2027 Best Value General Education Schools in the New England Region
[General Education](/majors/education/general-education/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong general education education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 39 schools to find the best return on investment for general education students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value General Education Schools in the New England Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general education, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value General Education Schools
Capital Community College earned the #1 spot for value among general education schools in the New England Region. Set in the city of New Britain, Capital Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,338 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,596 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,059 to complete the general education program here. General Education graduates of Capital Community College earn a median of $43,086 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes Southern Maine Community College one of the best values for general education. Set in the city of South Portland, Southern Maine Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,156, compared with $7,036 for out-of-state students. General Education graduates carry a median of $12,987 in student loans. General Education graduates of Southern Maine Community College earn a median of $28,061 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in general education will find it at Eastern Maine Community College, which ranked #3. Eastern Maine Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Bangor. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,156, while out-of-state students pay about $7,036. Typical student debt for general education graduates is $17,741. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Eastern Maine Community College generally make around $52,263. Set against $17,741 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in general education will find it at Central Maine Community College, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Auburn, Central Maine Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,140, while out-of-state students pay about $7,020. Typical student debt for general education graduates is $14,700. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Central Maine Community College generally make around $43,934. That is a strong return on a $14,700 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at York County Community College earned it the #5 place for general education. Set in the suburb of Wells, York County Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,156, with out-of-state students paying around $7,036. Typical student debt for general education graduates is $12,757. General Education graduates of York County Community College earn a median of $35,803 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Salem State University placed #6 among the best values for general education. Located in the suburb of Salem, Salem State University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,338, compared with $19,531 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general education graduates is $27,000. Early-career general education graduates make about $33,065. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 96%.
College Of Our Lady Of The Elms ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value general education schools. Set in the suburb of Chicopee, College Of Our Lady Of The Elms is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $43,325. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the general education program here. General Education graduates of College Of Our Lady Of The Elms earn a median of $44,875 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. College Of Our Lady Of The Elms admits about 85% of applicants.
Bay Path College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value general education schools. Set in the suburb of Longmeadow, Bay Path College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $38,302. General Education graduates carry a median of $29,811 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Bay Path College generally make around $55,271. Set against $29,811 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%.
White Mountains Community College earned the #9 position for value in general education this year. White Mountains Community College is a small public school located in the town of Berlin. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,050, with out-of-state students paying around $15,300. General Education graduates carry a median of $18,250 in student loans. General Education graduates of White Mountains Community College earn a median of $60,162 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Harvard University landed the #10 spot for general education value this year. Located in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $61,676. General Education graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Harvard University generally make around $96,581. Set against $16,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Harvard University admits about 4% of applicants.
Great Bay Community College earned the #11 position for value in general education this year. Great Bay Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Portsmouth. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,200, with out-of-state students paying around $15,450. General Education graduates carry a median of $17,639 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Great Bay Community College generally make around $48,692. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Maine placed #12 among the best values for general education. Located in the suburb of Orono, University Of Maine is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,326, while out-of-state students pay about $36,756. Typical student debt for general education graduates is $25,984. General Education graduates of University Of Maine earn a median of $47,975 early in their careers. Set against $25,984 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 97%.
Massachusetts College Of Liberal Arts placed #13 among the best values for general education. Located in the town of North Adams, Massachusetts College Of Liberal Arts is a small public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,436, while out-of-state students pay about $21,381. General Education graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. General Education graduates of Massachusetts College Of Liberal Arts earn a median of $48,940 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
University Of Massachusetts Amherst earned the #14 position for value in general education 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. General Education graduates carry a median of $25,195 in student loans. General Education graduates of University Of Massachusetts Amherst earn a median of $58,304 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Nhti Concords Community College landed the #15 spot for general education value this year. Nhti Concords Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Concord. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,200, with out-of-state students paying around $15,450. General Education graduates carry a median of $18,046 in student loans. General Education graduates of Nhti Concords Community College earn a median of $50,550 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,046 median debt.
Vermont Technical College earned the #16 position for value in general education this year. Vermont Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Randolph. In-state tuition and fees average $11,952, with out-of-state students paying around $22,296. Typical student debt for general education graduates is $24,208. Early-career general education graduates make about $41,822. That is a strong return on a $24,208 median debt. The acceptance rate is 82%.
University Of Rhode Island placed #17 among the best values for general education. Set in the suburb of Kingston, University Of Rhode Island is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $16,942 in tuition and fees, compared with $37,146 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,432 to complete the general education program here. Early-career general education graduates make about $52,214. Set against $23,432 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Southern Connecticut State University placed #18 among the best values for general education. Set in the city of New Haven, Southern Connecticut State University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,442, with out-of-state students paying around $16,942. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the general education program here. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Southern Connecticut State University generally make around $46,068. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Southern Connecticut State University admits about 92% of applicants.
University Of Connecticut ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best value general education schools. University Of Connecticut is a very large public school located in the town of Storrs. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,044, while out-of-state students pay about $43,712. Typical student debt for general education graduates is $23,637. Early-career general education graduates make about $58,784. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Connecticut admits about 52% of applicants.
Post University came in at #20 for value in general education this year. Set in the city of Waterbury, Post University is a very large private for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,922. Students borrow a median of $35,364 to complete the general education program here. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Post University generally make around $58,543. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Boston University ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best value general education schools. Set in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,102. General Education graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. General Education graduates of Boston University earn a median of $27,891 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Boston University admits about 11% of applicants.
Brown University placed #22 among the best values for general education. Set in the city of Providence, Brown University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $71,312 in tuition and fees. General Education graduates carry a median of $13,025 in student loans. Early-career general education graduates make about $33,866. That is a strong return on a $13,025 median debt. Brown University admits about 5% of applicants.
Saint Michaels College placed #23 among the best values for general education. Saint Michaels College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Colchester. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $51,450. General Education graduates carry a median of $26,640 in student loans. Early-career general education graduates make about $57,410. That is a strong return on a $26,640 median debt. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Emmanuel College Massachusetts ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best value general education schools. Set in the city of Boston, Emmanuel College Massachusetts is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $48,550. General Education graduates carry a median of $26,866 in student loans. General Education graduates of Emmanuel College Massachusetts earn a median of $58,542 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Smith College landed the #25 spot for general education value this year. Set in the city of Northampton, Smith College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $65,178 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete the general education program here. Early-career general education graduates make about $41,033. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 21% of applicants are accepted.
Rest of the Top 39 Best Value General Education Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s general education value ranking:
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 39 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 39 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.
