Colleges that pay for themselves fastest in Massachusetts
Colleges ranked by how many years of extra earnings, above a high school graduate’s, cover four years of net price.
Colleges that pay for themselves fastest in Massachusetts38 schools
38 schools qualify, ranked by payback years. 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 median earnings ten years after enrolling and a net price from federal data (College Scorecard), and those earnings are above a high school graduate’s ($48,360 a year: median weekly earnings of $930 for full-time workers with a high school diploma, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2024).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Payback years = four years of net price ÷ (earnings − a high school graduate’s earnings). Ordered by payback years, fewest first. A simple estimate: it leaves out interest, taxes and earnings growth.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#1 in Massachusetts
- Pays back in about 0.8 years
- Earnings $143,372 ten years out
- 2
Franklin W Olin College of Engineering
Needham, MA · Private nonprofitTop 1% for earnings
- Pays back in about 1.2 years
- Earnings $129,455 ten years out
- 3
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA · Private nonprofitIvy LeagueHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- Pays back in about 1.4 years
- Earnings $101,817 ten years out
- 4
Williams College
Williamstown, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- Pays back in about 1.8 years
- Earnings $88,665 ten years out
- 5
MCPHS University
Boston, MA · Private nonprofitTop 1% for earnings
- Pays back in about 2.0 years
- Earnings $125,557 ten years out
- 6Tie
Bentley University
Waltham, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 1% for earnings
- Pays back in about 2.1 years
- Earnings $120,959 ten years out
- 6Tie
Babson College
Wellesley, MA · Private nonprofitTop 1% for earnings
- Pays back in about 2.1 years
- Earnings $123,938 ten years out
- 8
Massachusetts Maritime Academy
Buzzards Bay, MA · PublicTop 7% for earnings
- Pays back in about 2.5 years
- Earnings $82,392 ten years out
- 9Tie
Wellesley College
Wellesley, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- Pays back in about 2.8 years
- Earnings $84,803 ten years out
- 9Tie
Boston University
Boston, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Pays back in about 2.8 years
- Earnings $83,238 ten years out
- 9Tie
Northeastern University
Boston, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 3% for earnings
- Pays back in about 2.8 years
- Earnings $92,538 ten years out
- 12
Boston College
Chestnut Hill, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 2% for earnings
- Pays back in about 3.0 years
- Earnings $103,937 ten years out
- 13
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Worcester, MA · Private nonprofitTop 2% for earnings
- Pays back in about 3.1 years
- Earnings $103,470 ten years out
- 14
Amherst College
Amherst, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- Pays back in about 3.2 years
- Earnings $77,644 ten years out
- 15
College of the Holy Cross
Worcester, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 4% for earnings
- Pays back in about 3.7 years
- Earnings $90,543 ten years out
- 16
University of Massachusetts-Amherst
Amherst, MA · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Pays back in about 3.8 years
- Earnings $71,631 ten years out
- 17
Wentworth Institute of Technology
Boston, MA · Private nonprofitTop 7% for earnings
- Pays back in about 4.0 years
- Earnings $82,721 ten years out
- 18
University of Massachusetts-Lowell
Lowell, MA · PublicTop 20% for earnings
- Pays back in about 4.2 years
- Earnings $64,874 ten years out
- 19Tie
Western New England University
Springfield, MA · Private nonprofitTop 12% for earnings
- Pays back in about 4.4 years
- Earnings $73,157 ten years out
- 19Tie
Assumption University
Worcester, MA · Private nonprofitTop 11% for earnings
- Pays back in about 4.4 years
- Earnings $74,895 ten years out
- 21
Stonehill College
Easton, MA · Private nonprofitTop 9% for earnings
- Pays back in about 4.5 years
- Earnings $77,745 ten years out
- 22
Tufts University
Medford, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 3% for graduation
- Pays back in about 4.6 years
- Earnings $83,214 ten years out
- 23
Brandeis University
Waltham, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 7% for graduation
- Pays back in about 5.0 years
- Earnings $77,231 ten years out
- 24
Emmanuel College
Boston, MA · Private nonprofitTop 16% for earnings
- Pays back in about 5.4 years
- Earnings $68,245 ten years out
- 25
Merrimack College
North Andover, MA · Private nonprofitTop 10% for earnings
- Pays back in about 5.6 years
- Earnings $75,584 ten years out
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% |
| Franklin W Olin College of Engineering | $25,171 | $19,500 | $129,455 | 96% |
| Harvard University | $19,066 | $14,000 | $101,817 | 98% |
| Williams College | $17,716 | $12,761 | $88,665 | 94% |
| MCPHS University | $39,545 | $25,000 | $125,557 | 62% |
| Bentley University | $37,930 | $25,023 | $120,959 | 87% |
| Babson College | $40,514 | $20,000 | $123,938 | 93% |
| Massachusetts Maritime Academy | $21,582 | $25,000 | $82,392 | 74% |
| Wellesley College | $25,496 | $10,000 | $84,803 | 92% |
| Boston University | $24,402 | $23,250 | $83,238 | 89% |
| Northeastern University | $30,915 | $24,250 | $92,538 | 91% |
| Boston College | $41,704 | $19,000 | $103,937 | 91% |
| Worcester Polytechnic Institute | $43,071 | $27,000 | $103,470 | 90% |
| Amherst College | $23,367 | $13,740 | $77,644 | 94% |
| College of the Holy Cross | $38,782 | $27,000 | $90,543 | 87% |
| University of Massachusetts-Amherst | $22,383 | $22,763 | $71,631 | 83% |
| Wentworth Institute of Technology | $34,170 | $25,028 | $82,721 | 68% |
| University of Massachusetts-Lowell | $17,163 | $23,704 | $64,874 | 65% |
| Western New England University | $27,290 | $25,500 | $73,157 | 64% |
| Assumption University | $29,498 | $27,000 | $74,895 | 75% |
| Stonehill College | $33,016 | $25,000 | $77,745 | 76% |
| Tufts University | $39,998 | $16,250 | $83,214 | 94% |
| Brandeis University | $35,736 | $25,648 | $77,231 | 86% |
| Emmanuel College | $26,706 | $27,000 | $68,245 | 68% |
| Merrimack College | $37,927 | $27,000 | $75,584 | 70% |
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 3
- Arkansas 5
- California 54
- Colorado 6
- Connecticut 13
- District of Columbia 5
- Florida 15
- Georgia 9
- Illinois 19
- Indiana 19
- Iowa 15
- Kansas 3
- Kentucky 5
- Louisiana 3
- Maine 7
- Maryland 14
- Michigan 19
- Minnesota 17
- Missouri 13
- Nebraska 8
- New Hampshire 4
- New Jersey 16
- New York 67
- North Carolina 15
- Ohio 28
- Oklahoma 4
- Oregon 9
- Pennsylvania 54
- Rhode Island 8
- South Carolina 6
- Tennessee 7
- Texas 17
- Utah 4
- Vermont 5
- Virginia 19
- Washington 13
- Wisconsin 13