2027 Best Value Public Health Schools in Massachusetts

[Public Health](/majors/health-care-professions/public-health/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 14 schools to find the best return on investment for public health students.
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2027 Best Value Public Health Schools in Massachusetts
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in public health, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Public Health Schools
Our analysis ranked Worcester State University the best value for a degree in public health in Massachusetts. Worcester State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Worcester. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,786, compared with $17,866 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,451 to complete the public health program here. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from Worcester State University generally make around $45,297. That is a strong return on a $24,451 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in public health will find it at Fitchburg State University, which ranked #2. Set in the suburb of Fitchburg, Fitchburg State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,346 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,426 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,840 to complete the public health program here. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from Fitchburg State University generally make around $48,965. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Fitchburg State University admits about 87% of applicants.
Harvard University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value public health schools. Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. In-state tuition and fees average $61,676. Public Health graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from Harvard University generally make around $106,623. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Harvard University admits about 4% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in public health will find it at University Of Massachusetts Lowell, which ranked #4. Located in the suburb of Lowell, University Of Massachusetts Lowell is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,966, while out-of-state students pay about $36,264. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the public health program here. Public Health graduates of University Of Massachusetts Lowell earn a median of $50,613 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in public health will find it at University Of Massachusetts Amherst, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Amherst, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,772, compared with $40,449 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the public health program here. Public Health graduates of University Of Massachusetts Amherst earn a median of $49,275 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth came in at #6 for value in public health this year. University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of North Dartmouth. In-state tuition and fees average $15,612, compared with $32,567 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,106 to complete the public health program here. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth generally make around $54,669. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth admits about 91% of applicants.
Boston University came in at #7 for value in public health 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. Students borrow a median of $25,232 to complete the public health program here. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from Boston University generally make around $68,423. Set against $25,232 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 11% of applicants are accepted.
Simmons College placed #8 among the best values for public health. Simmons College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. Students from in state pay about $46,874 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for public health graduates is $27,000. Public Health graduates of Simmons College earn a median of $45,331 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Simmons College admits about 70% of applicants.
Regis College ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value public health schools. Set in the suburb of Weston, Regis College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $49,680. Public Health graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Public Health graduates of Regis College earn a median of $42,638 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 70%.
Curry College earned the #10 position for value in public health this year. Set in the suburb of Milton, Curry College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $47,570 in tuition and fees. Public Health graduates carry a median of $26,571 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from Curry College generally make around $59,338. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Curry College admits about 88% of applicants.
Northeastern University landed the #11 spot for public health value this year. Northeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. Students from in state pay about $66,162 in tuition and fees. Public Health graduates carry a median of $25,611 in student loans. Early-career public health graduates make about $65,374. Set against $25,611 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 5%.
Massachusetts College Of Pharmacy And Health Sciences placed #12 among the best values for public health. Set in the city of Boston, Massachusetts College Of Pharmacy And Health Sciences is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,530. Public Health graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career public health graduates make about $69,004. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Tufts University placed #13 among the best values for public health. Located in the suburb of Medford, Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $70,704. Public Health graduates carry a median of $18,250 in student loans. Public Health graduates of Tufts University earn a median of $62,023 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 12%.
Boston College came in at #14 for value in public health this year. Located in the city of Chestnut Hill, Boston College is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $70,702. Students borrow a median of $18,101 to complete the public health program here. Early-career public health graduates make about $66,132. Set against $18,101 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 16%.
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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 · 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.