2026 Best Value Higher Education/Higher Education Administration Schools in Massachusetts

[Higher Education/Higher Education Administration](/majors/education/educational-administration/higher-education-higher-education-administration/) 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 12 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for higher education/higher education administration students.
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2026 Best Value Higher Education/Higher Education Administration Schools in Massachusetts
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the higher education/higher education administration degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Higher Education/Higher Education Administration Schools
For return on investment in higher education/higher education administration, no school beat Bay Path College this year. Bay Path College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Longmeadow. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $38,302. Typical student debt for higher education/higher education administration graduates is $29,811. Soon after graduation, higher education/higher education administration degree recipients from Bay Path College generally make around $56,174. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 85%.
University Of Massachusetts Amherst came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value higher education/higher education administration schools. Located in the city of Amherst, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,772, with out-of-state students paying around $40,449. Typical student debt for higher education/higher education administration graduates is $25,234. Higher Education/higher Education Administration graduates of University Of Massachusetts Amherst earn a median of $53,543 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in higher education/higher education administration will find it at Regis College, which ranked #3. Located in the suburb of Weston, Regis College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $49,680 in tuition and fees. Higher Education/higher Education Administration graduates carry a median of $27,441 in student loans. Higher Education/higher Education Administration graduates of Regis College earn a median of $69,483 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in higher education/higher education administration will find it at Merrimack College, which ranked #4. Set in the suburb of North Andover, Merrimack College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $53,962 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for higher education/higher education administration graduates is $26,913. Soon after graduation, higher education/higher education administration degree recipients from Merrimack College generally make around $46,921. That is a strong return on a $26,913 median debt. Merrimack College admits about 70% of applicants.
Boston College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in higher education/higher education administration, landing the #5 spot this year. Boston College is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chestnut Hill. Students from in state pay about $70,702 in tuition and fees. Higher Education/higher Education Administration graduates carry a median of $18,101 in student loans. Higher Education/higher Education Administration graduates of Boston College earn a median of $95,402 early in their careers. Set against $18,101 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Boston College admits about 16% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.