Colleges with the biggest discount off the sticker price in Massachusetts
Colleges whose average price after grants is furthest below their published sticker price.
Colleges with the biggest discount off the sticker price in Massachusetts47 schools
47 schools qualify, ranked by discount off the sticker price. 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 sticker price (cost of attendance) and a net price (average yearly cost after grants) from federal data (College Scorecard).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by the discount, sticker price minus net price, largest first.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
Williams College
Williamstown, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- $67,144 off the sticker price
- Net price $17,716 a year
- 2
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA · Private nonprofitIvy LeagueHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- $66,474 off the sticker price
- Net price $19,066 a year
- 3
Amherst College
Amherst, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- $64,273 off the sticker price
- Net price $23,367 a year
- 4
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#1 in Massachusetts
- $62,619 off the sticker price
- Net price $20,111 a year
- 5
Boston University
Boston, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- $61,883 off the sticker price
- Net price $24,402 a year
- 6
Franklin W Olin College of Engineering
Needham, MA · Private nonprofitTop 1% for earnings
- $61,303 off the sticker price
- Net price $25,171 a year
- 7
Wellesley College
Wellesley, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- $60,794 off the sticker price
- Net price $25,496 a year
- 8
Mount Holyoke College
South Hadley, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- $58,485 off the sticker price
- Net price $26,441 a year
- 9
Smith College
Northampton, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- $58,451 off the sticker price
- Net price $27,579 a year
- 10
Northeastern University
Boston, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 3% for earnings
- $53,726 off the sticker price
- Net price $30,915 a year
- 11
Bard College at Simon's Rock
Great Barrington, MA · Private nonprofitTop 23% for graduation
- $53,637 off the sticker price
- Net price $31,625 a year
- 12
Brandeis University
Waltham, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 7% for graduation
- $50,712 off the sticker price
- Net price $35,736 a year
- 13
Hampshire College
Amherst, MA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B-
- $50,161 off the sticker price
- Net price $24,034 a year
- 14
Wheaton College (Massachusetts)
Norton, MA · Private nonprofitTop 17% for earnings
- $49,489 off the sticker price
- Net price $29,822 a year
- 15
Tufts University
Medford, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 3% for graduation
- $48,302 off the sticker price
- Net price $39,998 a year
- 16
Boston College
Chestnut Hill, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 2% for earnings
- $47,789 off the sticker price
- Net price $41,704 a year
- 17
Bentley University
Waltham, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 1% for earnings
- $41,618 off the sticker price
- Net price $37,930 a year
- 18
College of the Holy Cross
Worcester, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 4% for earnings
- $41,552 off the sticker price
- Net price $38,782 a year
- 19
Clark University
Worcester, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- $39,718 off the sticker price
- Net price $28,714 a year
- 20
Stonehill College
Easton, MA · Private nonprofitTop 9% for earnings
- $39,698 off the sticker price
- Net price $33,016 a year
- 21
Babson College
Wellesley, MA · Private nonprofitTop 1% for earnings
- $39,678 off the sticker price
- Net price $40,514 a year
- 22
Emmanuel College
Boston, MA · Private nonprofitTop 16% for earnings
- $38,546 off the sticker price
- Net price $26,706 a year
- 23
Simmons University
Boston, MA · Private nonprofitExcellent: Compass grade A-
- $38,195 off the sticker price
- Net price $25,265 a year
- 24
Regis College
Weston, MA · Private nonprofitTop 18% for graduation
- $38,069 off the sticker price
- Net price $27,477 a year
- 25
College of Our Lady of the Elms
Chicopee, MA · Private nonprofitTop 24% for graduation
- $36,482 off the sticker price
- Net price $17,545 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% |
| Amherst College | $23,367 | $13,740 | $77,644 | 94% |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | $20,111 | $14,768 | $143,372 | 96% |
| Boston University | $24,402 | $23,250 | $83,238 | 89% |
| Franklin W Olin College of Engineering | $25,171 | $19,500 | $129,455 | 96% |
| Wellesley College | $25,496 | $10,000 | $84,803 | 92% |
| Mount Holyoke College | $26,441 | $22,902 | $58,418 | 84% |
| Smith College | $27,579 | $17,550 | $64,027 | 89% |
| Northeastern University | $30,915 | $24,250 | $92,538 | 91% |
| Bard College at Simon's Rock | $31,625 | $24,254 | $46,543 | 68% |
| Brandeis University | $35,736 | $25,648 | $77,231 | 86% |
| Hampshire College | $24,034 | $26,893 | $46,938 | 54% |
| Wheaton College (Massachusetts) | $29,822 | $26,000 | $67,725 | 73% |
| Tufts University | $39,998 | $16,250 | $83,214 | 94% |
| Boston College | $41,704 | $19,000 | $103,937 | 91% |
| Bentley University | $37,930 | $25,023 | $120,959 | 87% |
| College of the Holy Cross | $38,782 | $27,000 | $90,543 | 87% |
| Clark University | $28,714 | $26,759 | $62,381 | 77% |
| Stonehill College | $33,016 | $25,000 | $77,745 | 76% |
| Babson College | $40,514 | $20,000 | $123,938 | 93% |
| Emmanuel College | $26,706 | $27,000 | $68,245 | 68% |
| Simmons University | $25,265 | $24,840 | $63,494 | 72% |
| Regis College | $27,477 | $25,500 | $52,873 | 72% |
| College of Our Lady of the Elms | $17,545 | $25,000 | $51,540 | 68% |
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 63
- 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 18
- Nebraska 8
- New Hampshire 5
- New Jersey 17
- New York 79
- North Carolina 17
- Ohio 33
- Oklahoma 4
- Oregon 11
- Pennsylvania 60
- Rhode Island 9
- South Carolina 10
- Tennessee 10
- Texas 20
- Utah 4
- Vermont 6
- Virginia 20
- Washington 13
- Wisconsin 15