2027 Best Value Women’s Studies Schools in the New England Region
[Women's Studies](/majors/ethnic-cultural-gender-studies/ethnic-studies/womens-studies/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong women's studies education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 14 schools to find the best return on investment for women’s studies students.
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2027 Best Value Women’s Studies Schools in the New England Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in women’s studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Women’s Studies Schools
Leading the list is Harvard University, our #1 best value for women's studies in the New England Region. Set in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $61,676 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete the women's studies program here. Early-career women's studies graduates make about $95,207. Set against $16,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Harvard University admits about 4% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Maine one of the best values for women's studies. University Of Maine is a large public school located in the suburb of Orono. In-state tuition and fees average $13,326, with out-of-state students paying around $36,756. Women's Studies graduates carry a median of $25,984 in student loans. Women's Studies 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%.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Massachusetts Boston one of the best values for women's studies. Set in the city of Boston, University Of Massachusetts Boston is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,898, with out-of-state students paying around $38,115. Typical student debt for women's studies graduates is $26,965. Soon after graduation, women's studies degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Boston generally make around $41,872. Set against $26,965 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Massachusetts Boston admits about 84% of applicants.
University Of Massachusetts Amherst came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value women's studies schools. University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public school located in the city of Amherst. Students from in state pay about $17,772 in tuition and fees, compared with $40,449 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,195 to complete the women's studies program here. Soon after graduation, women's 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.
A rank of #5 makes Amherst College one of the best values for women's studies. Located in the city of Amherst, Amherst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $70,480 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for women's studies graduates is $18,032. Women's 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. Amherst College admits about 9% of applicants.
Yale University came in at #6 for value in women's studies this year. Set in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,250. Students borrow a median of $13,107 to complete the women's studies program here. Soon after graduation, women's studies degree recipients from Yale University generally make around $32,624. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 4%.
University Of Rhode Island earned the #7 position for value in women's studies this year. Set in the suburb of Kingston, University Of Rhode Island is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,942, while out-of-state students pay about $37,146. Women's Studies graduates carry a median of $21,875 in student loans. Women's Studies graduates of University Of Rhode Island earn a median of $28,181 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,875 median debt. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Boston University landed the #8 spot for women's studies value this year. Located in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $68,102. Typical student debt for women's studies graduates is $25,232. Women's Studies graduates of Boston University earn a median of $63,598 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,232 median debt. Roughly 11% of applicants are accepted.
Wellesley College placed #9 among the best values for women's studies. Located in the suburb of Wellesley, Wellesley College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,176. Women's Studies graduates carry a median of $11,075 in student loans. Early-career women's studies graduates make about $43,926. Set against $11,075 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 14% of applicants are accepted.
Simmons College earned the #10 position for value in women's studies this year. Set in the city of Boston, Simmons College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $46,874. Women's Studies graduates carry a median of $26,740 in student loans. Early-career women's studies graduates make about $63,860. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Simmons College admits about 70% of applicants.
Smith College earned the #11 position for value in women's studies this year. Located in the city of Northampton, Smith College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $65,178. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete the women's studies program here. Women's Studies graduates of Smith College earn a median of $19,105 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,000 median debt. Roughly 21% of applicants are accepted.
Dartmouth College placed #12 among the best values for women's studies. Located in the town of Hanover, Dartmouth College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $68,019 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for women's studies graduates is $15,157. Women's Studies graduates of Dartmouth College earn a median of $31,967 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,157 median debt. Dartmouth College admits about 5% of applicants.
Brandeis University landed the #13 spot for women's studies value this year. Set in the city of Waltham, Brandeis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $68,080. Women's Studies graduates carry a median of $24,226 in student loans. Women's 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 earned the #14 position for value in women's studies this year. Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Medford. In-state tuition and fees average $70,704. Students borrow a median of $17,074 to complete the women's studies program here. Early-career women's studies graduates make about $68,154. Set against $17,074 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 12% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 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.
