MCLA Enrollment Grows for Second Straight Year, Against the National Trend

June 15, 2026

May 1 is the date when colleges and universities nationwide learn how many students have committed to enroll for the fall. For Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA), the answer was the best it has been in five years. Deposits for the incoming class are up 20 percent over last year, marking the second consecutive year of enrollment growth. 

That growth is happening against a backdrop where nationally the college-age population is declining. High school graduation numbers in Berkshire County have been falling for years. Even so, MCLA has 94 deposits from the Berkshire region this cycle, up 29 percent from last year.

"I'm proud of the progress MCLA has made, and these enrollment numbers reflect the hard work of our faculty and staff to put students first. As I prepare to conclude my time here, I'm confident the college is well positioned for continued success in the years ahead," said James F. Birge, MCLA President, who will conclude his tenure this summer after more than a decade leading the institution.

The growth reflects a deliberate shift in how MCLA approaches recruitment. Rather than casting a wide net, the college focused on reaching the right-fit students more often and more authentically, a strategy built for a generation that grew up digitally with handheld devices. 

MCLA rewrote its top-level website pages to speak directly to students and families in plain, accessible language. The site now features dozens of videos of students talking about their experience in their own words, unscripted. On social media, the college shifted from polished announcements to student-focused content that shows what campus actually feels like day to day. 

Program-level demand is also driving the numbers. Nursing deposits have jumped from 13 to 30, more than doubling compared to last year. Psychology is close behind, up from 12 to 18, a 50 percent increase. Both programs reflect students’ growing focus on careers in health and human services. 

This summer we'll continue to receive deposits from Hampshire College and Anna Maria College transfer students. As MCLA reviews and accepts those applications, enrollment is expected to climb further.

The regional picture is the most striking part. In a shrinking market, MCLA isn't just holding its ground at home. It's gaining it.

The Class of 2030 arrives this fall. 


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 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 130-year commitment to public education, we have fortified our dedication to equitable academic excellence. MCLA has appeared on U.S. News & World Report's list of Top Ten Public Colleges for 11 consecutive years, earning the No. 6 spot on the list of Top Public Liberal Arts Schools in the nation for 2026. The College's focus on affordable education and economic prosperity is reflected in additional 2026 U.S. News rankings: No. 6 for Top Performer on Social Mobility for liberal arts colleges in the state and No. 4 for Top Performer on Social Mobility for public liberal arts colleges in the country. These rankings measure how well schools graduate students who receive Federal Pell Grants.