Here are the most affordable colleges in Massachusetts ranked in order of academic excellence. Our list will help you find the best school for you, at a price you can afford.
Massachusetts may not be the biggest state in the United States by land area, but it is one of the best to provide the highest caliber of education, from elementary education to graduate degrees in both public and private schools. After all, it was the first state in the US to mandate that communities should build community colleges. These historical foundations have helped make better online colleges available.
Colleges in Massachusetts are not only known to be among the best STEM-focused institutions in the world, but also some of the best in providing high-quality liberal arts education with an average student-to-faculty ratio.
The Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts is one of the world’s most renowned liberal arts institutions. And while not being one of the most expensive places to live and study, the state provides a sufficient amount of federal student aid to attracts local and international students alike to the school.
Massachusetts also isn’t letting its success stand still. Because of the quantity and caliber of start-ups that have come out of the Boston suburb of Kendall Square, it has been dubbed “the most innovative square mile on the planet.”
To make an affordable college education even more affordable, college-bound students need to obtain student financial assistance. Plenty of federal student aid exists in Massachusetts and is surprisingly easy to obtain. Eligible students should expect a significant higher education tuition and fees reduction.
Here are some of the few financial aid opportunities in Massachusetts:
Colleges in Massachusetts that offer the most varied financial aid opportunities are Bridgewater State University, Cambridge College, Fitchburg State University, Framingham State University, Salem State University, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Worcester State University, and Westfield State University.
It’s critical to consider your return on investment together with the cost of tuition and academic options while deciding on one of Massachusetts’ most inexpensive institutions.
Here is a list of the top three Massachusetts colleges mentioned above ranked from lowest ROI to highest ROI for on-campus, in-state programs finished without receiving any financial aid based on data gathered from PayScale.
School | 20-Year Net ROI |
---|---|
University of Massachusetts-Amherst | $434,000 |
University of Massachusetts-Lowell | $573,000 |
Massachusetts Maritime Academy | $783,000 |
A degree can open doors for you that you didn’t even know existed, whether you obtain it in the “conventional” manner or online. Go full speed ahead if you already have a general idea of the industry or area you wish to enter! But some students are unsure of what major to study.
Zippia recently came out with a list of Massachusetts’s top 100 highest-paying jobs. This list can be the ideal place to start as you choose a college major. When you graduate, you may rest easy knowing that your degree will immediately put you in a career. Here are a handful of the positions on the list:
Some of the most talked about universities in Massachusetts are its private schools, including Boston University, Harvard University, Northeastern University, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, which also happen to be the largest. Tuition for these prestigious schools runs between $50,000 and $54,000. Students here have access to some of the top programs in the country in fields such as biology, literature, law, education, engineering, and religious studies. The alumni from New England schools are equally as impressive, including Martin Luther King Jr., Bill Gates, and Ralph Waldo Emerson.
Find college admissions consultants in your state.
The public higher education institutes also boast top-notch programs, allowing students to pursue associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in fields like mathematics, social work, medicine, and economics. The University of Massachusetts Amherst, the state’s largest public university, offers tuition around $16,000 and serves over 28,000 students. Additionally, students who are interested in attending a religiously affiliated school have 17 options to choose from, most of which feature high graduation rates for their students. For future dental, medical, or mental health professionals, Massachusetts also offers loan forgiveness programs for those working in underserved communities.
As the port of destination for the Mayflower, home to the Plymouth colony, and site of the Salem Witch Trials, Massachusetts looms large in United States history, but this most populous New England state isn’t just for history buffs. The Bay State is also known for its delicious cuisine, beautiful coastlines, and devout sports fans. Not to mention, it has over 100 colleges for students to choose from.
Find a program that’s right for you and explore the best schools Massachusetts has to offer.
There are 13 colleges and universities in Massachusetts with stated tuitions and fees under $20,000/year. The following list of the most affordable colleges and universities in Massachusetts is composed entirely of schools offering bachelor’s degree programs, have stated tuition and fees near or under the national average of $16,000/year, and are fully accredited colleges.
These schools are ranked by academic excellence, and all under $20,000/year.
Tuition + fees
$16K
Acceptance
66%
Graduation
84%
Student body
30K
Median SAT/ACT
1295/29
University of Massachusetts Amherst’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$15K
Acceptance
79%
Graduation
49%
Student body
14K
University of Massachusetts Boston’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$16K
Acceptance
85%
Graduation
69%
Student body
15K
Median SAT/ACT
1230/26
University of Massachusetts Lowell’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$14K
Acceptance
92%
Graduation
54%
Student body
6K
Median SAT/ACT
1090/23
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$16K
Student body
2K
Cambridge College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$11K
Acceptance
94%
Graduation
61%
Student body
5K
Median SAT/ACT
1050/22
Westfield State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$12K
Acceptance
90%
Graduation
57%
Student body
6K
Salem State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$11K
Acceptance
86%
Graduation
62%
Student body
9K
Median SAT/ACT
1045/22
Bridgewater State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$11K
Acceptance
85%
Graduation
57%
Student body
5K
Fitchburg State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$11K
Acceptance
89%
Graduation
61%
Student body
5K
Median SAT/ACT
1095/25
Worcester State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$11K
Acceptance
84%
Graduation
51%
Student body
5K
Median SAT/ACT
1040/22
Framingham State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$11K
Acceptance
91%
Graduation
58%
Student body
1K
Median SAT/ACT
1070/19
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$11K
Acceptance
90%
Graduation
78%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1107/24
Massachusetts Maritime Academy’s faculty and alumni have been influential in: