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2022 Best Value Colleges for General Education (Income $30-$48k) in Massachusetts

21 Ranked Colleges
1,701 Degrees Awarded
$17,500 Avg Net Price*
Best Value General Education Schools in Massachusetts For Those Making $30-$48k

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value General Education Schools in Massachusetts For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking.

General Education is the 28th most popular major in the country with 29,936 degrees awarded in 2019-2020.

Across Massachusetts, there were 1,701 general education graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value General Education Schools in Massachusetts For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, we looked at 21 colleges that offer a degree in general education. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality general education programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the general education program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank General Education Schools

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value General Education Schools in Massachusetts For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Best Value General Education Schools in Massachusetts For Those Making $30-$48k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value General Education Schools in Massachusetts For Those Making $30-$48k.

Top 21 Best Value Colleges for General Education (Income $30-$48k) in Massachusetts

#1

Harvard University

Cambridge, Massachusetts

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Harvard University. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value General Education Schools in Massachusetts For Those Making $30-$48k list. Harvard University is a large school located in Cambridge, Massachusetts that handed out 632 ’s general education degrees in 2019-2020.

Harvard did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best General Education Schools in Massachusetts” list. It costs about $1,010 for massachusetts general education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Harvard.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The student loan default rate at the school is 1.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on General Education at Harvard

#2

Tufts University

Medford, Massachusetts

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Tufts University. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value General Education Schools in Massachusetts For Those Making $30-$48k list. Tufts is a private not-for-profit institution located in Medford, Massachusetts. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 24 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our massachusetts general education students whose families make $30-$48k list, Tufts has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best General Education Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Tufts University is $6,516 for massachusetts general education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 92%. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on General Education at Tufts

#3

Smith College

Northampton, Massachusetts

Out of the 21 schools in the Best Value General Education Schools in Massachusetts For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Smith College landed the #3 spot on the list. Smith College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Northampton, Massachusetts. It awarded 21 ’s general education degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Smith, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best General Education Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Smith College is $10,169 for Massachusetts General Education students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read full report on General Education at Smith

#4

University of Massachusetts Amherst

Amherst, Massachusetts

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Massachusetts Amherst. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value General Education Schools in Massachusetts For Those Making $30-$48k list. UMass Amherst is a large school located in Amherst, Massachusetts that handed out 177 ’s general education degrees in 2019-2020.

UMass Amherst not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best General Education Schools in Massachusetts” list. It costs about $14,474 for Massachusetts General Education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Massachusetts Amherst.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.

Full University of Massachusetts Amherst General Education Report

#5

Bunker Hill Community College

Boston, Massachusetts

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Bunker Hill Community College. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value General Education Schools in Massachusetts For Those Making $30-$48k. Bunker Hill Community College is located in Boston, Massachusetts and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 5 ’s general education degrees to qualified students.

BHCC also took the #22 spot in our “Best General Education Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. The yearly cost to attend BHCC is $8,116 for Massachusetts General Education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on General Education at Bunker Hill Community College

#6

Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts

North Adams, Massachusetts

Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value General Education Schools in Massachusetts For Those Making $30-$48k list. Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts is located in North Adams, Massachusetts and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 44 ’s general education degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our massachusetts general education students whose families make $30-$48k list, MCLA has also earned the #19 rank in our “Best General Education Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for MCLA is $13,325 for Massachusetts General Education students whose families make $30-$48k.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read full report on General Education at MCLA

University of Massachusetts - Lowell came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Education Schools in Massachusetts For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. UMass Lowell is a fairly large school located in Lowell, Massachusetts that handed out 14 ’s general education degrees in 2019-2020.

UMass Lowell not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best General Education Schools in Massachusetts” list. The yearly cost to attend UMass Lowell is $12,330 for Massachusetts General Education students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Massachusetts - Lowell General Education Report

#8

Worcester State University

Worcester, Massachusetts

Worcester State University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value General Education Schools in Massachusetts For Those Making $30-$48k list. Worcester State is a medium-sized public school situated in Worcester, Massachusetts. It awarded 20 ’s general education degrees in 2019-2020.

Worcester State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best General Education Schools in Massachusetts” list. It costs about $16,781 for Massachusetts General Education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Worcester State.

Read more about General Education at Worcester State

University of Massachusetts - Boston ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value General Education Schools in Massachusetts For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Boston, Massachusetts, this fairly large public school awarded 4 degrees to qualified ’s general education students in 2019-2020.

UMass Boston did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best General Education Schools in Massachusetts” list. It costs about $15,055 for Massachusetts General Education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Massachusetts - Boston.

Read more about General Education at University of Massachusetts - Boston

#10

Brandeis University

Waltham, Massachusetts

Brandeis University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Education Schools in Massachusetts For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Brandeis is a medium-sized school located in Waltham, Massachusetts that handed out 12 ’s general education degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our massachusetts general education students whose families make $30-$48k list, Brandeis has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best General Education Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. It costs about $16,074 for massachusetts general education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Brandeis.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 90%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low student loan default rate of 2.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on General Education at Brandeis University

#11

Salem State University

Salem, Massachusetts

Salem State University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Education Schools in Massachusetts For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Salem, Massachusetts, and it awarded 68 ’s general education degrees in 2019-2020.

Salem State also made our “Best General Education Schools in Massachusetts” list, coming in at #14. The estimated yearly cost for Salem State is $16,416 for massachusetts general education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about General Education at Salem State University

#12

Clark University

Worcester, Massachusetts

Clark University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value General Education Schools in Massachusetts For Those Making $30-$48k list. Clark University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Worcester, Massachusetts. The school has a small population, and it awarded 21 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Clark not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best General Education Schools in Massachusetts” list. The yearly cost to attend Clark is $20,581 for massachusetts general education students whose families make $30-$48k.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Clark University General Education Report

#13

Stonehill College

Easton, Massachusetts

Stonehill College landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools in Massachusetts For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Stonehill is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Easton, Massachusetts. It awarded 14 ’s general education degrees in 2019-2020.

Stonehill did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best General Education Schools in Massachusetts” list. The estimated yearly cost for Stonehill College is $24,386 for massachusetts general education students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on General Education at Stonehill College

#14

Springfield College

Springfield, Massachusetts

Springfield College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools in Massachusetts For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #14. Springfield College is located in Springfield, Massachusetts and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 16 ’s general education degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Springfield College, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best General Education Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Springfield College is $22,254 for Massachusetts General Education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.

Read full report on General Education at Springfield College

#15

Bay Path University

Longmeadow, Massachusetts

With a ranking of #15, Bay Path University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools in Massachusetts For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Longmeadow, Massachusetts, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 59 diplomas to qualified ’s general education students in 2019-2020.

Bay Path not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best General Education Schools in Massachusetts” list. The yearly cost to attend Bay Path is $19,636 for Massachusetts General Education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about General Education at Bay Path

#16

Elms College

Chicopee, Massachusetts

Elms College ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value General Education Schools in Massachusetts For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Chicopee, Massachusetts, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 14 degrees to qualified ’s general education students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Elms College, the school also landed the #18 spot in our “Best General Education Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Elms College is $18,295 for Massachusetts General Education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about General Education at Elms College

#17

Merrimack College

North Andover, Massachusetts

Merrimack College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Education Schools in Massachusetts For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Merrimack College is a medium-sized school located in North Andover, Massachusetts that handed out 70 ’s general education degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our massachusetts general education students whose families make $30-$48k list, Merrimack has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best General Education Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. It costs about $29,056 for Massachusetts General Education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Merrimack.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Merrimack College General Education Report

#18

Simmons University

Boston, Massachusetts

Simmons University ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value General Education Schools in Massachusetts For Those Making $30-$48k list. Boston, Massachusetts is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s general education degrees to 14 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Simmons, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best General Education Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Simmons is $25,818 for Massachusetts General Education students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low student loan default rate of 2.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read full report on General Education at Simmons

#19

Endicott College

Beverly, Massachusetts

Endicott College ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value General Education Schools in Massachusetts For Those Making $30-$48k list. This small school is located in Beverly, Massachusetts, and it awarded 18 ’s general education degrees in 2019-2020.

Endicott also made our “Best General Education Schools in Massachusetts” list, coming in at #7. It costs about $25,921 for Massachusetts General Education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Endicott.

The low student loan default rate of 3.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on General Education at Endicott College

#20

American International College

Springfield, Massachusetts

With a ranking of #20, American International College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools in Massachusetts For Those Making $30-$48k list. AIC is located in Springfield, Massachusetts and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 6 ’s general education degrees to qualified students.

AIC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best General Education Schools in Massachusetts” list. The yearly cost to attend AIC is $21,810 for massachusetts general education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on General Education at American International College

#21

Lesley University

Cambridge, Massachusetts

Lesley University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Education Schools in Massachusetts For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Lesley University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It awarded 62 ’s general education degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our massachusetts general education students whose families make $30-$48k list, Lesley has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best General Education Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Lesley is $30,430 for massachusetts general education students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low student loan default rate of 4.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read full report on General Education at Lesley

Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

Credits

  • Credit for the banner image above goes to KOKUYO.

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