Ranking

Cheapest Colleges in Massachusetts 2026

Middlesex Community College leads this list with an average net price of $2,624 per year. EduGradify shows 25 colleges here after checking federal net-price and earnings data.

The lowest-net-price colleges in Massachusetts that report federal earnings.

Schools ranked: 25
Cheapest net price: $2,624
Top earnings 10y: $60,624
Public / Private: 23 / 2

Middlesex Community College

A+

Bedford, MA · Public

Net price/yr: $2,624
Net price: $2,624
Earnings 10y: $50,651
Acceptance: Open / not reported

Bristol Community College

A+

Fall River, MA · Public

Net price/yr: $5,547
Net price: $5,547
Earnings 10y: $38,663
Acceptance: Open / not reported

Springfield Technical Community College

A+

Springfield, MA · Public

Net price/yr: $5,662
Net price: $5,662
Earnings 10y: $36,966
Acceptance: Open / not reported

Northern Essex Community College

A+

Haverhill, MA · Public

Net price/yr: $6,046
Net price: $6,046
Earnings 10y: $42,862
Acceptance: Open / not reported

Urban College of Boston

Boston, MA · Private Non-Profit

Net price/yr: $6,957
Net price: $6,957
Earnings 10y: $35,472
Acceptance: Open / not reported

Massachusetts Bay Community College

A+

Wellesley Hills, MA · Public

Net price/yr: $7,169
Net price: $7,169
Earnings 10y: $52,654
Acceptance: Open / not reported

Greenfield Community College

Greenfield, MA · Public

Net price/yr: $7,679
Net price: $7,679
Earnings 10y: $37,132
Acceptance: Open / not reported

Bunker Hill Community College

Boston, MA · Public

Net price/yr: $7,818
Net price: $7,818
Earnings 10y: $47,618
Acceptance: Open / not reported

Mount Wachusett Community College

Gardner, MA · Public

Net price/yr: $7,931
Net price: $7,931
Earnings 10y: $41,118
Acceptance: Open / not reported

#10

Holyoke Community College

Holyoke, MA · Public

Net price/yr: $8,068
Net price: $8,068
Earnings 10y: $37,277
Acceptance: Open / not reported

#11

Cape Cod Community College

West Barnstable, MA · Public

Net price/yr: $8,296
Net price: $8,296
Earnings 10y: $43,670
Acceptance: Open / not reported

#12

Massasoit Community College

Brockton, MA · Public

Net price/yr: $8,460
Net price: $8,460
Earnings 10y: $46,111
Acceptance: Open / not reported

#13

North Shore Community College

Danvers, MA · Public

Net price/yr: $9,000
Net price: $9,000
Earnings 10y: $45,391
Acceptance: Open / not reported

#14

Quinsigamond Community College

Worcester, MA · Public

Net price/yr: $9,090
Net price: $9,090
Earnings 10y: $45,949
Acceptance: Open / not reported

#15

Berkshire Community College

Pittsfield, MA · Public

Net price/yr: $9,921
Net price: $9,921
Earnings 10y: $38,832
Acceptance: Open / not reported

#16

Roxbury Community College

Roxbury Crossing, MA · Public

Net price/yr: $12,244
Net price: $12,244
Earnings 10y: $38,773
Acceptance: Open / not reported

#17

Worcester State University

Worcester, MA · Public

Net price/yr: $13,381
Net price: $13,381
Earnings 10y: $60,624
Acceptance: 88%

#18

Fitchburg State University

Fitchburg, MA · Public

Net price/yr: $14,262
Net price: $14,262
Earnings 10y: $53,874
Acceptance: 86.9%

#19

Bay Path University

Longmeadow, MA · Private Non-Profit

Net price/yr: $14,271
Net price: $14,271
Earnings 10y: $55,383
Acceptance: 85.2%

#20

Salem State University

Salem, MA · Public

Net price/yr: $15,996
Net price: $15,996
Earnings 10y: $56,662
Acceptance: 95.9%

#21

Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts

North Adams, MA · Public

Net price/yr: $16,068
Net price: $16,068
Earnings 10y: $48,102
Acceptance: 89.7%

#22

Framingham State University

Framingham, MA · Public

Net price/yr: $16,114
Net price: $16,114
Earnings 10y: $52,349
Acceptance: 83.6%

#23

Bridgewater State University

Bridgewater, MA · Public

Net price/yr: $16,383
Net price: $16,383
Earnings 10y: $57,466
Acceptance: 87.8%

#24

Westfield State University

Westfield, MA · Public

Net price/yr: $16,721
Net price: $16,721
Earnings 10y: $57,346
Acceptance: 81.4%

#25

Quincy College

Quincy, MA · Public

Net price/yr: $17,126
Net price: $17,126
Earnings 10y: $52,506
Acceptance: Open / not reported

How we picked this list

This list starts with Massachusetts colleges, removes schools without usable net-price data, then sorts from lowest average net price upward. The set's average EduGradify ROI score is 13.29 (23 public, 2 private).

Source transparency: every figure comes from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard public data set. See our full methodology for the ROI formula, value grade rules and missing-data handling.

FAQ

Who leads this ranking?

Middlesex Community College in Bedford, MA tops this ranking. Average net price is $2,624 per year.

How does EduGradify pick this list?

We rank this set by net price/yr using the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard — see our methodology for the full formula. No paid placements, no surveys.

How many Massachusetts colleges are in this list?

82 Massachusetts colleges qualified for this ranking based on available federal data.

What does net price mean here?

Net price is what students actually pay after grants and scholarships — not the sticker price. It is reported by each college to the U.S. Department of Education.

Can I use this ranking as a final college decision?

Use it as a shortlist, not a final decision. The ranking compares school-wide federal data; you should still confirm program fit, aid letters, graduation path, transfer policies and current costs with each college.