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2026 Best Value Value Schools in Massachusetts

[Value](/majors/engineering/general-engineering/applied-engineering/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong value education at a price that pays off.

For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 2 schools to find the best return on investment for value students.

What’s on this page:

• Best Value Value Schools in Massachusetts

2026 Best Value Value Schools in Massachusetts

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in value, balancing cost against outcomes.

Best Value Value Schools

1

University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth
North Dartmouth, MA

$15,612 In-State Tuition & Fees

$27,106 Avg Student Debt

$68,804 Median Earnings (10yr)

University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth earned the #1 spot for value among value schools in Massachusetts. Located in the suburb of North Dartmouth, University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $15,612 in tuition and fees, compared with $32,567 for out-of-state students. Value graduates carry a median of $27,106 in student loans. Early-career value graduates make about $54,669. Set against $27,106 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 91%.

2

Massachusetts Maritime Academy
Buzzards Bay, MA

$11,420 In-State Tuition & Fees

$25,884 Avg Student Debt

$82,392 Median Earnings (10yr)

A rank of #2 makes Massachusetts Maritime Academy one of the best values for value. Set in the suburb of Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts Maritime Academy is a small public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,420 in tuition and fees, compared with $23,722 for out-of-state students. Value graduates carry a median of $25,884 in student loans. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Massachusetts Maritime Academy generally make around $77,139. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Massachusetts Maritime Academy admits about 95% 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 · 2 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.