2026 Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools in Massachusetts
Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their liberal arts / sciences & humanities programs.
College Factual analyzed 58 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools.
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Best Schools for Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities in Massachusetts
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall liberal arts / sciences & humanities education in Massachusetts.
Top Schools in Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities
Leading the list is Harvard University, our #1 school for liberal arts / sciences & humanities. Located in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 98% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 22 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at Harvard University in the most recent year. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Harvard University earn a median of $54,555 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,126 to complete this degree.
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A rank of #2 makes Merrimack College one of the top schools for liberal arts / sciences & humanities. Located in the suburb of North Andover, Merrimack College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. Merrimack College awarded about 34 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $50,506 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,913.
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A rank of #3 makes Worcester State University one of the top schools for liberal arts / sciences & humanities. Set in the city of Worcester, Worcester State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 27 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at Worcester State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $43,996 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,907 to complete this degree.
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A rank of #4 makes University Of Massachusetts Amherst one of the top schools for liberal arts / sciences & humanities. Set in the city of Amherst, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. There were roughly 67 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at University Of Massachusetts Amherst in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from University Of Massachusetts Amherst earn around $36,362 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Massachusetts Amherst graduates carry a median of $25,742 in student loans.
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Endicott College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in liberal arts / sciences & humanities, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Beverly, Endicott College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. Endicott College awarded about 33 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Endicott College generally make around $45,277. Typical student debt for the program is $15,456.
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Middlesex Community College Bedford earned the #6 position for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Located in the suburb of Bedford, Middlesex Community College Bedford is a large public university. There were roughly 219 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at Middlesex Community College Bedford in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Middlesex Community College Bedford generally make around $31,451. Middlesex Community College Bedford graduates carry a median of $7,928 in student loans.
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Framingham State University earned the #7 position for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Framingham State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Framingham. Roughly 48% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 24 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at Framingham State University in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Framingham State University earn a median of $31,613 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250.
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Westfield State University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Westfield. About 54% of students finish within six years. About 41 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at Westfield State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $35,004 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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North Shore Community College placed #9 among the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Set in the suburb of Danvers, North Shore Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. About 181 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at North Shore Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from North Shore Community College generally make around $33,353. Typical student debt for the program is $9,000.
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Bunker Hill Community College placed #10 among the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Set in the city of Boston, Bunker Hill Community College is a large public institution. About 113 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at Bunker Hill Community College in the most recent year. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Bunker Hill Community College earn a median of $38,564 early in their careers. Bunker Hill Community College graduates carry a median of $9,585 in student loans.
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Springfield Technical Community College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Springfield Technical Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Springfield. Springfield Technical Community College awarded about 143 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from Springfield Technical Community College earn around $30,413 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $8,734.
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Massachusetts Bay Community College placed #12 among the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Wellesley Hills. Massachusetts Bay Community College awarded about 84 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $37,790 in their early career. Massachusetts Bay Community College graduates carry a median of $8,750 in student loans.
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Bristol Community College landed the #13 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Located in the suburb of Fall River, Bristol Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Bristol Community College awarded about 421 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Bristol Community College earn a median of $31,206 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $8,250 to complete this degree.
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University Of Massachusetts Lowell placed #14 among the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Located in the suburb of Lowell, University Of Massachusetts Lowell is a very large public university. About 65% of students finish within six years. University Of Massachusetts Lowell awarded about 78 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $37,140 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth came in at #15 for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Set in the suburb of North Dartmouth, University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth is a moderately-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. There were roughly 10 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth earn a median of $54,669 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $30,875 to complete this degree.
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Northern Essex Community College landed the #16 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Located in the suburb of Haverhill, Northern Essex Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Northern Essex Community College awarded about 105 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from Northern Essex Community College earn around $31,549 in the first couple years of their career. Northern Essex Community College graduates carry a median of $9,969 in student loans.
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Massasoit Community College earned the #17 position for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Located in the suburb of Brockton, Massasoit Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Massasoit Community College awarded about 117 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from Massasoit Community College earn around $28,529 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $9,375.
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Quinsigamond Community College landed the #18 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Worcester. Quinsigamond Community College awarded about 89 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from Quinsigamond Community College earn around $33,524 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $14,250 to complete this degree.
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Lesley University earned the #19 position for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Cambridge. Lesley University graduates 58% of students within six years. There were roughly 52 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at Lesley University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Lesley University generally make around $35,658. Lesley University graduates carry a median of $30,057 in student loans.
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Roxbury Community College earned the #20 position for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Located in the city of Roxbury Crossing, Roxbury Community College is a mid-sized public university. There were roughly 16 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at Roxbury Community College in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Roxbury Community College earn a median of $46,124 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $11,665.
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Cape Cod Community College placed #21 among the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Set in the city of West Barnstable, Cape Cod Community College is a mid-sized public institution. There were roughly 84 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at Cape Cod Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from Cape Cod Community College earn around $23,563 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $6,749 to complete this degree.
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Mount Wachusett Community College landed the #22 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Located in the suburb of Gardner, Mount Wachusett Community College is a mid-sized public university. About 80 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at Mount Wachusett Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Mount Wachusett Community College generally make around $28,600. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete this degree.
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Holyoke Community College placed #23 among the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Holyoke Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Holyoke. About 124 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at Holyoke Community College in the most recent year. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Holyoke Community College earn a median of $25,779 early in their careers. Holyoke Community College graduates carry a median of $8,995 in student loans.
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Greenfield Community College came in at #24 for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Greenfield. About 89 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at Greenfield Community College in the most recent year. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Greenfield Community College earn a median of $58,356 early in their careers. Greenfield Community College graduates carry a median of $8,750 in student loans.
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Bard College At Simons Rock came in at #25 for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Bard College At Simons Rock is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Great Barrington. About 66 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at Bard College At Simons Rock in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Bard College At Simons Rock generally make around $13,221. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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Rest of the Top 29 Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s liberal arts / sciences & humanities ranking:
More Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 58 schools evaluated.
- 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.