2027 Best Value Development Economics & International Development Schools in Massachusetts

[Development Economics & International Development](/majors/social-sciences/economics/development-economics-and-international-development/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 4 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value development economics & international development schools.
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2027 Best Value Development Economics & International Development Schools in Massachusetts
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the development economics & international development degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Development Economics & International Development Schools
For return on investment in development economics & international development, no school beat Williams College this year. Williams College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Williamstown. In-state tuition and fees average $68,560. Development Economics & International Development graduates carry a median of $12,925 in student loans. Development Economics & International Development graduates of Williams College earn a median of $80,888 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Williams College admits about 8% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Boston University earned it the #2 place for development economics & international development. Located in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,102. Students borrow a median of $24,500 to complete the development economics & international development program here. Early-career development economics & international development graduates make about $63,598. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Boston University admits about 11% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in development economics & international development will find it at Northeastern University, which ranked #3. 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. Development Economics & International Development graduates carry a median of $24,500 in student loans. Early-career development economics & international development graduates make about $70,531. That is a strong return on a $24,500 median debt. Northeastern University admits about 5% of applicants.
Brandeis University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value development economics & international development schools. Set in the city of Waltham, Brandeis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,080. Development Economics & International Development graduates carry a median of $25,295 in student loans. Development Economics & International Development graduates of Brandeis University earn a median of $63,244 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 40% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.