College Costs in Massachusetts

Massachusetts Colleges, Cost and Affordability for 2027

How much does it cost to attend college in Massachusetts?   The average annual in-state college tuition in Massachusetts was $35,137 for the 2024-2025 academic year. This is $17,327 higher than the U.S. average and ranks Massachusetts amongst the costliest as the 4th most expensive state or district to attend college. This is a change of $5,057 from the 2022-2023 average of $30,080 and represents a 16.81% annual increase in tuition costs. The list of Massachusetts colleges below provides school specific cost and value rating.

This analysis surveyed tuition data from the 92 colleges and universities in Massachusetts, the most popular being Boston University with 29,259 full time students and an in-state tuition list price of $68,102. Tufts University is the most expensive in Massachusetts with an in-state tuition of $70,704.

All price data are reprinted from the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS 2025 survey and reflect reported costs for academic year 2024/2025.

92 Results
Sort:
Massachusetts Public Private For-Profit 4 Year 2 Year

  • Private 4 Year
  • Northampton, MA
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • $65,178 tuition
  • Jan 15 application deadline

Smith is a highly selective private women's liberal arts college known for undergraduate engineering, government, and the arts. Students live on a historic campus in Northampton and can cross-register through the Five College Consortium.

#8 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts 9/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1420-1540
  • Avg GPA 4.0
  • Acceptance Rate 21%
  • Net Price $27,305

  • Private 4 Year
  • Springfield, MA
  • | 0 reviews
  • $45,174 tuition
  • Aug 1 application deadline

Springfield College is a private college known for undergraduate physical education, exercise science, and health sciences. Basketball was invented on its campus, and the school keeps a long focus on sport and human services.

#21 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1080-1330
  • Avg GPA 3.56
  • Acceptance Rate 72%
  • Net Price $30,039

  • Private 4 Year
  • Boston, MA
  • | 0 reviews
  • $48,550 tuition
  • Feb 15 application deadline

Emmanuel is a private Catholic college known for undergraduate nursing and the sciences. The Fenway campus shares classes and facilities with neighboring schools through a consortium.

#27 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1170-1340
  • Avg GPA 3.6
  • Acceptance Rate 76%
  • Net Price $31,121

  • Private 4 Year
  • Needham, MA
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • $66,398 tuition
  • Jan 1 application deadline

Olin is a highly selective private college devoted to undergraduate engineering, with a curriculum built around project-based design. The small residential campus is in suburban Needham near Boston.

10/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1493-1558
  • Avg GPA 3.9
  • Acceptance Rate 25%
  • Net Price $43,184

  • Private 4 Year
  • Springfield, MA
  • | 0 reviews
  • $47,820 tuition

Western New England is a private university known for undergraduate engineering, business, and pharmacy. The residential campus sits in Springfield in western Massachusetts.

#25 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1090-1300
  • Avg GPA 3.49
  • Acceptance Rate 83%
  • Net Price $27,056
American International College Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Springfield, MA
  • | 0 reviews
  • $44,230 tuition
  • Sep 7 application deadline

AIC is a private college known for undergraduate nursing, health sciences, and business. The urban campus sits in a residential section of Springfield.

#34 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts 0/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 940-1110
  • Avg GPA 2.91
  • Acceptance Rate 100%
  • Net Price $23,086

  • Private 4 Year
  • South Hadley, MA
  • | 0 reviews
  • $67,018 tuition
  • Jan 15 application deadline

Mount Holyoke is a private women's liberal arts college known for undergraduate sciences, international relations, and economics. The South Hadley campus is part of the Five College Consortium with Amherst, Smith, Hampshire, and UMass Amherst.

#11 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts 9/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1380-1530
  • Avg GPA 3.87
  • Acceptance Rate 36%
  • Net Price $32,526

  • Private 4 Year
  • Dudley, MA
  • | 0 reviews
  • $42,705 tuition

Nichols is a private college known for undergraduate business, management, and sport management. The residential campus sits in the small town of Dudley in south-central Massachusetts.

#33 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts
  • SAT Range 1028-1236
  • Avg GPA 2.9
  • Acceptance Rate 81%
  • Net Price $32,337

  • Private 4 Year
  • Worcester, MA
  • | 0 reviews
  • $64,500 tuition
  • Jan 15 application deadline

Holy Cross is a highly selective Jesuit liberal arts college known for undergraduate economics, political science, and history. The hilltop campus overlooks the city of Worcester.

#10 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts 9/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1240-1410
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 18%
  • Net Price $36,014

  • Public 2 Year
  • Wellesley Hills, MA
  • | 0 reviews
  • $5,856 tuition
  • Aug 30 application deadline

MassBay is a public community college known for undergraduate nursing, biotechnology, and health sciences. The suburban campus is in Wellesley Hills west of Boston.

  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 100%
  • Net Price $7,420

  • Private 4 Year
  • Norton, MA
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • $63,960 tuition
  • Feb 15 application deadline

Wheaton is a private liberal arts college known for its interdisciplinary Connections curriculum and frequent dual majors. Most undergrads live on the residential campus in the small town of Norton southeast of Boston.

#18 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1220-1390
  • Avg GPA 3.48
  • Acceptance Rate 68%
  • Net Price $30,701

  • Private 4 Year
  • Boston, MA
  • | 0 reviews
  • $35,689 tuition

Fisher is a private college known for undergraduate business, criminal justice, and hospitality management. The compact urban campus sits in Boston's Back Bay.

#31 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 800-1070
  • Avg GPA 2.72
  • Acceptance Rate 71%
  • Net Price $28,596

  • Private 4 Year
  • Boston, MA
  • | 0 reviews
  • $40,530 tuition

MCPHS is a private university known for undergraduate pharmacy, nursing, and health sciences. The urban campus sits in Boston's Longwood Medical Area.

#19 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1160-1416
  • Avg GPA 3.41
  • Acceptance Rate 85%
  • Net Price $41,506

  • Private 4 Year
  • Cambridge, MA
  • 2.5 | 2 reviews
  • $34,256 tuition

Lesley is a private university known for undergraduate education, psychology, and studio art. The urban Cambridge campus sits near Harvard Square.

0/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA 3.31
  • Acceptance Rate 97%
  • Net Price $32,587
Middlesex Community College Campus
 

  • Public 2 Year
  • Bedford, MA
  • | 0 reviews
  • $6,048 tuition

Middlesex Community College is a public community college known for undergraduate nursing and health sciences. The college operates suburban campuses in Bedford and Lowell northwest of Boston.

  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 100%
  • Net Price $2,430

  • Private 4 Year
  • Newton, MA
  • 4.8 | 18 reviews
  • $27,040 tuition

Lasell is a private university known for undergraduate fashion design, merchandising, and business. The suburban Newton campus sits just outside Boston.

#32 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1030-1158
  • Avg GPA 3.12
  • Acceptance Rate 81%
  • Net Price $27,773
Regis College Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Weston, MA
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • $49,680 tuition

Regis College is a private Catholic college known for undergraduate nursing and health sciences. The suburban campus is located in Weston, west of Boston.

0/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA 3.38
  • Acceptance Rate 70%
  • Net Price $28,575

  • Private 4 Year
  • Wenham, MA
  • | 0 reviews
  • $30,700 tuition
  • Feb 1 application deadline

Gordon is a private Christian liberal arts college known for undergraduate music, education, and psychology. Most students live on a wooded residential campus in the small North Shore town of Wenham.

#23 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1130-1355
  • Avg GPA 3.58
  • Acceptance Rate 69%
  • Net Price $25,299