Colleges that spend the most on teaching in Massachusetts
Colleges ranked by instructional spending for each full-time-equivalent student.
Colleges that spend the most on teaching in Massachusetts47 schools
47 schools qualify, ranked by teaching spending per student. 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 instructional spending per full-time-equivalent student from federal data (College Scorecard).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by instructional spending per student, highest first.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#1 in Massachusetts
- $99,057 on teaching per student
- 3 students per faculty member
- 2
Williams College
Williamstown, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- $51,880 on teaching per student
- 6 students per faculty member
- 3
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA · Private nonprofitIvy LeagueHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- $51,780 on teaching per student
- 7 students per faculty member
- 4
The New England Conservatory of Music
Boston, MA · Private nonprofitTop 16% for graduation
- $46,533 on teaching per student
- 5 students per faculty member
- 5
Wellesley College
Wellesley, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- $39,815 on teaching per student
- 7 students per faculty member
- 6
Amherst College
Amherst, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- $36,411 on teaching per student
- 6 students per faculty member
- 7
Boston University
Boston, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- $35,988 on teaching per student
- 10 students per faculty member
- 8
Franklin W Olin College of Engineering
Needham, MA · Private nonprofitTop 1% for earnings
- $33,960 on teaching per student
- 9 students per faculty member
- 9
Smith College
Northampton, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- $31,466 on teaching per student
- 8 students per faculty member
- 10
Mount Holyoke College
South Hadley, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- $29,177 on teaching per student
- 9 students per faculty member
- 11
Tufts University
Medford, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 3% for graduation
- $28,034 on teaching per student
- 10 students per faculty member
- 12
Boston College
Chestnut Hill, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 2% for earnings
- $27,008 on teaching per student
- 10 students per faculty member
- 13
College of the Holy Cross
Worcester, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 4% for earnings
- $24,933 on teaching per student
- 9 students per faculty member
- 14
Bard College at Simon's Rock
Great Barrington, MA · Private nonprofitTop 23% for graduation
- $24,017 on teaching per student
- 6 students per faculty member
- 15
Laboure College of Healthcare
Milton, MA · Private nonprofitTop 1% for graduation
- $23,476 on teaching per student
- 9 students per faculty member
- 16
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
North Adams, MA · PublicGood: Compass grade B
- $22,306 on teaching per student
- 8 students per faculty member
- 17
Northeastern University
Boston, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 3% for earnings
- $21,813 on teaching per student
- 16 students per faculty member
- 18
Brandeis University
Waltham, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 7% for graduation
- $21,670 on teaching per student
- 10 students per faculty member
- 19
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Worcester, MA · Private nonprofitTop 2% for earnings
- $21,636 on teaching per student
- 13 students per faculty member
- 20
University of Massachusetts-Amherst
Amherst, MA · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- $20,843 on teaching per student
- 17 students per faculty member
- 21
Berklee College of Music
Boston, MA · Private nonprofitVery good: Compass grade B+
- $20,700 on teaching per student
- 9 students per faculty member
- 22
Clark University
Worcester, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- $19,052 on teaching per student
- 8 students per faculty member
- 23
Wheaton College (Massachusetts)
Norton, MA · Private nonprofitTop 17% for earnings
- $17,319 on teaching per student
- 11 students per faculty member
- 24
Massachusetts Maritime Academy
Buzzards Bay, MA · PublicTop 7% for earnings
- $16,741 on teaching per student
- 13 students per faculty member
- 25
Simmons University
Boston, MA · Private nonprofitExcellent: Compass grade A-
- $16,715 on teaching per student
- 9 students per faculty member
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | $20,111 | $14,768 | $143,372 | 96% |
| Williams College | $17,716 | $12,761 | $88,665 | 94% |
| Harvard University | $19,066 | $14,000 | $101,817 | 98% |
| The New England Conservatory of Music | $46,754 | $27,000 | $34,483 | 73% |
| Wellesley College | $25,496 | $10,000 | $84,803 | 92% |
| Amherst College | $23,367 | $13,740 | $77,644 | 94% |
| Boston University | $24,402 | $23,250 | $83,238 | 89% |
| Franklin W Olin College of Engineering | $25,171 | $19,500 | $129,455 | 96% |
| Smith College | $27,579 | $17,550 | $64,027 | 89% |
| Mount Holyoke College | $26,441 | $22,902 | $58,418 | 84% |
| Tufts University | $39,998 | $16,250 | $83,214 | 94% |
| Boston College | $41,704 | $19,000 | $103,937 | 91% |
| College of the Holy Cross | $38,782 | $27,000 | $90,543 | 87% |
| Bard College at Simon's Rock | $31,625 | $24,254 | $46,543 | 68% |
| Laboure College of Healthcare | $36,863 | $25,250 | $62,200 | 100% |
| Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts | $16,068 | $23,750 | $48,102 | 56% |
| Northeastern University | $30,915 | $24,250 | $92,538 | 91% |
| Brandeis University | $35,736 | $25,648 | $77,231 | 86% |
| Worcester Polytechnic Institute | $43,071 | $27,000 | $103,470 | 90% |
| University of Massachusetts-Amherst | $22,383 | $22,763 | $71,631 | 83% |
| Berklee College of Music | $49,465 | $25,000 | $33,647 | 67% |
| Clark University | $28,714 | $26,759 | $62,381 | 77% |
| Wheaton College (Massachusetts) | $29,822 | $26,000 | $67,725 | 73% |
| Massachusetts Maritime Academy | $21,582 | $25,000 | $82,392 | 74% |
| Simmons University | $25,265 | $24,840 | $63,494 | 72% |
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 64
- Colorado 7
- Connecticut 14
- District of Columbia 5
- Florida 21
- Georgia 9
- Idaho 3
- Illinois 21
- Indiana 21
- Iowa 16
- Kansas 4
- Kentucky 7
- Louisiana 3
- Maine 9
- Maryland 16
- Michigan 21
- Minnesota 19
- Missouri 20
- Nebraska 8
- New Hampshire 5
- New Jersey 17
- New York 80
- North Carolina 18
- Ohio 33
- Oklahoma 4
- Oregon 11
- Pennsylvania 62
- Rhode Island 9
- South Carolina 10
- Tennessee 10
- Texas 20
- Utah 4
- Vermont 6
- Virginia 22
- Washington 13
- Wisconsin 15