by our College Data Analytics TeamUniversity Of Massachusetts Amherst ranks #1 of 77 colleges in College Factual’s 2027 Best Associate’s Degree Colleges in the New England Region ranking, which scores schools on more than 20 measures of academic quality and student outcomes. The top 25 colleges average a 64% six-year graduation rate and $70,304 in median earnings five years after graduation.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
With all of the college options in the New England Region, it can be hard to know where to start. Our ranking highlights **77** colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
So you can compare your options, College Factual reviewed 77 colleges on more than 20 objective measures such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, and per-student spending, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
University Of Massachusetts Amherst leads the 77 ranked colleges in the New England Region, followed by University Of Connecticut (#2) and Fairfield University (#3). Explore the leading colleges below:
University Of Massachusetts Amherst tops our 2027 ranking of the best colleges in the New England Region. This public school is set in Amherst, MA. University Of Massachusetts Amherst graduates 83% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,772, compared with $40,449 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $53,666. University Of Massachusetts Amherst students take on a median of $25,195 in debt.
University Of Connecticut came in at #2 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in the New England Region. Set in Storrs, CT, University Of Connecticut is a public institution. University Of Connecticut posts a six-year graduation rate of 83%. In-state tuition and fees run about $21,044, with out-of-state students paying around $43,712. Graduates go on to earn a median of $58,784 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $23,637.
The strong outcomes at Fairfield University earned it the #3 place in the New England Region. Located in Fairfield, CT, Fairfield University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $58,400 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $66,305. Students borrow a median of $26,687 to complete a degree here.
A rank of #4 makes Wentworth Institute Of Technology one of the top colleges in the New England Region. Located in Boston, MA, Wentworth Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. About 68% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $42,884. Early-career graduates earn a median of $72,538. Typical student debt is $26,887.
A rank of #5 makes Roger Williams University one of the top colleges in the New England Region. This private not-for-profit school is set in Bristol, RI. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $45,197. Graduates go on to earn a median of $48,664 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $25,676 in student loans.
University Of New Hampshire Main Campus ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Based in Durham, NH, University Of New Hampshire Main Campus is a public institution. University Of New Hampshire Main Campus graduates 76% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $19,202 in tuition and fees, compared with $39,852 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $52,064 early in their careers. University Of New Hampshire Main Campus students take on a median of $26,368 in debt.
University Of Massachusetts Lowell ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Set in Lowell, MA, University Of Massachusetts Lowell is a public institution. University Of Massachusetts Lowell posts a six-year graduation rate of 65%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,966, compared with $36,264 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $66,985. Typical student debt is $25,574.
Sacred Heart University placed #8 among the best colleges in the New England Region. Set in Fairfield, CT, Sacred Heart University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 74% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $50,404 in tuition and fees. Sacred Heart University graduates report median early-career earnings of $62,864. Graduates carry a median of $25,831 in student loans.
Maine Maritime Academy ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. This public school is set in Castine, ME. The six-year graduation rate is 59%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,158, while out-of-state students pay about $31,102. Graduates go on to earn a median of $91,014 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete a degree here.
University Of New Haven came in at #10 in this year's ranking. University Of New Haven is a private not-for-profit school based in West Haven, CT. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $47,332. Early-career graduates earn a median of $49,615. University Of New Haven students take on a median of $26,244 in debt.
Regis College did well this year, earning the #11 position. Located in Weston, MA, Regis College is a private not-for-profit institution. About 71% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $49,680. Regis College graduates report median early-career earnings of $69,483. The median student debt is $27,441.
New England Institute Of Technology did well this year, earning the #12 position. Set in East Greenwich, RI, New England Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $37,275. Graduates go on to earn a median of $51,055 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $24,586 in student loans.
University Of Hartford did well this year, earning the #13 position. Based in West Hartford, CT, University Of Hartford is a private not-for-profit institution. University Of Hartford graduates 58% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $49,075. Early-career graduates earn a median of $51,123. Students borrow a median of $25,648 to complete a degree here.
Johnson And Wales University Providence did well this year, earning the #14 position. Set in Providence, RI, Johnson And Wales University Providence is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. Students from in state pay about $41,982 in tuition and fees. Johnson And Wales University Providence graduates report median early-career earnings of $45,920. Graduates carry a median of $26,350 in student loans.
Southern New Hampshire University ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Set in Manchester, NH, Southern New Hampshire University is a private not-for-profit institution. Southern New Hampshire University posts a six-year graduation rate of 44%. In-state tuition and fees run about $17,200. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $53,211. Graduates carry a median of $29,103 in student loans.
Laboure College placed #16 among the best colleges in the New England Region. This private not-for-profit school is set in Milton, MA. In-state tuition and fees average $30,468. Graduates go on to earn a median of $71,863 early in their careers. The median student debt is $29,128.
Vermont Technical College placed #17 among the best colleges in the New England Region. This public school is set in Randolph, VT. Roughly 44% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $11,952 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,296. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $41,822. Typical student debt is $24,208.
Charter Oak State College ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Based in New Britain, CT, Charter Oak State College is a public institution. Charter Oak State College graduates 100% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $8,506 in tuition and fees. Charter Oak State College graduates report median early-career earnings of $62,864. Students borrow a median of $23,584 to complete a degree here.
Middlesex Community College Bedford did well this year, earning the #19 position. Middlesex Community College Bedford is a public school based in Bedford, MA. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,098, compared with $12,170 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $48,427 early in their careers. Middlesex Community College Bedford students take on a median of $11,602 in debt.
Capital Community College placed #20 among the best colleges in the New England Region. Capital Community College is a public school based in New Britain, CT. In-state tuition and fees average $5,338, while out-of-state students pay about $15,596. Graduates go on to earn a median of $43,086 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $12,059.
Bunker Hill Community College landed the #21 spot in the New England Region this year. Set in Boston, MA, Bunker Hill Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,168, while out-of-state students pay about $11,112. Bunker Hill Community College graduates report median early-career earnings of $51,782. Students borrow a median of $11,893 to complete a degree here.
Granite State College ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. This public school is set in Manchester, NH. The six-year graduation rate is 23%. Students from in state pay about $7,724 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,284. Graduates go on to earn a median of $54,169 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,770 to complete a degree here.
North Shore Community College did well this year, earning the #23 position. Set in Danvers, MA, North Shore Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,352, compared with $10,920 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $51,255. Graduates carry a median of $14,145 in student loans.
Champlain College ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Champlain College is a private not-for-profit school based in Burlington, VT. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $47,850. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $58,490. Champlain College students take on a median of $27,631 in debt.
University Of Bridgeport placed #25 among the best colleges in the New England Region. This private not-for-profit school is set in Bridgeport, CT. University Of Bridgeport graduates 41% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $35,760. Early-career graduates earn a median of $56,368. Typical student debt is $28,601.
These 25 colleges rank #26 through #50 of 77 in the New England Region. These colleges rounded out the top of the list:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Rankings consider a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and per-student spending drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
References
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.