2027 Best Value General Education Schools in Massachusetts

[General Education](/majors/education/general-education/education-general/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 17 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value general education schools.
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2027 Best Value General Education Schools in Massachusetts
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the general education degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value General Education Schools
College Of Our Lady Of The Elms earned the #1 spot for value among general education schools in Massachusetts. Located in the suburb of Chicopee, College Of Our Lady Of The Elms is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $43,325. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the general education program here. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from College Of Our Lady Of The Elms generally make around $44,875. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. College Of Our Lady Of The Elms admits about 85% of applicants.
Harvard University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general education, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $61,676 in tuition and fees. General Education graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans. Early-career general education graduates make about $96,581. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in general education will find it at Salem State University, which ranked #3. Set in the suburb of Salem, Salem State University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,338, compared with $19,531 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general education graduates is $27,000. General Education graduates of Salem State University earn a median of $33,065 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in general education will find it at University Of Massachusetts Amherst, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Amherst, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,772, compared with $40,449 for out-of-state students. General Education graduates carry a median of $25,195 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Amherst generally make around $58,304. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in general education will find it at Bay Path College, which ranked #5. Set in the suburb of Longmeadow, Bay Path College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $38,302 in tuition and fees. General Education graduates carry a median of $29,811 in student loans. Early-career general education graduates make about $55,271. That is a strong return on a $29,811 median debt. Bay Path College admits about 85% of applicants.
Massachusetts College Of Liberal Arts placed #6 among the best values for general education. Located in the town of North Adams, Massachusetts College Of Liberal Arts is a small public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,436, while out-of-state students pay about $21,381. General Education graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career general education graduates make about $48,940. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Massachusetts College Of Liberal Arts admits about 90% of applicants.
Boston University landed the #7 spot for general education value this year. Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,102. General Education graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career general education graduates make about $27,891. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 11% of applicants are accepted.
Emmanuel College Massachusetts ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value general education schools. Emmanuel College Massachusetts is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $48,550. Students borrow a median of $26,866 to complete the general education program here. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Emmanuel College Massachusetts generally make around $58,542. That is a strong return on a $26,866 median debt. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Smith College earned the #9 position for value in general education this year. Smith College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Northampton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,178. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete the general education program here. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Smith College generally make around $41,033. Set against $19,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Smith College admits about 21% of applicants.
Clark University landed the #10 spot for general education value this year. Set in the city of Worcester, Clark University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $58,467. Typical student debt for general education graduates is $26,153. General Education graduates of Clark University earn a median of $55,421 early in their careers. Set against $26,153 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 40% of applicants are accepted.
Springfield College placed #11 among the best values for general education. Located in the city of Springfield, Springfield College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $44,974. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the general education program here. General Education graduates of Springfield College earn a median of $51,117 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Springfield College admits about 72% of applicants.
Cambridge College placed #12 among the best values for general education. Located in the city of Boston, Cambridge College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $18,378. Students borrow a median of $29,776 to complete the general education program here. Early-career general education graduates make about $76,955. That is a strong return on a $29,776 median debt.
Lesley University landed the #13 spot for general education value this year. Set in the city of Cambridge, Lesley University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,256. Students borrow a median of $24,818 to complete the general education program here. General Education graduates of Lesley University earn a median of $85,360 early in their careers. Set against $24,818 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Stonehill College placed #14 among the best values for general education. Set in the suburb of Easton, Stonehill College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $56,370. Typical student debt for general education graduates is $26,000. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Stonehill College generally make around $45,704. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 66%.
Brandeis University came in at #15 for value in general education this year. Located in the city of Waltham, Brandeis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $68,080 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for general education graduates is $25,653. Early-career general education graduates make about $47,783. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 40% of applicants are accepted.
Tufts University earned the #16 position for value in general education this year. Set in the suburb of Medford, Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $70,704. Students borrow a median of $17,074 to complete the general education program here. Early-career general education graduates make about $68,154. Set against $17,074 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 12% of applicants are accepted.
Endicott College placed #17 among the best values for general education. Set in the suburb of Beverly, Endicott College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $40,650. Typical student debt for general education graduates is $25,973. Early-career general education graduates make about $55,361. Set against $25,973 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 17 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 17 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.