2026 Best Value History Schools in Massachusetts

1

Williams College
Williamstown, MA

For return on investment in history, no school beat Williams College this year. Set in the town of Williamstown, Williams College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $68,560 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for history graduates is $12,615. History graduates of Williams College earn a median of $53,652 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Williams College admits about 8% of applicants.

2

Harvard University
Cambridge, MA

Students looking for strong value in history will find it at Harvard University, which ranked #2. Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. Students from in state pay about $61,676 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for history graduates is $12,721. History graduates of Harvard University earn a median of $53,468 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,721 median debt. The acceptance rate is 4%.

3

Amherst College
Amherst, MA

Amherst College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value history schools. Set in the city of Amherst, Amherst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $70,480. Typical student debt for history graduates is $15,398. History graduates of Amherst College earn a median of $56,444 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,398 median debt. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.

4

Worcester State University
Worcester, MA

Worcester State University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value history schools. Located in the city of Worcester, Worcester State University is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,786, with out-of-state students paying around $17,866. Students borrow a median of $24,610 to complete the history program here. History graduates of Worcester State University earn a median of $38,028 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,610 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.

5

Framingham State University
Framingham, MA

Students looking for strong value in history will find it at Framingham State University, which ranked #5. Framingham State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Framingham. In-state tuition and fees average $11,920, compared with $18,000 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the history program here. History graduates of Framingham State University earn a median of $34,836 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Framingham State University admits about 84% of applicants.

6

Bridgewater State University
Bridgewater, MA

Bridgewater State University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value history schools. Set in the suburb of Bridgewater, Bridgewater State University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,734, compared with $17,874 for out-of-state students. History graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. History graduates of Bridgewater State University earn a median of $34,215 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.

7

University Of Massachusetts Boston
Boston, MA

University Of Massachusetts Boston ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value history schools. University Of Massachusetts Boston is a large public school located in the city of Boston. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,898, while out-of-state students pay about $38,115. Students borrow a median of $24,862 to complete the history program here. Early-career history graduates make about $46,908. Set against $24,862 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 84%.

8

Salem State University
Salem, MA

Salem State University earned the #8 position for value in history this year. Salem State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Salem. Students from in state pay about $12,338 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,531 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for history graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Salem State University generally make around $29,307. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Salem State University admits about 96% of applicants.

9

University Of Massachusetts Lowell
Lowell, MA

University Of Massachusetts Lowell landed the #9 spot for history value this year. Located in the suburb of Lowell, University Of Massachusetts Lowell is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $16,966 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $36,264. History graduates carry a median of $24,250 in student loans. Early-career history graduates make about $27,586. That is a strong return on a $24,250 median debt. The acceptance rate is 83%.

10

Westfield State University
Westfield, MA

Westfield State University came in at #10 for value in history this year. Westfield State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Westfield. Students from in state pay about $12,179 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,259. Typical student debt for history graduates is $25,000. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Westfield State University generally make around $24,879. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 81%.

11

University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth
North Dartmouth, MA

University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth placed #11 among the best values for history. Located in the suburb of North Dartmouth, University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,612, while out-of-state students pay about $32,567. Typical student debt for history graduates is $25,000. Early-career history graduates make about $30,581. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.

12

University Of Massachusetts Amherst
Amherst, MA

University Of Massachusetts Amherst landed the #12 spot for history value this year. University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public school located in the city of Amherst. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,772, compared with $40,449 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for history graduates is $22,750. History graduates of University Of Massachusetts Amherst earn a median of $26,805 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.

13

Gordon College
Wenham, MA

Gordon College placed #13 among the best values for history. Located in the rural area of Wenham, Gordon College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $30,700. Typical student debt for history graduates is $26,372. History graduates of Gordon College earn a median of $37,097 early in their careers. Set against $26,372 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.

14

Smith College
Northampton, MA

Smith College came in at #14 for value in history this year. Smith College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Northampton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,178. Typical student debt for history graduates is $19,000. History graduates of Smith College earn a median of $26,131 early in their careers. Set against $19,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 21%.

15

Boston University
Boston, MA

Boston University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value history schools. Set in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,102. History graduates carry a median of $26,500 in student loans. Early-career history graduates make about $63,598. That is a strong return on a $26,500 median debt. Boston University admits about 11% of applicants.

16

Simmons College
Boston, MA

Simmons College placed #16 among the best values for history. Set in the city of Boston, Simmons College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $46,874. Students borrow a median of $26,740 to complete the history program here. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Simmons College generally make around $41,619. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Simmons College admits about 70% of applicants.

17

Clark University
Worcester, MA

Clark University placed #17 among the best values for history. Located in the city of Worcester, Clark University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $58,467. Typical student debt for history graduates is $27,000. Early-career history graduates make about $43,257. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 40% of applicants are accepted.

18

Assumption College
Worcester, MA

Assumption College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value history schools. Assumption College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Worcester. In-state tuition and fees average $51,356. History graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. History graduates of Assumption College earn a median of $50,914 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Assumption College admits about 83% of applicants.

19

Springfield College
Springfield, MA

Springfield College placed #19 among the best values for history. Springfield College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Springfield. Students from in state pay about $44,974 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,151 to complete the history program here. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Springfield College generally make around $49,880. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 72%.

20

Mount Holyoke College
South Hadley, MA

Mount Holyoke College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value history schools. Mount Holyoke College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of South Hadley. In-state tuition and fees average $67,018. History graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. History graduates of Mount Holyoke College earn a median of $23,337 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,250 median debt. The acceptance rate is 36%.

21

Suffolk University
Boston, MA

Suffolk University came in at #21 for value in history this year. Located in the city of Boston, Suffolk University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $47,550 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,670 to complete the history program here. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Suffolk University generally make around $57,261. Set against $26,670 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 82%.

22

Wheaton College Massachusetts
Norton, MA

Wheaton College Massachusetts placed #22 among the best values for history. Located in the suburb of Norton, Wheaton College Massachusetts is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $63,960 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,990 to complete the history program here. Early-career history graduates make about $32,896. Set against $25,990 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 68%.

23

Northeastern University
Boston, MA

Northeastern University landed the #23 spot for history value this year. Northeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $66,162. Typical student debt for history graduates is $24,250. Early-career history graduates make about $74,800. That is a strong return on a $24,250 median debt. Roughly 5% of applicants are accepted.

24

Brandeis University
Waltham, MA

Brandeis University landed the #24 spot for history value this year. Set in the city of Waltham, Brandeis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $68,080 in tuition and fees. History graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Brandeis University generally make around $33,903. That is a strong return on a $23,250 median debt. Roughly 40% of applicants are accepted.

25

Tufts University
Medford, MA

Tufts University earned the #25 position for value in history this year. Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Medford. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $70,704. Typical student debt for history graduates is $15,750. Early-career history graduates make about $41,447. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 12%.