Best colleges for education in Massachusetts

    Salem State University-Massachusetts ranks first in Massachusetts for education value (#57 nationally, value score 73.5): graduates earn $56,509 4 years after the bachelor's degree, and the average net price is $12,921 a year.

    Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition · Source: College Scorecard field of study, reporting year 2025 · 14 Massachusetts colleges ranked · Updated November 4, 2026

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    Best education colleges in Massachusetts

    Salem State University-Massachusetts ranks first in Massachusetts for education value (#57 nationally, value score 73.5): graduates earn $56,509 4 years after the bachelor's degree, and the average net price is $12,921 a year. 14 Massachusetts colleges qualify. At the median one, education graduates earn $54,218 and the average net price is $23,888 a year.

    Source: U.S. College Scorecard field of study, 2025

    What the data shows

    Key findings

    • 14 Massachusetts colleges qualify. At the median one, education graduates earn $54,218 and the average net price is $23,888 a year.
    • The highest education earnings in the state are at Boston College ($61,719), ranked #2 in the state once cost, debt and graduation rate count.
    Median earnings
    $54,218
    National: $48,822
    Median net price
    $23,888
    National: $17,201
    Median federal debt
    $21,589
    education graduates
    Public colleges
    6 of 14
    in this list

    14 colleges

    The Massachusetts ranking

    Ordered by the national value score; the national rank is shown with each college. Earnings are medians 4 years after the bachelor's degree.

    1. Rank in Massachusetts 1

      Salem State University-Massachusetts

      Salem, MA · Public · #57 nationally

      73.5Value
      Earnings
      $56,509
      Net price
      $12,921
      Federal debt
      $20,603
      Graduation rate
      49%
    2. Rank in Massachusetts 2

      Boston College

      Chestnut Hill, MA · Private nonprofit · #78 nationally

      70.9Value
      Earnings
      $61,719
      Net price
      $38,930
      Federal debt
      $19,000
      Graduation rate
      90%
    3. Rank in Massachusetts 3

      Worcester State University

      Worcester, MA · Public · #98 nationally

      68.4Value
      Earnings
      $52,337
      Net price
      $13,866
      Federal debt
      $20,218
      Graduation rate
      57%
    4. Rank in Massachusetts 4

      Bridgewater State University

      Bridgewater, MA · Public · #126 nationally

      63.9Value
      Earnings
      $58,255
      Net price
      $18,061
      Federal debt
      $25,176
      Graduation rate
      52%
    5. Rank in Massachusetts 5

      Assumption University

      Worcester, MA · Private nonprofit · #128 nationally

      63.4Value
      Earnings
      $61,136
      Net price
      $28,788
      Federal debt
      $27,000
      Graduation rate
      73%
    6. Rank in Massachusetts 6

      Boston University

      Boston, MA · Private nonprofit · #136 nationally

      62.5Value
      Earnings
      $56,556
      Net price
      $36,503
      Federal debt
      Not reported
      Graduation rate
      90%
    7. Rank in Massachusetts 7

      University of Massachusetts-Boston

      Boston, MA · Public · #158 nationally

      60.4Value
      Earnings
      $56,460
      Net price
      $22,548
      Federal debt
      $21,589
      Graduation rate
      51%
    8. Rank in Massachusetts 8

      Westfield State University

      Westfield, MA · Public · #190 nationally

      56.4Value
      Earnings
      $51,049
      Net price
      $16,484
      Federal debt
      $20,950
      Graduation rate
      49%
    9. Rank in Massachusetts 9

      Emmanuel College-Massachusetts

      Boston, MA · Private nonprofit · #212 nationally

      54.1Value
      Earnings
      $55,866
      Net price
      $27,196
      Federal debt
      $27,000
      Graduation rate
      64%
    10. Rank in Massachusetts 10

      Fitchburg State University

      Fitchburg, MA · Public · #261 nationally

      49.5Value
      Earnings
      $46,696
      Net price
      $13,803
      Federal debt
      $20,500
      Graduation rate
      53%
    11. Rank in Massachusetts 11

      Lesley University

      Cambridge, MA · Private nonprofit · #285 nationally

      47.0Value
      Earnings
      $52,570
      Net price
      $31,777
      Federal debt
      $20,500
      Graduation rate
      42%
    12. Rank in Massachusetts 12

      Bay Path University

      Longmeadow, MA · Private nonprofit · #333 nationally

      42.7Value
      Earnings
      $47,941
      Net price
      $16,390
      Federal debt
      $22,500
      Graduation rate
      42%
    13. Rank in Massachusetts 13

      Stonehill College

      Easton, MA · Private nonprofit · #340 nationally

      42.1Value
      Earnings
      $49,884
      Net price
      $36,082
      Federal debt
      $26,000
      Graduation rate
      74%
    14. Rank in Massachusetts 14

      Gordon College

      Wenham, MA · Private nonprofit · #342 nationally

      41.8Value
      Earnings
      $48,928
      Net price
      $25,227
      Federal debt
      $25,250
      Graduation rate
      71%

    Method: the same value score as the national education ranking (earnings, debt relative to earnings, average net price and graduation rate, each a national percentile). Data: College Scorecard, reporting year 2025; 2026–27 edition, verified Nov 2026.

    Questions about education colleges in Massachusetts

    What are the best colleges for education in Massachusetts?

    By CollegesRef value score, the top 3 Massachusetts colleges for education are Salem State University-Massachusetts (value score 73.5), Boston College (value score 70.9) and Worcester State University (value score 68.4). The score weighs graduate earnings, debt relative to earnings, average net price and graduation rate.

    Which Massachusetts college has the highest earnings for education graduates?

    Boston College: its education graduates have median earnings of $61,719 4 years after the bachelor's degree.

    What is the most affordable education college in Massachusetts on this list?

    Salem State University-Massachusetts has the lowest average net price of the ranked Massachusetts colleges, $12,921 a year after grants. A family's own price depends on income and aid.

    How many Massachusetts colleges are ranked for education?

    14 Massachusetts colleges have a education bachelor's program with enough graduates and reported earnings, plus a published net price and graduation rate. Ranks shown are national; the state rank is their order within Massachusetts.