2026 Best Value Higher Education/Higher Education Administration Schools in the New England Region

[Higher Education/Higher Education Administration](/majors/education/educational-administration/higher-education-higher-education-administration/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 23 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value higher education/higher education administration schools.
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2026 Best Value Higher Education/Higher Education Administration Schools in the New England Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the higher education/higher education administration degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Higher Education/Higher Education Administration Schools
For return on investment in higher education/higher education administration, no school beat Bay Path College this year. Located in the suburb of Longmeadow, Bay Path College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $38,302 in tuition and fees. Higher Education/higher Education Administration graduates carry a median of $29,811 in student loans. Higher Education/higher Education Administration graduates of Bay Path College earn a median of $56,174 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Bay Path College admits about 85% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Maine At Farmington one of the best values for higher education/higher education administration. Set in the rural area of Farmington, University Of Maine At Farmington is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,308, compared with $23,878 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,703 to complete the higher education/higher education administration program here. Higher Education/higher Education Administration graduates of University Of Maine At Farmington earn a median of $35,414 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in higher education/higher education administration will find it at University Of Maine, which ranked #3. Located in the suburb of Orono, University Of Maine is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,326, while out-of-state students pay about $36,756. Typical student debt for higher education/higher education administration graduates is $25,984. Early-career higher education/higher education administration graduates make about $46,699. Set against $25,984 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 97%.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Rhode Island one of the best values for higher education/higher education administration. Located in the suburb of Kingston, University Of Rhode Island is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $16,942, with out-of-state students paying around $37,146. Students borrow a median of $23,432 to complete the higher education/higher education administration program here. Soon after graduation, higher education/higher education administration degree recipients from University Of Rhode Island generally make around $52,821. Set against $23,432 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Post University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value higher education/higher education administration schools. Located in the city of Waterbury, Post University is a very large private for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,922. Higher Education/higher Education Administration graduates carry a median of $35,364 in student loans. Early-career higher education/higher education administration graduates make about $59,811. Set against $35,364 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Plymouth State University landed the #6 spot for higher education/higher education administration value this year. Located in the town of Plymouth, Plymouth State University is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,626, with out-of-state students paying around $25,566. Students borrow a median of $26,972 to complete the higher education/higher education administration program here. Higher Education/higher Education Administration graduates of Plymouth State University earn a median of $45,528 early in their careers. Set against $26,972 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Plymouth State University admits about 88% of applicants.
University Of Vermont came in at #7 for value in higher education/higher education administration this year. Set in the city of Burlington, University Of Vermont is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $19,058, with out-of-state students paying around $45,502. Typical student debt for higher education/higher education administration graduates is $22,607. Higher Education/higher Education Administration graduates of University Of Vermont earn a median of $48,637 early in their careers. Set against $22,607 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 65%.
University Of Connecticut came in at #8 for value in higher education/higher education administration this year. Located in the town of Storrs, University Of Connecticut is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,044, with out-of-state students paying around $43,712. Higher Education/higher Education Administration graduates carry a median of $23,637 in student loans. Early-career higher education/higher education administration graduates make about $64,611. That is a strong return on a $23,637 median debt. University Of Connecticut admits about 52% of applicants.
University Of Massachusetts Amherst landed the #9 spot for higher education/higher education administration value this year. Located in the city of Amherst, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $17,772 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $40,449. Students borrow a median of $25,234 to complete the higher education/higher education administration program here. Higher Education/higher Education Administration graduates of University Of Massachusetts Amherst earn a median of $53,543 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,234 median debt. University Of Massachusetts Amherst admits about 60% of applicants.
Regis College placed #10 among the best values for higher education/higher education administration. Regis College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Weston. In-state tuition and fees average $49,680. Typical student debt for higher education/higher education administration graduates is $27,441. Soon after graduation, higher education/higher education administration degree recipients from Regis College generally make around $69,483. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
New England College came in at #11 for value in higher education/higher education administration this year. Located in the rural area of Henniker, New England College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $27,474 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $35,038 to complete the higher education/higher education administration program here. Soon after graduation, higher education/higher education administration degree recipients from New England College generally make around $92,045. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. New England College admits about 92% of applicants.
Johnson And Wales University Providence ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value higher education/higher education administration schools. Set in the city of Providence, Johnson And Wales University Providence is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $41,982. Higher Education/higher Education Administration graduates carry a median of $26,350 in student loans. Higher Education/higher Education Administration graduates of Johnson And Wales University Providence earn a median of $99,991 early in their careers. Set against $26,350 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Merrimack College earned the #13 position for value in higher education/higher education administration this year. Set in the suburb of North Andover, Merrimack College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $53,962. Students borrow a median of $26,913 to complete the higher education/higher education administration program here. Soon after graduation, higher education/higher education administration degree recipients from Merrimack College generally make around $46,921. That is a strong return on a $26,913 median debt. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
Boston College came in at #14 for value in higher education/higher education administration this year. Located in the city of Chestnut Hill, Boston College is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $70,702. Typical student debt for higher education/higher education administration graduates is $18,101. Soon after graduation, higher education/higher education administration degree recipients from Boston College generally make around $95,402. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Boston College admits about 16% of applicants.
Sacred Heart University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value higher education/higher education administration schools. Set in the suburb of Fairfield, Sacred Heart University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $50,404 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,831 to complete the higher education/higher education administration program here. Higher Education/higher Education Administration graduates of Sacred Heart University earn a median of $94,125 early in their careers. Set against $25,831 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 65%.
Providence College landed the #16 spot for higher education/higher education administration value this year. Providence College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Providence. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $63,550. Students borrow a median of $26,833 to complete the higher education/higher education administration program here. Soon after graduation, higher education/higher education administration degree recipients from Providence College generally make around $73,531. Set against $26,833 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Providence College admits about 51% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 23 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.