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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts (Income $0-$30k) in Massachusetts

14 Ranked Colleges
638 Degrees Awarded
$17,600 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor's in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. 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 Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

Liberal Arts is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 2nd of all the majors we analyze. In 2019-2020, 365,980 degrees were awarded to students with this major.

Across Massachusetts, there were 2,514 liberal arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 638 liberal arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $42,887 and $24,387 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 14 colleges that offer a degree in liberal arts. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great liberal arts programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the liberal arts program at the school. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for massachusetts bachelor’s degree liberal studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 14 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts (Income $0-$30k) in Massachusetts

#1

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge, Massachusetts
#1 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Massachusetts Institute of Technology. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k list. Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It awarded 10 bachelors’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

MIT also took the #1 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. It costs about $4,535 for Massachusetts Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend MIT.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 3 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 98%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Massachusetts Institute of Technology Liberal Arts Report

#2

Harvard University

Cambridge, Massachusetts
#3 in overall quality

Out of the 14 schools in the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Harvard University landed the #2 spot on the list. Harvard is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 4 bachelors’s liberal studies degrees to qualified students.

Harvard did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list. The yearly cost to attend Harvard is $2,973 for Massachusetts Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

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. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at Harvard University

#3

Westfield State University

Westfield, Massachusetts
#4 in overall quality

Out of the 14 schools in the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Westfield State University landed the #3 spot on the list. Westfield is a public institution located in Westfield, Massachusetts. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 153 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Westfield not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list. It costs about $12,672 for massachusetts bachelor’s degree liberal studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Westfield State University.

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 more about Liberal Arts at Westfield State University

#6 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Massachusetts - Lowell. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k. Lowell, Massachusetts is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s liberal studies degrees to 105 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UMass Lowell, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UMass Lowell is $11,560 for Massachusetts Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

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%.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at UMass Lowell

#5

Bentley University

Waltham, Massachusetts
#2 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Bentley University. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k list. Bentley is located in Waltham, Massachusetts and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 126 bachelors’s liberal studies degrees to qualified students.

Bentley also made our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list, coming in at #2. The estimated yearly cost for Bentley is $25,432 for Massachusetts Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The student loan default rate at the school is 2.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Bentley University Liberal Arts Report

#6

Framingham State University

Framingham, Massachusetts
#7 in overall quality

With a ranking of #6, Framingham State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k list. Framingham State University is a public institution located in Framingham, Massachusetts. The school has a small population, and it awarded 45 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Framingham State also took the #7 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Framingham State University is $14,612 for massachusetts bachelor’s degree liberal studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Liberal Arts at Framingham State University

#7

University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth

North Dartmouth, Massachusetts
#9 in overall quality

University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k list. UMass Dartmouth is a medium-sized public school situated in North Dartmouth, Massachusetts. It awarded 25 bachelors’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UMass Dartmouth, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UMass Dartmouth is $13,925 for Massachusetts Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth Liberal Arts Report

#8

Bay Path University

Longmeadow, Massachusetts
#10 in overall quality

With a ranking of #8, Bay Path University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k list. Bay Path is a small school located in Longmeadow, Massachusetts that handed out 43 bachelors’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Bay Path also took the #10 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. It costs about $19,522 for Massachusetts Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Bay Path University.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at Bay Path

#9

Eastern Nazarene College

Quincy, Massachusetts
#12 in overall quality

Eastern Nazarene College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Eastern Nazarene College is located in Quincy, Massachusetts and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 14 bachelors’s liberal studies degrees to qualified students.

ENC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list. It costs about $16,616 for massachusetts bachelor’s degree liberal studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Eastern Nazarene College.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read more about Liberal Arts at Eastern Nazarene College

#10

Endicott College

Beverly, Massachusetts
#5 in overall quality

Endicott College landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Endicott College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Beverly, Massachusetts. The school has a small population, and it awarded 47 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Endicott also made our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list, coming in at #5. The yearly cost to attend Endicott is $27,432 for Massachusetts Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at Endicott College

#11

American International College

Springfield, Massachusetts
#8 in overall quality

American International College landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This small school is located in Springfield, Massachusetts, and it awarded 6 bachelors’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our massachusetts bachelor’s degree liberal studies students whose families make $0-$30k list, AIC has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. The yearly cost to attend American International College is $22,785 for massachusetts bachelor’s degree liberal studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at American International College

#12

Curry College

Milton, Massachusetts
#13 in overall quality

With a ranking of #12, Curry College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k list. Curry College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Milton, Massachusetts. It awarded 2 bachelors’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Curry also took the #13 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Curry College is $23,906 for Massachusetts Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Curry College Liberal Arts Report

#13

Regis College

Weston, Massachusetts
#11 in overall quality

Regis College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Regis College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Weston, Massachusetts. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Regis College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list. It costs about $23,281 for Massachusetts Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Regis College.

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.

Full Regis College Liberal Arts Report

#14

Dean College

Franklin, Massachusetts
#14 in overall quality

Dean College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #14. This small school is located in Franklin, Massachusetts, and it awarded 5 bachelors’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Dean College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list. The estimated yearly cost for Dean College is $26,852 for Massachusetts Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at Dean College

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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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