Colleges with the lowest student debt in Massachusetts
Colleges whose graduates leave with the least federal student debt.
Colleges with the lowest student debt in Massachusetts46 schools
46 schools qualify, ranked by median debt. 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 the median federal loan debt of graduates from federal data (College Scorecard).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by median debt, lowest first.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
Wellesley College
Wellesley, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- Median debt $10,000
- 92% graduate
- 2
Williams College
Williamstown, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- Median debt $12,761
- 94% graduate
- 3
Amherst College
Amherst, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- Median debt $13,740
- 94% graduate
- 4
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA · Private nonprofitIvy LeagueHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- Median debt $14,000
- 98% graduate
- 5
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#1 in Massachusetts
- Median debt $14,768
- 96% graduate
- 6
Tufts University
Medford, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 3% for graduation
- Median debt $16,250
- 94% graduate
- 7
Smith College
Northampton, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Median debt $17,550
- 89% graduate
- 8
Boston College
Chestnut Hill, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 2% for earnings
- Median debt $19,000
- 91% graduate
- 9
Franklin W Olin College of Engineering
Needham, MA · Private nonprofitTop 1% for earnings
- Median debt $19,500
- 96% graduate
- 10
- 11
Lesley University
Cambridge, MA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B-
- Median debt $21,000
- 58% graduate
- 12
University of Massachusetts-Amherst
Amherst, MA · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Median debt $22,763
- 83% graduate
- 13
Mount Holyoke College
South Hadley, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Median debt $22,902
- 84% graduate
- 14
Emerson College
Boston, MA · Private nonprofitExcellent: Compass grade A-
- Median debt $23,000
- 77% graduate
- 15
Boston University
Boston, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Median debt $23,250
- 89% graduate
- 16
University of Massachusetts-Lowell
Lowell, MA · PublicTop 20% for earnings
- Median debt $23,704
- 65% graduate
- 17
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
North Adams, MA · PublicGood: Compass grade B
- Median debt $23,750
- 56% graduate
- 18
Northeastern University
Boston, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 3% for earnings
- Median debt $24,250
- 91% graduate
- 19
Bard College at Simon's Rock
Great Barrington, MA · Private nonprofitTop 23% for graduation
- Median debt $24,254
- 68% graduate
- 20
Simmons University
Boston, MA · Private nonprofitExcellent: Compass grade A-
- Median debt $24,840
- 72% graduate
- 21Tie
- 21Tie
Massachusetts Maritime Academy
Buzzards Bay, MA · PublicTop 7% for earnings
- Median debt $25,000
- 74% graduate
- 21Tie
Berklee College of Music
Boston, MA · Private nonprofitVery good: Compass grade B+
- Median debt $25,000
- 67% graduate
- 21Tie
- 21Tie
College of Our Lady of the Elms
Chicopee, MA · Private nonprofitTop 24% for graduation
- Median debt $25,000
- 68% graduate
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wellesley College | $25,496 | $10,000 | $84,803 | 92% |
| Williams College | $17,716 | $12,761 | $88,665 | 94% |
| Amherst College | $23,367 | $13,740 | $77,644 | 94% |
| Harvard University | $19,066 | $14,000 | $101,817 | 98% |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | $20,111 | $14,768 | $143,372 | 96% |
| Tufts University | $39,998 | $16,250 | $83,214 | 94% |
| Smith College | $27,579 | $17,550 | $64,027 | 89% |
| Boston College | $41,704 | $19,000 | $103,937 | 91% |
| Franklin W Olin College of Engineering | $25,171 | $19,500 | $129,455 | 96% |
| Babson College | $40,514 | $20,000 | $123,938 | 93% |
| Lesley University | $31,152 | $21,000 | $51,173 | 58% |
| University of Massachusetts-Amherst | $22,383 | $22,763 | $71,631 | 83% |
| Mount Holyoke College | $26,441 | $22,902 | $58,418 | 84% |
| Emerson College | $49,180 | $23,000 | $62,832 | 77% |
| Boston University | $24,402 | $23,250 | $83,238 | 89% |
| University of Massachusetts-Lowell | $17,163 | $23,704 | $64,874 | 65% |
| Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts | $16,068 | $23,750 | $48,102 | 56% |
| Northeastern University | $30,915 | $24,250 | $92,538 | 91% |
| Bard College at Simon's Rock | $31,625 | $24,254 | $46,543 | 68% |
| Simmons University | $25,265 | $24,840 | $63,494 | 72% |
| Stonehill College | $33,016 | $25,000 | $77,745 | 76% |
| Massachusetts Maritime Academy | $21,582 | $25,000 | $82,392 | 74% |
| Berklee College of Music | $49,465 | $25,000 | $33,647 | 67% |
| MCPHS University | $39,545 | $25,000 | $125,557 | 62% |
| 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 61
- 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 19
- Nebraska 8
- New Hampshire 5
- New Jersey 16
- New York 75
- North Carolina 18
- Ohio 33
- Oklahoma 4
- Oregon 11
- Pennsylvania 60
- Rhode Island 9
- South Carolina 10
- Tennessee 10
- Texas 20
- Utah 4
- Vermont 6
- Virginia 21
- Washington 13
- Wisconsin 15