Find Schools

Study Area & Zipcode

Liberal Arts General Studies

Find Schools Near

2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k

18 Ranked Colleges
913 Degrees Awarded
$17,900 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor's 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 Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

Liberal Arts General Studies is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 1st of all the majors we analyze. In 2019-2020, 559,661 degrees were awarded to students with this major. In 2017-2018, liberal arts general studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $26,786 and had an average of $16,538 in loans still to pay off.

Across Massachusetts, there were 3,758 liberal arts general studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $29,110 and $17,045 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 913 liberal arts general studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $42,887 and $24,387 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 18 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in liberal arts general studies. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent liberal arts general studies programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the liberal arts general studies program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank Liberal Arts General Studies Schools

The liberal arts school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k”.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

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

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 18 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts General Studies (Income $0-$30k) in Massachusetts

#1

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge, Massachusetts

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k. Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It awarded 10 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our massachusetts bachelor’s degree liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k list, MIT has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. The yearly cost to attend MIT is $4,535 for Massachusetts Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 98%. 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%. 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.

Full Massachusetts Institute of Technology Liberal Arts General Studies Report

#2

Harvard University

Cambridge, Massachusetts
#3 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Harvard University. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k list. Harvard University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The school has a large population, and it awarded 34 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Harvard not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list. The estimated yearly cost for Harvard University is $2,973 for massachusetts bachelor’s degree liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 5 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 Liberal Arts General Studies at Harvard University

#3

University of Massachusetts Amherst

Amherst, Massachusetts

Out of the 18 schools in the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Massachusetts Amherst landed the #3 spot on the list. Amherst, Massachusetts is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s liberal arts degrees to 95 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our massachusetts bachelor’s degree liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k list, UMass Amherst has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. It costs about $13,137 for Massachusetts Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UMass Amherst.

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%.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at University of Massachusetts Amherst

#4

Westfield State University

Westfield, Massachusetts

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Westfield State University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k. Westfield is a medium-sized public school situated in Westfield, Massachusetts. It awarded 156 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Westfield, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. It costs about $12,672 for Massachusetts Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts 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 General Studies at Westfield

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Massachusetts - Lowell. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Massachusetts - Lowell is a public institution located in Lowell, Massachusetts. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 105 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our massachusetts bachelor’s degree liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k list, UMass Lowell has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. It costs about $11,560 for massachusetts bachelor’s degree liberal arts 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%.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at University of Massachusetts - Lowell

#6

Bentley University

Waltham, Massachusetts

Bentley University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #6. Bentley is located in Waltham, Massachusetts and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 126 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our massachusetts bachelor’s degree liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k list, Bentley has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Bentley is $25,432 for Massachusetts Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 2.1% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full Bentley Liberal Arts General Studies Report

#7

Framingham State University

Framingham, Massachusetts

Framingham State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #7. Framingham State is located in Framingham, Massachusetts and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 45 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.

Framingham State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list. The yearly cost to attend Framingham State is $14,612 for Massachusetts Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Framingham State Liberal Arts General Studies Report

#8

University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth

North Dartmouth, Massachusetts

University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k list. UMass Dartmouth is a medium-sized school located in North Dartmouth, Massachusetts that handed out 25 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

UMass Dartmouth not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list. The yearly cost to attend UMass Dartmouth is $13,925 for massachusetts bachelor’s degree liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at UMass Dartmouth

#9

Bay Path University

Longmeadow, Massachusetts

With a ranking of #9, Bay Path University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k list. Bay Path is located in Longmeadow, Massachusetts and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 43 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.

Bay Path also made our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list, coming in at #13. The yearly cost to attend Bay Path is $19,522 for Massachusetts Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Bay Path University Liberal Arts General Studies Report

#10

Salem State University

Salem, Massachusetts

Salem State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #10. Salem State is a medium-sized school located in Salem, Massachusetts that handed out 7 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Salem State, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Salem State University is $14,593 for Massachusetts Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Salem State

#11

Springfield College

Springfield, Massachusetts

Springfield College ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 14 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s liberal arts students in 2019-2020.

Springfield College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list. The estimated yearly cost for Springfield College is $19,586 for massachusetts bachelor’s degree liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.

Full Springfield College Liberal Arts General Studies Report

#12

Eastern Nazarene College

Quincy, Massachusetts

With a ranking of #12, Eastern Nazarene College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Quincy, Massachusetts, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 14 degrees to qualified bachelors’s liberal arts students in 2019-2020.

ENC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list. It costs about $16,616 for Massachusetts Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Eastern Nazarene College.

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.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at ENC

#13

Endicott College

Beverly, Massachusetts

Endicott College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This small school is located in Beverly, Massachusetts, and it awarded 47 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

Endicott also took the #6 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. It costs about $27,432 for Massachusetts Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Endicott College.

The low student loan default rate of 3.2% 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%.

Full Endicott College Liberal Arts General Studies Report

#14

American International College

Springfield, Massachusetts

American International College ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k list. AIC is located in Springfield, Massachusetts and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 13 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.

AIC also took the #10 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. It costs about $22,785 for massachusetts bachelor’s degree liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend American International College.

Full American International College Liberal Arts General Studies Report

#15

Curry College

Milton, Massachusetts

With a ranking of #15, Curry College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k list. Curry is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Milton, Massachusetts. It awarded 2 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

Curry also took the #16 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Curry College is $23,906 for Massachusetts Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Curry College

#16

Lesley University

Cambridge, Massachusetts

Lesley University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This small school is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and it awarded 75 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

Lesley also took the #9 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. It costs about $29,108 for Massachusetts Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Lesley.

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 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Lesley

#17

Regis College

Weston, Massachusetts

With a ranking of #17, Regis College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k list. Regis College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Weston, Massachusetts. It awarded 1 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

Regis College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list. The estimated yearly cost for Regis College is $23,281 for Massachusetts Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

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 General Studies Report

#18

Dean College

Franklin, Massachusetts

With a ranking of #18, Dean College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k list. Dean College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Franklin, Massachusetts. It awarded 5 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

Dean College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list. The estimated yearly cost for Dean College is $26,852 for Massachusetts Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Dean College

Switch to a Different Ranking Method

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.

Featured Liberal Arts Schools

Find Schools Near You