2027 Best Value History Schools in Massachusetts
[History](/majors/history/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 27 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for history students.
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2027 Best Value History Schools in Massachusetts
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in history, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value History Schools
Fitchburg State University tops our 2027 list of the best value history schools in Massachusetts. Located in the suburb of Fitchburg, Fitchburg State University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $11,346 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,426. Students borrow a median of $21,635 to complete the history program here. History graduates of Fitchburg State University earn a median of $46,184 early in their careers. Set against $21,635 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 87%.
A rank of #2 makes Worcester State University one of the best values for history. Worcester State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Worcester. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,786, while out-of-state students pay about $17,866. Students borrow a median of $24,610 to complete the history program here. History graduates of Worcester State University earn a median of $38,028 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,610 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Salem State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in history, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Salem, Salem State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,338 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $19,531. History graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. History graduates of Salem State University earn a median of $29,307 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Salem State University admits about 96% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in history will find it at Harvard University, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $61,676. Students borrow a median of $12,721 to complete the history program here. History graduates of Harvard University earn a median of $53,468 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Harvard University admits about 4% of applicants.
Bridgewater State University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value history schools. Set in the suburb of Bridgewater, Bridgewater State University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,734, compared with $17,874 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the history program here. Early-career history graduates make about $34,215. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Williams College came in at #6 for value in history this year. Williams College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Williamstown. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,560. History graduates carry a median of $12,615 in student loans. Early-career history graduates make about $53,652. Set against $12,615 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Williams College admits about 8% of applicants.
Framingham State University landed the #7 spot for history value this year. Located in the city of Framingham, Framingham State University is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,920, while out-of-state students pay about $18,000. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the history program here. History graduates of Framingham State University earn a median of $34,836 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Framingham State University admits about 84% of applicants.
University Of Massachusetts Lowell earned the #8 position for value in history this year. 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. Typical student debt for history graduates is $24,250. Early-career history graduates make about $27,586. Set against $24,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
Westfield State University earned the #9 position for value in history this year. Westfield State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Westfield. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,179, with out-of-state students paying around $18,259. Typical student debt for history graduates is $25,000. History graduates of Westfield State University earn a median of $24,879 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 81%.
University Of Massachusetts Boston ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value history schools. University Of Massachusetts Boston is a large public school located in the city of Boston. In-state tuition and fees average $15,898, while out-of-state students pay about $38,115. Typical student debt for history graduates is $24,862. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Boston generally make around $46,908. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Massachusetts Boston admits about 84% of applicants.
Amherst College placed #11 among the best values for history. Located in the city of Amherst, Amherst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $70,480. History graduates carry a median of $15,398 in student loans. History graduates of Amherst College earn a median of $56,444 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Amherst College admits about 9% of applicants.
University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth earned the #12 position for value in history this year. Set in the suburb of North Dartmouth, University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,612, with out-of-state students paying around $32,567. Typical student debt for history graduates is $25,000. Early-career history graduates make about $30,581. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Massachusetts Amherst came in at #13 for value in history this year. Located in the city of Amherst, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,772, with out-of-state students paying around $40,449. Typical student debt for history graduates is $22,750. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Amherst generally make around $26,805. That is a strong return on a $22,750 median debt. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Boston University ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value history schools. 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 history graduates is $26,500. Early-career history graduates make about $63,598. Set against $26,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 11%.
Gordon College came in at #15 for value in history this year. Set in the rural area of Wenham, Gordon College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $30,700. History graduates carry a median of $26,372 in student loans. Early-career history graduates make about $37,097. Set against $26,372 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 69%.
Wellesley College came in at #16 for value in history this year. Wellesley College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Wellesley. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,176. Typical student debt for history graduates is $11,075. Early-career history graduates make about $48,902. That is a strong return on a $11,075 median debt. Wellesley College admits about 14% of applicants.
Mount Holyoke College ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value history schools. Located in the suburb of South Hadley, Mount Holyoke College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $67,018. History graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Early-career history graduates make about $23,337. That is a strong return on a $23,250 median debt. The acceptance rate is 36%.
Smith College earned the #18 position for value in history this year. Located in the city of Northampton, Smith College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,178. History graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Smith College generally make around $26,131. That is a strong return on a $19,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 21%.
Clark University earned the #19 position for value in history this year. Located in the city of Worcester, Clark University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $58,467. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the history program here. Early-career history graduates make about $43,257. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 40% of applicants are accepted.
Assumption College earned the #20 position for value in history this year. Set in the city of Worcester, Assumption College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $51,356 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for history graduates is $27,000. Early-career history graduates make about $50,914. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Assumption College admits about 83% of applicants.
Suffolk University earned the #21 position for value in history this year. Set in the city of Boston, Suffolk University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $47,550. History graduates carry a median of $26,670 in student loans. History graduates of Suffolk University earn a median of $57,261 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,670 median debt. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Wheaton College Massachusetts placed #22 among the best values for history. Wheaton College Massachusetts is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Norton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $63,960. History graduates carry a median of $25,990 in student loans. Early-career history graduates make about $32,896. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Wheaton College Massachusetts admits about 68% of applicants.
Northeastern University placed #23 among the best values for history. Located in the city of Boston, Northeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $66,162. Typical student debt for history graduates is $24,250. History graduates of Northeastern University earn a median of $74,800 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Northeastern University admits about 5% of applicants.
Brandeis University placed #24 among the best values for history. Brandeis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Waltham. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,080. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete the history program here. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Brandeis University generally make around $33,903. That is a strong return on a $23,250 median debt. Roughly 40% of applicants are accepted.
College Of The Holy Cross landed the #25 spot for history value this year. Set in the city of Worcester, College Of The Holy Cross is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $64,500. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the history program here. History graduates of College Of The Holy Cross earn a median of $42,345 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 18% of applicants are accepted.
Rest of the Top 27 Best Value History Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for history this year:
View All History Rankings >
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 · 27 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 27 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.
