2026 Best Value General Business/Commerce Schools in Massachusetts

[General Business/Commerce](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/general-business-commerce/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 27 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for general business/commerce students.
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2026 Best Value General Business/Commerce Schools in Massachusetts
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general business/commerce, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value General Business/Commerce Schools
Our analysis ranked Northern Essex Community College the best value for a degree in general business/commerce in Massachusetts. Northern Essex Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Haverhill. Students from in state pay about $6,732 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,516. Students borrow a median of $10,400 to complete the general business/commerce program here. General Business/commerce graduates of Northern Essex Community College earn a median of $44,682 early in their careers. Set against $10,400 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Quinsigamond Community College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value general business/commerce schools. Quinsigamond Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Worcester. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,262, while out-of-state students pay about $11,206. General Business/commerce graduates carry a median of $18,490 in student loans. Early-career general business/commerce graduates make about $42,618. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Greenfield Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general business/commerce, landing the #3 spot this year. Greenfield Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Greenfield. Students from in state pay about $5,810 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,930 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,269 to complete the general business/commerce program here. Early-career general business/commerce graduates make about $58,356. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in general business/commerce will find it at Springfield Technical Community College, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Springfield, Springfield Technical Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,904, compared with $11,112 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $7,200 to complete the general business/commerce program here. Early-career general business/commerce graduates make about $19,969. That is a strong return on a $7,200 median debt.
Mount Wachusett Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general business/commerce, landing the #5 spot this year. Mount Wachusett Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Gardner. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,160, with out-of-state students paying around $11,080. Typical student debt for general business/commerce graduates is $9,250. General Business/commerce graduates of Mount Wachusett Community College earn a median of $42,825 early in their careers. Set against $9,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Harvard University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value general business/commerce schools. Located in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $61,676 in tuition and fees. General Business/commerce graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general business/commerce degree recipients from Harvard University generally make around $95,207. That is a strong return on a $16,616 median debt. Harvard University admits about 4% of applicants.
Westfield State University placed #7 among the best values for general business/commerce. Westfield State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Westfield. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,179, while out-of-state students pay about $18,259. General Business/commerce graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general business/commerce degree recipients from Westfield State University generally make around $41,862. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Westfield State University admits about 81% of applicants.
University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value general business/commerce schools. University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of North Dartmouth. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,612, compared with $32,567 for out-of-state students. General Business/commerce graduates carry a median of $24,973 in student loans. General Business/commerce graduates of University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth earn a median of $59,287 early in their careers. Set against $24,973 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Nichols College earned the #9 position for value in general business/commerce this year. Nichols College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Dudley. In-state tuition and fees average $42,705. General Business/commerce graduates carry a median of $25,356 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general business/commerce degree recipients from Nichols College generally make around $44,801. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Nichols College admits about 81% of applicants.
Western New England University landed the #10 spot for general business/commerce value this year. Located in the city of Springfield, Western New England University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $47,820. Typical student debt for general business/commerce graduates is $25,520. Soon after graduation, general business/commerce degree recipients from Western New England University generally make around $70,597. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Northeastern University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value general business/commerce schools. Set in the city of Boston, Northeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $66,162. Typical student debt for general business/commerce graduates is $24,000. Soon after graduation, general business/commerce degree recipients from Northeastern University generally make around $95,394. Set against $24,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 5% of applicants are accepted.
Brandeis University landed the #12 spot for general business/commerce value this year. 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. General Business/commerce graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general business/commerce degree recipients from Brandeis University generally make around $55,806. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 40% of applicants are accepted.
Worcester Polytechnic Institute placed #13 among the best values for general business/commerce. Worcester Polytechnic Institute is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Worcester. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $60,765. Students borrow a median of $26,259 to complete the general business/commerce program here. Soon after graduation, general business/commerce degree recipients from Worcester Polytechnic Institute generally make around $91,834. That is a strong return on a $26,259 median debt. Worcester Polytechnic Institute admits about 60% of applicants.
Emerson College earned the #14 position for value in general business/commerce this year. Located in the city of Boston, Emerson College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $57,056. General Business/commerce graduates carry a median of $24,813 in student loans. Early-career general business/commerce graduates make about $40,654. Set against $24,813 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Emerson College admits about 51% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 27 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 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.