2026 Best Value Environmental Science Schools in Massachusetts

[Environmental Science](/majors/natural-resources-conservation/natural-resources-conservation/environmental-science/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong environmental science education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 31 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for environmental science students.
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2026 Best Value Environmental Science Schools in Massachusetts
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in environmental science, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Environmental Science Schools
Holyoke Community College tops our 2026 list of the best value environmental science schools in Massachusetts. Set in the rural area of Holyoke, Holyoke Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,988, with out-of-state students paying around $10,932. Students borrow a median of $9,763 to complete the environmental science program here. Soon after graduation, environmental science degree recipients from Holyoke Community College generally make around $43,423. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Worcester State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in environmental science, landing the #2 spot this year. 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. Typical student debt for environmental science graduates is $24,451. Environmental Science graduates of Worcester State University earn a median of $45,297 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Framingham State University earned it the #3 place for environmental science. Set in the city of Framingham, Framingham State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,920 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,000. Typical student debt for environmental science graduates is $25,872. Soon after graduation, environmental science degree recipients from Framingham State University generally make around $35,032. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Framingham State University admits about 84% of applicants.
University Of Massachusetts Boston came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value environmental science schools. Set in the city of Boston, University Of Massachusetts Boston is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,898, with out-of-state students paying around $38,115. Typical student debt for environmental science graduates is $21,386. Early-career environmental science graduates make about $41,547. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 84%.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Massachusetts Lowell one of the best values for environmental science. University Of Massachusetts Lowell is a very large public school located in the suburb of Lowell. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,966, compared with $36,264 for out-of-state students. Environmental Science graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career environmental science graduates make about $45,215. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 83%.
Westfield State University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value environmental science schools. Set in the suburb of Westfield, Westfield State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,179, compared with $18,259 for out-of-state students. Environmental Science graduates carry a median of $23,913 in student loans. Soon after graduation, environmental science degree recipients from Westfield State University generally make around $35,809. Set against $23,913 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Westfield State University admits about 81% of applicants.
University Of Massachusetts Amherst placed #7 among the best values for environmental science. University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public school located in the city of Amherst. In-state tuition and fees average $17,772, with out-of-state students paying around $40,449. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the environmental science program here. Early-career environmental science graduates make about $41,650. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
Boston University came in at #8 for value in environmental science this year. Set in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $68,102 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,232 to complete the environmental science program here. Environmental Science graduates of Boston University earn a median of $63,598 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,232 median debt. The acceptance rate is 11%.
Massachusetts Maritime Academy ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value environmental science schools. Set in the suburb of Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts Maritime Academy is a small public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,420, compared with $23,722 for out-of-state students. Environmental Science graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Early-career environmental science graduates make about $50,931. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
Clark University landed the #10 spot for environmental science value this year. Clark University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Worcester. In-state tuition and fees average $58,467. Environmental Science graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, environmental science degree recipients from Clark University generally make around $40,376. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 40% of applicants are accepted.
Suffolk University landed the #11 spot for environmental science value this year. Suffolk University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $47,550. Environmental Science graduates carry a median of $26,670 in student loans. Early-career environmental science graduates make about $57,261. Set against $26,670 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Suffolk University admits about 82% of applicants.
Northeastern University came in at #12 for value in environmental science this year. Northeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. Students from in state pay about $66,162 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for environmental science graduates is $23,430. Environmental Science graduates of Northeastern University earn a median of $51,137 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,430 median debt. Roughly 5% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 31 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.