2027 Best Value Secondary Education Schools in Massachusetts
[Secondary Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-development-levels-methods/secondary-education/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 18 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for secondary education students.
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2027 Best Value Secondary Education Schools in Massachusetts
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in secondary education, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Secondary Education Schools
Springfield Technical Community College tops our 2027 list of the best value secondary education schools in Massachusetts. Located in the city of Springfield, Springfield Technical Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,904 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,112 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $5,881 to complete the secondary education program here. Early-career secondary education graduates make about $28,769. Set against $5,881 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Worcester State University earned it the #2 place for secondary education. Located in the city of Worcester, Worcester State University is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,786, with out-of-state students paying around $17,866. Typical student debt for secondary education graduates is $22,971. Early-career secondary education graduates make about $42,313. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Worcester State University admits about 88% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Salem State University earned it the #3 place for secondary education. Located in the suburb of Salem, Salem State University is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,338, compared with $19,531 for out-of-state students. Secondary Education graduates carry a median of $27,176 in student loans. Soon after graduation, secondary education degree recipients from Salem State University generally make around $49,656. Set against $27,176 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 96%.
A rank of #4 makes Framingham State University one of the best values for secondary education. Located in the city of Framingham, Framingham State University is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,920, with out-of-state students paying around $18,000. Students borrow a median of $25,872 to complete the secondary education program here. Soon after graduation, secondary education degree recipients from Framingham State University generally make around $49,006. Set against $25,872 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Framingham State University admits about 84% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in secondary education will find it at Bridgewater State University, which ranked #5. Set in the suburb of Bridgewater, Bridgewater State University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,734 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,874. Typical student debt for secondary education graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, secondary education degree recipients from Bridgewater State University generally make around $48,937. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Westfield State University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value secondary education schools. Located in the suburb of Westfield, Westfield State University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $12,179 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,259. Typical student debt for secondary education graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, secondary education degree recipients from Westfield State University generally make around $46,645. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 81%.
University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth landed the #7 spot for secondary education value this year. Located in the suburb of North Dartmouth, University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,612, while out-of-state students pay about $32,567. Secondary Education graduates carry a median of $27,106 in student loans. Early-career secondary education graduates make about $54,669. That is a strong return on a $27,106 median debt. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
American International College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value secondary education schools. Located in the city of Springfield, American International College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $44,230. Secondary Education graduates carry a median of $30,390 in student loans. Early-career secondary education graduates make about $59,475. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 100% of applicants are accepted.
Gordon College came in at #9 for value in secondary education this year. Located in the rural area of Wenham, Gordon College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $30,700. Students borrow a median of $26,975 to complete the secondary education program here. Soon after graduation, secondary education degree recipients from Gordon College generally make around $37,097. Set against $26,975 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Gordon College admits about 69% of applicants.
Emmanuel College Massachusetts earned the #10 position for value in secondary education this year. Set in the city of Boston, Emmanuel College Massachusetts is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $48,550 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for secondary education graduates is $27,000. Early-career secondary education graduates make about $42,216. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Smith College placed #11 among the best values for secondary education. Located in the city of Northampton, Smith College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $65,178 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for secondary education graduates is $18,941. Secondary Education graduates of Smith College earn a median of $40,436 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,941 median debt. Roughly 21% of applicants are accepted.
Lasell College ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value secondary education schools. Set in the city of Newton, Lasell College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $27,040. Secondary Education graduates carry a median of $26,808 in student loans. Soon after graduation, secondary education degree recipients from Lasell College generally make around $51,766. Set against $26,808 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Wheaton College Massachusetts came in at #13 for value in secondary education this year. Wheaton College Massachusetts is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Norton. In-state tuition and fees average $63,960. Students borrow a median of $26,117 to complete the secondary education program here. Soon after graduation, secondary education degree recipients from Wheaton College Massachusetts generally make around $32,920. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
Lesley University landed the #14 spot for secondary education value this year. Set in the city of Cambridge, Lesley University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $34,256. Students borrow a median of $17,918 to complete the secondary education program here. Early-career secondary education graduates make about $44,692. Set against $17,918 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Lesley University admits about 97% of applicants.
Stonehill College ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value secondary education schools. Set in the suburb of Easton, Stonehill College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $56,370. Secondary Education graduates carry a median of $26,990 in student loans. Soon after graduation, secondary education degree recipients from Stonehill College generally make around $44,027. Set against $26,990 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Stonehill College admits about 66% of applicants.
Merrimack College placed #16 among the best values for secondary education. Located in the suburb of North Andover, Merrimack College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $53,962. Secondary Education graduates carry a median of $26,913 in student loans. Soon after graduation, secondary education degree recipients from Merrimack College generally make around $50,506. That is a strong return on a $26,913 median debt. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
Endicott College earned the #17 position for value in secondary education this year. Endicott College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Beverly. Students from in state pay about $40,650 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for secondary education graduates is $25,973. Soon after graduation, secondary education degree recipients from Endicott College generally make around $61,759. That is a strong return on a $25,973 median debt. Endicott College admits about 71% of applicants.
Boston College landed the #18 spot for secondary education value this year. Located in the city of Chestnut Hill, Boston College is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $70,702. Students borrow a median of $18,000 to complete the secondary education program here. Secondary Education graduates of Boston College earn a median of $66,132 early in their careers. Set against $18,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Boston College admits about 16% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 18 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 18 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.
