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

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass.—Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) has earned the No. 6 spot on U.S. News & World Report's list of Top Public Liberal Arts Schools in the nation, after earning the No. 7 spot for the past three consecutive years. 
 
According to a press release, the college's continued commitment to affordable education and economic prosperity is reflected in additional 2025 U.S. News rankings: No. 5 for Top Performer on Social Mobility for liberal arts colleges in the state and No. 2 for Top Performer on Social Mobility for public liberal arts colleges in the country.
 
"As we celebrate a decade of MCLA ranking in the Top Ten of Public Colleges, I continue to be proud of the incredible faculty and staff who make the College such an exceptional place to learn," said President James F. Birge.  "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." 
 
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 percent of MCLA undergraduate students receive Pell Grants, and 49 percent are the first in their families to go to college. Overall, 95 percent of MCLA students receive some kind of financial aid.   
 
"Being ranked as a Top Ten Public College is just one of the many ways MCLA's dedication to its students is made visible," said Mohan Boodram, chair of the MCLA Board of Trustees. "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." 
 
U.S. News ranks colleges based on indicators that reflect a school's financial strength, faculty expertise, and educational outcome measures.  

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4-Year-Old Child Dies in North Adams Duplex Fire

Staff Reports
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Firefighters battled a late-night structure fire Tuesday that left two people seriously injured and one 4-year-old child dead.
 
According to the District Attorney's Office and local and state fire officials, the structure fire occurred at approximately 11:30 p.m. at a duplex located on West Shaft Road. The North Adams Fire Department responded to the fire in the two-story, two-family home.
 
A video by a passing motorists shows the home fully engulfed in flames. 
 
Upon arrival, five occupants were outside, including an adult and minor with serious injuries. Firefighters were informed that one resident was unaccounted for; that person, a 4-year-old, was located deceased inside.
 
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will conduct a formal identification procedure and determine the cause and manner of death.
 
"On behalf of the North Adams Fire Department, I want to express our heartfelt condolences to the family that lost a loved one and their home," said Fire Chief Brent Lefebvre. "This is a terrible loss for them and our community."
 
All the occupants were transported to North Adams Regional Hospital. The two people who sustained serious injuries were flown to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.
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