

NORTH ADAMS — Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) has earned the sixth spot on U.S. News & World Report’s list of Top Public Liberal Arts Schools in the nation, after earning the seventh spot for the past three consecutive years.

The college’s continued commitment to affordable education and economic prosperity is reflected in additional 2025 U.S. News rankings: fifth for Top Performer on Social Mobility for liberal arts colleges in the state and second for Top Performer on Social Mobility for public liberal arts colleges in the country.

MCLA has appeared on U.S. News’ list of Top Ten Public Colleges for 10 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.

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

“As we celebrate a decade of MCLA ranking in the Top Ten Public Colleges, I continue to be proud of the incredible faculty and staff who make the college such an exceptional place to learn,” MCLA President James Birge said. “Our success is possible because of their unwavering commitment to our students. I am grateful to be part of an institution that focuses on and sees the value in striving to be a continuous top performer on social mobility.”

Mohan Boodram, chair of the MCLA board of trustees, added that “being ranked as a Top Ten Public College is just one of the many ways MCLA’s dedication to its students is made visible. The positive impact MCLA makes on their lives, as well as on the community at large, is impressive, and I am pleased that the hard work that goes into making the college a high-quality, accessible, and affordable educational option has again been recognized.”