2022 Best Value Area Studies 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. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
In 2019-2020, 6,820 people earned their degree in area studies, making the major the 106th most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, area studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $33,734 and had an average of $23,024 in loans still to pay off.
Across Massachusetts, there were 469 area studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $34,600 and $18,123 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 364 area studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $42,887 and $24,387 respectively.
For this year’s “Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts” ranking, we looked at 13 colleges that offer a degree in area studies. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality area studies programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.
When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the area studies program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
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Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
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Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts
The colleges and universities below are the best for massachusetts bachelor’s degree area studies students.
Top 13 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Area Studies in 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 Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts. Located in Amherst, Massachusetts, this large public school handed out 6 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s area studies students in 2019-2020.
UMass Amherst also took the #11 spot in our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UMass Amherst is $22,501 for Massachusetts Bachelor’s Degree Area Studies students.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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%.
Full University of Massachusetts Amherst Area Studies Report
Out of the 13 schools in the Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Massachusetts - Boston landed the #2 spot on the list. Located in Boston, Massachusetts, this fairly large public school awarded 14 degrees to qualified bachelors’s area studies students in 2019-2020.
UMass Boston also took the #12 spot in our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UMass Boston is $18,340 for Massachusetts Bachelor’s Degree Area Studies students.
Read full report on Area Studies at University of Massachusetts - Boston
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Williams College. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts. Located in Williamstown, Massachusetts, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 21 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s area studies students in 2019-2020.
Williams not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list. The yearly cost to attend Williams is $19,480 for Massachusetts Bachelor’s Degree Area Studies students.
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%. With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Simmons University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts. Located in Boston, Massachusetts, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 2 degrees to qualified bachelors’s area studies students in 2019-2020.
Simmons not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list. The estimated yearly cost for Simmons is $30,008 for massachusetts bachelor’s degree area studies students.
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. 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%.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Wheaton College Massachusetts. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts list. Wheaton College Massachusetts is a private not-for-profit institution located in Norton, 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 area studies students list, Wheaton College Massachusetts has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Wheaton College Massachusetts is $26,809 for Massachusetts Bachelor’s Degree Area Studies students.
The low student loan default rate of 3.1% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.
Mount Holyoke College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts ranking, coming in at #6. Located in South Hadley, Massachusetts, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 16 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s area studies students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our massachusetts bachelor’s degree area studies students list, Mt. Holyoke has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. It costs about $27,149 for Massachusetts Bachelor’s Degree Area Studies students per year to attend Mount Holyoke College.
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. The low student loan default rate of 2.9% 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%.
Harvard University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts list. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, this large private not-for-profit school handed out 26 degrees to qualified bachelors’s area studies students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our massachusetts bachelor’s degree area studies students list, Harvard has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. It costs about $15,386 for massachusetts bachelor’s degree area studies students per year to attend Harvard University.
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 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%.
Smith College ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts list. Northampton, Massachusetts is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s area studies degrees to 40 students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Smith, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Smith College is $28,305 for Massachusetts Bachelor’s Degree Area Studies 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 student loan default rate at the school is 1.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Brandeis University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts list. This medium-sized school is located in Waltham, Massachusetts, and it awarded 70 bachelors’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Brandeis, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Brandeis is $31,165 for massachusetts bachelor’s degree area studies 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 student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Boston University landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts ranking. Boston University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Boston, Massachusetts. The school has a large population, and it awarded 15 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Boston U, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. It costs about $30,259 for massachusetts bachelor’s degree area studies students per year to attend Boston U.
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 student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.
Amherst College landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts ranking. Amherst, Massachusetts is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s area studies degrees to 28 students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our massachusetts bachelor’s degree area studies students list, Amherst has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Amherst College is $18,524 for Massachusetts Bachelor’s Degree Area Studies students.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low student loan default rate of 3.8% 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 7 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Tufts University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts list. Tufts University is located in Medford, Massachusetts and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 30 bachelors’s area studies degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Tufts, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Tufts University is $30,744 for Massachusetts Bachelor’s Degree Area Studies students.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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%. 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.
Wellesley College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts ranking. This small school is located in Wellesley, Massachusetts, and it awarded 41 bachelors’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Wellesley, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Wellesley is $22,087 for Massachusetts Bachelor’s Degree Area Studies 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 student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.
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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 Karl Udo Gerth.
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