2027 Best Value Ethnic Studies Schools in Massachusetts

[Ethnic Studies](/majors/ethnic-cultural-gender-studies/ethnic-studies/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong ethnic studies education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 11 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for ethnic studies students.
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2027 Best Value Ethnic Studies Schools in Massachusetts
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the ethnic studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Ethnic Studies Schools
Leading the list is Harvard University, our #1 best value for ethnic studies in Massachusetts. Set in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $61,676. Ethnic Studies graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans. Early-career ethnic studies graduates make about $95,207. Set against $16,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a great value for students pursuing a degree in ethnic studies, landing the #2 spot this year. University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public school located in the city of Amherst. In-state tuition and fees average $17,772, while out-of-state students pay about $40,449. Typical student debt for ethnic studies graduates is $25,195. Soon after graduation, ethnic studies degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Amherst generally make around $53,666. Set against $25,195 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Massachusetts Boston is a great value for students pursuing a degree in ethnic studies, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Boston, University Of Massachusetts Boston is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,898, with out-of-state students paying around $38,115. Ethnic Studies graduates carry a median of $26,965 in student loans. Ethnic Studies graduates of University Of Massachusetts Boston earn a median of $41,872 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in ethnic studies will find it at Amherst College, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Amherst, Amherst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $70,480 in tuition and fees. Ethnic Studies graduates carry a median of $18,032 in student loans. Ethnic Studies graduates of Amherst College earn a median of $40,120 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 9%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Boston University earned it the #5 place for ethnic studies. Located in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $68,102 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for ethnic studies graduates is $25,232. Early-career ethnic studies graduates make about $63,598. Set against $25,232 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Boston University admits about 11% of applicants.
Simmons College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value ethnic studies schools. Located in the city of Boston, Simmons College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $46,874. Typical student debt for ethnic studies graduates is $26,740. Ethnic Studies graduates of Simmons College earn a median of $63,860 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,740 median debt. The acceptance rate is 70%.
Wellesley College landed the #7 spot for ethnic studies value this year. Wellesley College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Wellesley. Students from in state pay about $67,176 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $11,075 to complete the ethnic studies program here. Ethnic Studies graduates of Wellesley College earn a median of $43,926 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,075 median debt. Roughly 14% of applicants are accepted.
Mount Holyoke College landed the #8 spot for ethnic studies value this year. Located in the suburb of South Hadley, Mount Holyoke College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,018. Ethnic Studies graduates carry a median of $22,041 in student loans. Ethnic Studies graduates of Mount Holyoke College earn a median of $35,038 early in their careers. Set against $22,041 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 36% of applicants are accepted.
Smith College ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value ethnic studies schools. 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 ethnic studies program here. Early-career ethnic studies graduates make about $19,105. That is a strong return on a $19,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 21%.
Brandeis University landed the #10 spot for ethnic studies value this year. Set in the city of Waltham, Brandeis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,080. Students borrow a median of $24,226 to complete the ethnic studies program here. Ethnic Studies graduates of Brandeis University earn a median of $35,057 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,226 median debt. The acceptance rate is 40%.
Tufts University landed the #11 spot for ethnic studies value this year. Set in the suburb of Medford, Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $70,704. Students borrow a median of $17,074 to complete the ethnic studies program here. Soon after graduation, ethnic studies degree recipients from Tufts University generally make around $68,154. Set against $17,074 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Tufts University admits about 12% of applicants.
More Ethnic Studies Rankings
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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 · 11 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 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.