2027 Best Value Value Schools in Massachusetts

[Value](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/data-science/general/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong value education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 7 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value value schools.
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2027 Best Value Value Schools in Massachusetts
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the value degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Value Schools
For return on investment in value, no school beat Harvard University this year. Located in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $61,676. Value graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Harvard University generally make around $95,207. That is a strong return on a $16,616 median debt. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Massachusetts Amherst one of the best values for value. 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, compared with $40,449 for out-of-state students. Value graduates carry a median of $25,195 in student loans. Value graduates of University Of Massachusetts Amherst earn a median of $53,666 early in their careers. Set against $25,195 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Boston University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value value schools. Located in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,102. Value graduates carry a median of $25,232 in student loans. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Boston University generally make around $63,598. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 11%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Mount Holyoke College earned it the #4 place for value. Set in the suburb of South Hadley, Mount Holyoke College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $67,018 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $22,041 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Mount Holyoke College generally make around $35,038. That is a strong return on a $22,041 median debt. Mount Holyoke College admits about 36% of applicants.
Smith College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in value, landing the #5 spot this year. Smith College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Northampton. Students from in state pay about $65,178 in tuition and fees. Value graduates carry a median of $18,941 in student loans. Early-career value graduates make about $40,436. Set against $18,941 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 21% of applicants are accepted.
Tufts University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value value schools. Set in the suburb of Medford, Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $70,704. Value graduates carry a median of $17,074 in student loans. Early-career value graduates make about $68,154. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 12%.
Worcester Polytechnic Institute ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value value schools. Set in the city of Worcester, Worcester Polytechnic Institute is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $60,765. Students borrow a median of $26,259 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $91,834. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 7 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.