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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for General Education in Massachusetts

13 Ranked Colleges
264 Degrees Awarded
$27,800 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor's in Massachusetts

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

In 2019-2020, 29,936 people earned their degree in general education, making the major the 35th most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, general education graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $47,138 and had an average of $29,674 in loans still to pay off.

Across Massachusetts, there were 1,701 general education graduates with average earnings and debt of $50,417 and $27,670 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 264 general education graduates with average earnings and debt of $42,887 and $24,387 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts” ranking looked at 13 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s 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. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank General Education Schools

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts.

Top 13 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for General Education in Massachusetts

#1

University of Massachusetts Amherst

Amherst, Massachusetts

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Massachusetts Amherst. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts. This large school is located in Amherst, Massachusetts, and it awarded 24 bachelors’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UMass Amherst, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best General Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Massachusetts Amherst is $22,501 for Massachusetts Bachelor’s Degree Education students.

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

#2

Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts

North Adams, Massachusetts

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts list. MCLA is located in North Adams, Massachusetts and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 16 bachelors’s education degrees to qualified students.

MCLA also took the #10 spot in our “Best General Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts is $16,861 for massachusetts bachelor’s degree education students.

The student-to-faculty ratio of 10 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 MCLA

#3

Salem State University

Salem, Massachusetts

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Salem State University. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts. Salem State is located in Salem, Massachusetts and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 16 bachelors’s education degrees to qualified students.

Salem State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best General Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list. It costs about $18,399 for Massachusetts Bachelor’s Degree Education students per year to attend Salem State University.

Read more about General Education at Salem State

#4

Lesley University

Cambridge, Massachusetts
#11 in overall quality

Out of the 13 schools in the Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts that were part of this year’s ranking, Lesley University landed the #4 spot on the list. Lesley is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 7 bachelors’s education degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our massachusetts bachelor’s degree education students list, Lesley has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best General Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Lesley University is $33,644 for Massachusetts Bachelor’s Degree Education students.

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%. 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.

Read more about General Education at Lesley

#5

Endicott College

Beverly, Massachusetts
#6 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Endicott College. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts. This small school is located in Beverly, Massachusetts, and it awarded 18 bachelors’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Endicott did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best General Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list. The yearly cost to attend Endicott College is $35,642 for massachusetts bachelor’s degree education students.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about General Education at Endicott College

#6

Springfield College

Springfield, Massachusetts

Springfield College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts ranking, coming in at #6. Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 16 degrees to qualified bachelors’s education students in 2019-2020.

Springfield College also made our “Best General Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list, coming in at #8. The yearly cost to attend Springfield College is $30,134 for massachusetts bachelor’s degree education students.

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

Full Springfield College General Education Report

#7

Bay Path University

Longmeadow, Massachusetts

Bay Path University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts ranking, coming in at #7. Bay Path University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Longmeadow, Massachusetts. The school has a small population, and it awarded 9 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our massachusetts bachelor’s degree education students list, Bay Path has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best General Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Bay Path University is $22,211 for Massachusetts Bachelor’s Degree Education students.

Read full report on General Education at Bay Path

#8

Elms College

Chicopee, Massachusetts

Elms College landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts ranking. This small school is located in Chicopee, Massachusetts, and it awarded 14 bachelors’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Elms College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best General Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list. It costs about $23,855 for massachusetts bachelor’s degree education students per year to attend Elms College.

Full Elms College General Education Report

#9

Merrimack College

North Andover, Massachusetts

Merrimack College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts list. Merrimack is a medium-sized school located in North Andover, Massachusetts that handed out 70 bachelors’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Merrimack, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best General Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Merrimack College is $33,650 for Massachusetts Bachelor’s Degree Education students.

The low student loan default rate of 4.3% 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 more about General Education at Merrimack College

#10

Stonehill College

Easton, Massachusetts

With a ranking of #10, Stonehill College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts list. Stonehill College is located in Easton, Massachusetts and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 14 bachelors’s education degrees to qualified students.

Stonehill did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best General Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list. The yearly cost to attend Stonehill College is $34,658 for Massachusetts Bachelor’s Degree Education students.

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

Full Stonehill College General Education Report

#11

Smith College

Northampton, Massachusetts

Smith College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts ranking, coming in at #11. Smith College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Northampton, Massachusetts. The school has a small population, and it awarded 21 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Smith not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best General Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list. The yearly cost to attend Smith is $28,305 for massachusetts bachelor’s degree education students.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The low student loan default rate of 1.1% 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 more about General Education at Smith College

#12

Brandeis University

Waltham, Massachusetts
#4 in overall quality

Brandeis University landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Waltham, Massachusetts, and it awarded 12 bachelors’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Brandeis, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best General Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Brandeis is $31,165 for Massachusetts Bachelor’s Degree Education students.

With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. 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 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

#13

Tufts University

Medford, Massachusetts
#1 in overall quality

Tufts University landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts ranking. Located in Medford, Massachusetts, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 5 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s education students in 2019-2020.

Tufts also made our “Best General Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list, coming in at #1. The estimated yearly cost for Tufts is $30,744 for Massachusetts Bachelor’s Degree Education students.

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. With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The student loan default rate at the school is 1.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Tufts University General Education Report

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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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