A Top College, Again: The MCLA Community Reflects on Success

02:51PM / Monday, February 14, 2022Print Story | Email Story

As a top ten public college, MCLA has a lot to offer: more than 100 scholarships, a liberal arts curriculum that helps students learn across academic disciplines, tons of student activities, and support ranging from student-led tutoring to the TRIO Program, which focuses on helping low- income, first-generation, or disabled students get the most out of their college experience.

These are all important facets—and no doubt part of why MCLA also continues to appear on U.S. News’ list of best colleges for social mobility—but the MCLA community, who work here, live here, and learn here, has more to say about why MCLA has been named a Top Ten College for nine of the last 11 years, and keeps climbing the rankings lists each year.

"I think MCLA is a top college because of the quality of education it provides," said Domenica Gomez ’23, who attends MCLA while working as an admission ambassador, giving tours to prospective students. "Throughout my college experience I have had the opportunity to receive one-on-one assistance from professors that genuinely care about your educational success and

make long-lasting connections that will help shape my future."

Kayla Hollins ’12, MCLA’s director of admission, came to MCLA from New York City and has helped thousands of students learn more about the College before they apply.

"MCLA is a top ten college because it is filled with true trailblazers—first generation students, students who live far from campus, undeclared students, and more," she said. "These are students who took a chance on our small community—and our community continues to deliver a quality education. MCLA is a place for all students to learn how to be a leader. As an alum, I pride myself on being a Trailblazer, and as the director of admission, I hope to recruit more of us to the institution."

MCLA professors bring their classes to experience everything in the Berkshires, from tracking salamanders in the MCLA forest and Mount Greylock State Reservation to working with museum staff on arts and education projects.

"We have incredible access to the arts," said Professor of Art Melanie Mowinski. "MASS MoCA, the largest contemporary art museum in the country, is one of our teaching labs. I think that experiential element related to the arts, the environment, and the beauty of the land is what continues to make us a top ten school."

"I think the institution, meaning the people who are at its core, understand and stay true to the ultimate mission: providing a quality affordable liberal arts education to a student population that is not especially advantaged," said Dennis Ducharme ’82, president of the MCLA Alumni Association. "The college provides amazing support through a great student to faculty ratio and with many layers of services geared to maximize retention and graduation rates. The result is an educational experience that puts our students on an upward trajectory, both financially and as engaged members of their communities."

Want to learn more about MCLA? Talk to the Office of Admission, or plan a visit, at www.mcla.edu.

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MCLA Awarded Funds For Early Education Center

03:37PM / Monday, June 01, 2026

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Congressman Richard E. Neal joined Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) President James F. Birge, North Adams Mayor Jennifer Macksey, MCLA students, faculty, and staff, and state and local officials to announce $1,200,000 in federal funding for the MCLA Early Education Center.

"I am delighted to join with President Birge and the MCLA community to announce funding for the establishment of a new early education center. This investment will deliver tangible results across the board: allowing parents to go to work, ensuring our children have access to a strong educational foundation, and providing hands-on training for our future workforce," said Congressman Neal. "Access to affordable, high-quality child care is essential to working families and strengthening our workforce. That is why, as Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, I helped enact the largest investment in child care in our nation’s history. With announcements like the one today, we are continuing to build on our progress in removing barriers to workforce participation, while giving our children the tools they need to achieve their potential."

These funds will allow MCLA to renovate its Church Street Center into a facility that provides a dedicated space for early education partners throughout North County. This space will provide a learning lab for students and child care services for the campus and local community, benefiting a minimum of thirty families and reinstating 12-15 early childhood educator/staff positions.

"For the families who depend on these programs and the educators who make them possible, this is a meaningful and lasting commitment, said James F. Birge, president of MCLA. "MCLA is proud to be the home for this work, and we are grateful to Congressman Neal for making it happen."

This allocation was made possible through Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Congressman Neal included funding for this project in the Fiscal Year 2026 spending bill.

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