2026 Best Value Mental & Social Health Services Schools in Massachusetts

[Mental & Social Health Services](/majors/health-care-professions/mental-social-health-services/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 34 schools to find the best return on investment for mental & social health services students.
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2026 Best Value Mental & Social Health Services Schools in Massachusetts
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in mental & social health services, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Mental & Social Health Services Schools
Our analysis ranked Middlesex Community College Bedford the best value for a degree in mental & social health services in Massachusetts. Middlesex Community College Bedford is a large public school located in the suburb of Bedford. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,098, while out-of-state students pay about $12,170. Mental & Social Health Services graduates carry a median of $11,602 in student loans. Early-career mental & social health services graduates make about $48,427. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Northern Essex Community College earned it the #2 place for mental & social health services. Set in the suburb of Haverhill, Northern Essex Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,732, with out-of-state students paying around $12,516. Typical student debt for mental & social health services graduates is $12,033. Mental & Social Health Services graduates of Northern Essex Community College earn a median of $27,799 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
North Shore Community College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value mental & social health services schools. Set in the suburb of Danvers, North Shore Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,352, compared with $10,920 for out-of-state students. Mental & Social Health Services graduates carry a median of $14,145 in student loans. Mental & Social Health Services graduates of North Shore Community College earn a median of $51,255 early in their careers. Set against $14,145 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Quincy College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in mental & social health services, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Quincy, Quincy College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,938. Students borrow a median of $15,600 to complete the mental & social health services program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $52,506 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #5 makes Bay Path College one of the best values for mental & social health services. 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. Students borrow a median of $29,811 to complete the mental & social health services program here. Early-career mental & social health services graduates make about $69,427. Set against $29,811 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Worcester State University came in at #6 for value in mental & social health services this year. Set in the city of Worcester, Worcester State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,786, with out-of-state students paying around $17,866. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the mental & social health services program here. Early-career mental & social health services graduates make about $37,345. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Fitchburg State University placed #7 among the best values for mental & social health services. Fitchburg State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Fitchburg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,346, while out-of-state students pay about $17,426. Students borrow a median of $25,840 to complete the mental & social health services program here. Early-career mental & social health services graduates make about $51,168. That is a strong return on a $25,840 median debt. The acceptance rate is 87%.
University Of Massachusetts Boston came in at #8 for value in mental & social health services this year. 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. Mental & Social Health Services graduates carry a median of $26,236 in student loans. Mental & Social Health Services graduates of University Of Massachusetts Boston earn a median of $54,309 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Massachusetts Boston admits about 84% of applicants.
University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth placed #9 among the best values for mental & social health services. Located in the suburb of North Dartmouth, University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $15,612 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $32,567. Students borrow a median of $27,106 to complete the mental & social health services program here. Early-career mental & social health services graduates make about $54,669. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Boston University came in at #10 for value in mental & social health services this year. 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 mental & social health services graduates is $25,232. Early-career mental & social health services graduates make about $63,598. Set against $25,232 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Boston University admits about 11% of applicants.
Springfield College landed the #11 spot for mental & social health services value this year. Set in the city of Springfield, Springfield College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $44,974. Typical student debt for mental & social health services graduates is $27,151. Soon after graduation, mental & social health services degree recipients from Springfield College generally make around $49,880. Set against $27,151 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Suffolk University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value mental & social health services schools. Suffolk University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $47,550. Typical student debt for mental & social health services graduates is $26,670. Soon after graduation, mental & social health services degree recipients from Suffolk University generally make around $50,911. Set against $26,670 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Suffolk University admits about 82% of applicants.
Lesley University placed #13 among the best values for mental & social health services. Located in the city of Cambridge, Lesley University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,256. Students borrow a median of $24,818 to complete the mental & social health services program here. Mental & Social Health Services graduates of Lesley University earn a median of $47,290 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Lesley University admits about 97% of applicants.
Merrimack College landed the #14 spot for mental & social health services value this year. Located in the suburb of North Andover, Merrimack College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $53,962 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,913 to complete the mental & social health services program here. Mental & Social Health Services graduates of Merrimack College earn a median of $50,506 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,913 median debt. Merrimack College admits about 70% of applicants.
More Mental & Social Health Services Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 34 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.