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2022 Best Value Colleges for History (Income $0-$30k) in Massachusetts

29 Ranked Colleges
1,285 Degrees Awarded
$12,400 Avg Net Price*
Best Value History Schools in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value History Schools in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

History is the 22nd most popular major in the country with 32,905 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. In 2017-2018, history graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $29,593 and had an average of $23,490 in loans still to pay off.

Across Massachusetts, there were 1,285 history graduates with average earnings and debt of $34,927 and $25,132 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value History Schools in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 29 colleges that offer a degree in history. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great history programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the history program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value History Schools in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Best Value History Schools in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value History Schools in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for History (Income $0-$30k) in Massachusetts

#1

Williams College

Williamstown, Massachusetts

Out of the 29 schools in the Best Value History Schools in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Williams College landed the #1 spot on the list. Williams is a small school located in Williamstown, Massachusetts that handed out 39 ’s history degrees in 2019-2020.

Williams did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best History Schools in Massachusetts” list. The estimated yearly cost for Williams is $2,498 for massachusetts history students whose families make $0-$30k.

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%. The student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 90%.

Read full report on History at Williams

#2

Harvard University

Cambridge, Massachusetts

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Harvard University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value History Schools in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, this large private not-for-profit school handed out 194 degrees to qualified ’s history students in 2019-2020.

Harvard did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best History Schools in Massachusetts” list. It costs about $2,973 for massachusetts history students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Harvard.

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%. 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.

Read more about History at Harvard

#3

Amherst College

Amherst, Massachusetts

Out of the 29 schools in the Best Value History Schools in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Amherst College landed the #3 spot on the list. Amherst College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Amherst, Massachusetts. The school has a small population, and it awarded 33 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Amherst did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best History Schools in Massachusetts” list. It costs about $6,079 for massachusetts history students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Amherst College.

With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on History at Amherst

#4

Tufts University

Medford, Massachusetts

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Tufts University. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value History Schools in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k list. Tufts University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Medford, Massachusetts. It awarded 47 ’s history degrees in 2019-2020.

Tufts also took the #4 spot in our “Best History Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Tufts is $5,267 for massachusetts history students whose families make $0-$30k.

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%. With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read more about History at Tufts University

#5

Boston College

Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Boston College. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value History Schools in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k list. Boston College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 72 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Boston College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best History Schools in Massachusetts” list. It costs about $6,353 for massachusetts history students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Boston College.

The low student loan default rate of 1.2% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%.

Read full report on History at Boston College

#6

Smith College

Northampton, Massachusetts

Smith College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value History Schools in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Smith is a private not-for-profit institution located in Northampton, Massachusetts. The school has a small population, and it awarded 24 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Smith, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best History Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Smith is $6,075 for Massachusetts History students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. 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%.

Read full report on History at Smith College

#7

College of the Holy Cross

Worcester, Massachusetts

College of the Holy Cross did quite well in the 2022 Best Value History Schools in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #7. College of the Holy Cross is a private not-for-profit institution located in Worcester, Massachusetts. The school has a small population, and it awarded 39 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our massachusetts history students whose families make $0-$30k list, Holy Cross has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best History Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. It costs about $15,036 for massachusetts history students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Holy Cross.

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. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The student loan default rate at the school is 0.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on History at Holy Cross

#8

Northeastern University

Boston, Massachusetts

Northeastern University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value History Schools in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k list. Northeastern is a private not-for-profit institution located in Boston, Massachusetts. The school has a large population, and it awarded 31 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Northeastern not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best History Schools in Massachusetts” list. It costs about $10,239 for massachusetts history students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Northeastern.

The low student loan default rate of 2.2% 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 school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on History at Northeastern University

#9

Wellesley College

Wellesley, Massachusetts

Wellesley College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value History Schools in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #9. Wellesley College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Wellesley, Massachusetts. It awarded 20 ’s history degrees in 2019-2020.

Wellesley not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best History Schools in Massachusetts” list. It costs about $8,785 for Massachusetts History students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Wellesley.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The low student loan default rate of 1.5% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%.

Read more about History at Wellesley College

#10

Boston University

Boston, Massachusetts

With a ranking of #10, Boston University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value History Schools in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k list. Boston University is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Boston, Massachusetts. It awarded 51 ’s history degrees in 2019-2020.

Boston U also took the #7 spot in our “Best History Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Boston University is $12,903 for massachusetts history students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 1.4% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 92%. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Full Boston U History Report

#11

University of Massachusetts Amherst

Amherst, Massachusetts

With a ranking of #11, University of Massachusetts Amherst did quite well on the 2022 Best Value History Schools in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k list. UMass Amherst is a public institution located in Amherst, Massachusetts. The school has a large population, and it awarded 95 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UMass Amherst, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best History Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Massachusetts Amherst is $13,137 for massachusetts history students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 2.8% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.

Full UMass Amherst History Report

#12

Westfield State University

Westfield, Massachusetts

Westfield State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value History Schools in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #12. Westfield State University is a medium-sized public school situated in Westfield, Massachusetts. It awarded 29 ’s history degrees in 2019-2020.

Westfield also took the #15 spot in our “Best History Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Westfield is $12,672 for massachusetts history students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on History at Westfield State University

#13

University of Massachusetts - Lowell

Lowell, Massachusetts

University of Massachusetts - Lowell came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value History Schools in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Lowell, Massachusetts, this fairly large public school awarded 27 degrees to qualified ’s history students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UMass Lowell, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best History Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. It costs about $11,560 for Massachusetts History students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UMass Lowell.

The low student loan default rate of 4.4% 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%.

Full UMass Lowell History Report

#14

Bridgewater State University

Bridgewater, Massachusetts

Bridgewater State University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value History Schools in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k list. Bridgewater State University is a public institution located in Bridgewater, Massachusetts. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 60 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Bridgewater State also made our “Best History Schools in Massachusetts” list, coming in at #18. The estimated yearly cost for Bridgewater State is $13,332 for massachusetts history students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about History at Bridgewater State University

#15

Mount Holyoke College

South Hadley, Massachusetts

Mount Holyoke College ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value History Schools in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k list. Mt. Holyoke is a small school located in South Hadley, Massachusetts that handed out 27 ’s history degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our massachusetts history students whose families make $0-$30k list, Mt. Holyoke has also earned the #20 rank in our “Best History Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Mount Holyoke College is $12,063 for Massachusetts History students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. 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.

Read full report on History at Mount Holyoke College

#16

Fitchburg State University

Fitchburg, Massachusetts

Fitchburg State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value History Schools in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #16. Fitchburg State University is located in Fitchburg, Massachusetts and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 15 ’s history degrees to qualified students.

Fitchburg State also made our “Best History Schools in Massachusetts” list, coming in at #25. The yearly cost to attend Fitchburg State is $11,770 for massachusetts history students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about History at Fitchburg State

#17

University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth

North Dartmouth, Massachusetts

University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value History Schools in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UMass Dartmouth is a public institution located in North Dartmouth, Massachusetts. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 31 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UMass Dartmouth, the school also landed the #19 spot in our “Best History Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UMass Dartmouth is $13,925 for Massachusetts History students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth History Report

#18

Salem State University

Salem, Massachusetts

With a ranking of #18, Salem State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value History Schools in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k list. Salem, Massachusetts is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s history degrees to 52 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Salem State, the school also landed the #23 spot in our “Best History Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. It costs about $14,593 for Massachusetts History students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Salem State.

Read full report on History at Salem State

#19

Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts

North Adams, Massachusetts

With a ranking of #19, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts did quite well on the 2022 Best Value History Schools in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k list. North Adams, Massachusetts is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s history degrees to 11 students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for MCLA is $12,587 for Massachusetts History students whose families make $0-$30k.

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.

Read full report on History at MCLA

#20

Framingham State University

Framingham, Massachusetts

Framingham State University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value History Schools in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k list. Framingham State is located in Framingham, Massachusetts and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 16 ’s history degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend Framingham State University is $14,612 for Massachusetts History students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on History at Framingham State University

#21

Clark University

Worcester, Massachusetts

Clark University ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value History Schools in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k list. This small school is located in Worcester, Massachusetts, and it awarded 26 ’s history degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our massachusetts history students whose families make $0-$30k list, Clark has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best History Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Clark University is $22,734 for Massachusetts History students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 1.8% 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 school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about History at Clark University

#22

University of Massachusetts - Boston

Boston, Massachusetts

University of Massachusetts - Boston landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value History Schools in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Boston, Massachusetts is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s history degrees to 47 students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend UMass Boston is $13,859 for Massachusetts History students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on History at UMass Boston

#23

Wheaton College Massachusetts

Norton, Massachusetts

Wheaton College Massachusetts did quite well in the 2022 Best Value History Schools in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #23. This small school is located in Norton, Massachusetts, and it awarded 20 ’s history degrees in 2019-2020.

Wheaton College Massachusetts did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best History Schools in Massachusetts” list. It costs about $20,511 for Massachusetts History students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Wheaton College Massachusetts.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.

Full Wheaton College Massachusetts History Report

#24

Emmanuel College Massachusetts

Boston, Massachusetts

Emmanuel College Massachusetts came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value History Schools in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Emmanuel College Massachusetts is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Boston, Massachusetts. It awarded 17 ’s history degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our massachusetts history students whose families make $0-$30k list, Emmanuel Boston has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best History Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Emmanuel College Massachusetts is $24,411 for massachusetts history students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about History at Emmanuel College Massachusetts

#25

Simmons University

Boston, Massachusetts

Simmons University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value History Schools in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #25. Boston, Massachusetts is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s history degrees to 32 students in 2019-2020.

Simmons not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best History Schools in Massachusetts” list. The estimated yearly cost for Simmons University is $22,999 for massachusetts history students whose families make $0-$30k.

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 student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about History at Simmons

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.

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