Best value colleges in Massachusetts
Colleges with an Academic Excellence grade of B+ or better, ranked by Value: net price, graduation rate, earnings, and debt from federal data.
Best value colleges in Massachusetts46 schools
46 schools qualify, ranked by Value. The top 25 are shown.
How this list is made
- Schools in Massachusetts.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Academic Excellence grade B+ or better (the top 35% of rated colleges).
- Has a Value score from federal data (College Scorecard).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by Value, highest first.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
Williams College
Williamstown, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- Value grade A+ · Top 3%
- Net price $17,716 a year
- 2
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA · Private nonprofitIvy LeagueHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- Value grade A · Top 4%
- Net price $19,066 a year
- 3
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#1 in Massachusetts
- Value grade A · Top 5%
- Net price $20,111 a year
- 4
Wellesley College
Wellesley, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- Value grade A · Top 7%
- Net price $25,496 a year
- 5
Amherst College
Amherst, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- Value grade A · Top 8%
- Net price $23,367 a year
- 6
University of Massachusetts-Lowell
Lowell, MA · PublicTop 20% for earnings
- Value grade B+ · Top 22%
- Net price $17,163 a year
- 7
Franklin W Olin College of Engineering
Needham, MA · Private nonprofitTop 1% for earnings
- Value grade B+ · Top 24%
- Net price $25,171 a year
- 8
Massachusetts Maritime Academy
Buzzards Bay, MA · PublicTop 7% for earnings
- Value grade B+ · Top 26%
- Net price $21,582 a year
- 9
University of Massachusetts-Amherst
Amherst, MA · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Value grade B+ · Top 28%
- Net price $22,383 a year
- 10
Boston University
Boston, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Value grade B+ · Top 32%
- Net price $24,402 a year
- 11
Smith College
Northampton, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Value grade B · Top 43%
- Net price $27,579 a year
- 12
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
North Adams, MA · PublicGood: Compass grade B
- Value grade B · Top 48%
- Net price $16,068 a year
- 13
College of Our Lady of the Elms
Chicopee, MA · Private nonprofitTop 24% for graduation
- Value grade B · Top 50%
- Net price $17,545 a year
- 14
Western New England University
Springfield, MA · Private nonprofitTop 12% for earnings
- Value grade B · Top 50%
- Net price $27,290 a year
- 15
Simmons University
Boston, MA · Private nonprofitExcellent: Compass grade A-
- Value grade B
- Net price $25,265 a year
- 16
Northeastern University
Boston, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 3% for earnings
- Value grade B-
- Net price $30,915 a year
- 17
Emmanuel College
Boston, MA · Private nonprofitTop 16% for earnings
- Value grade B-
- Net price $26,706 a year
- 18
Assumption University
Worcester, MA · Private nonprofitTop 11% for earnings
- Value grade B-
- Net price $29,498 a year
- 19
Mount Holyoke College
South Hadley, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Value grade B-
- Net price $26,441 a year
- 20
Stonehill College
Easton, MA · Private nonprofitTop 9% for earnings
- Value grade B-
- Net price $33,016 a year
- 21
Tufts University
Medford, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 3% for graduation
- Value grade B-
- Net price $39,998 a year
- 22
Wheaton College (Massachusetts)
Norton, MA · Private nonprofitTop 17% for earnings
- Value grade B-
- Net price $29,822 a year
- 23
Suffolk University
Boston, MA · Private nonprofitTop 17% for earnings
- Value grade B-
- Net price $29,618 a year
- 24
Wentworth Institute of Technology
Boston, MA · Private nonprofitTop 7% for earnings
- Value grade B-
- Net price $34,170 a year
- 25
Clark University
Worcester, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Value grade B-
- Net price $28,714 a year
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Williams College | $17,716 | $12,761 | $88,665 | 94% |
| Harvard University | $19,066 | $14,000 | $101,817 | 98% |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | $20,111 | $14,768 | $143,372 | 96% |
| Wellesley College | $25,496 | $10,000 | $84,803 | 92% |
| Amherst College | $23,367 | $13,740 | $77,644 | 94% |
| University of Massachusetts-Lowell | $17,163 | $23,704 | $64,874 | 65% |
| Franklin W Olin College of Engineering | $25,171 | $19,500 | $129,455 | 96% |
| Massachusetts Maritime Academy | $21,582 | $25,000 | $82,392 | 74% |
| University of Massachusetts-Amherst | $22,383 | $22,763 | $71,631 | 83% |
| Boston University | $24,402 | $23,250 | $83,238 | 89% |
| Smith College | $27,579 | $17,550 | $64,027 | 89% |
| Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts | $16,068 | $23,750 | $48,102 | 56% |
| College of Our Lady of the Elms | $17,545 | $25,000 | $51,540 | 68% |
| Western New England University | $27,290 | $25,500 | $73,157 | 64% |
| Simmons University | $25,265 | $24,840 | $63,494 | 72% |
| Northeastern University | $30,915 | $24,250 | $92,538 | 91% |
| Emmanuel College | $26,706 | $27,000 | $68,245 | 68% |
| Assumption University | $29,498 | $27,000 | $74,895 | 75% |
| Mount Holyoke College | $26,441 | $22,902 | $58,418 | 84% |
| Stonehill College | $33,016 | $25,000 | $77,745 | 76% |
| Tufts University | $39,998 | $16,250 | $83,214 | 94% |
| Wheaton College (Massachusetts) | $29,822 | $26,000 | $67,725 | 73% |
| Suffolk University | $29,618 | $26,889 | $67,506 | 61% |
| Wentworth Institute of Technology | $34,170 | $25,028 | $82,721 | 68% |
| Clark University | $28,714 | $26,759 | $62,381 | 77% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.
This list in other states
- Alabama 5
- Arizona 4
- Arkansas 5
- California 59
- Colorado 6
- Connecticut 13
- District of Columbia 5
- Florida 21
- Georgia 9
- Illinois 21
- Indiana 21
- Iowa 16
- Kansas 4
- Kentucky 7
- Louisiana 3
- Maine 9
- Maryland 15
- Michigan 20
- Minnesota 19
- Missouri 17
- Nebraska 8
- New Hampshire 5
- New Jersey 16
- New York 75
- North Carolina 16
- Ohio 32
- Oklahoma 4
- Oregon 10
- Pennsylvania 60
- Rhode Island 9
- South Carolina 9
- Tennessee 10
- Texas 20
- Utah 4
- Vermont 6
- Virginia 20
- Washington 13
- Wisconsin 15