by our College Data Analytics Team
[Psychology](/majors/psychology/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong psychology education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 60 schools to find the best return on investment for psychology students.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the psychology degrees they offer, see the list below.
Bunker Hill Community College tops our 2026 list of the best value psychology schools in Massachusetts. Located in the city of Boston, Bunker Hill Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,168 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,112. Students borrow a median of $9,500 to complete the psychology program here. Early-career psychology graduates make about $37,256. Set against $9,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #2 makes Harvard University one of the best values for psychology. Set in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $61,676 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete the psychology program here. Psychology graduates of Harvard University earn a median of $41,501 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Harvard University admits about 4% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes Williams College one of the best values for psychology. Located in the town of Williamstown, Williams College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,560. Students borrow a median of $13,416 to complete the psychology program here. Soon after graduation, psychology degree recipients from Williams College generally make around $53,652. That is a strong return on a $13,416 median debt. The acceptance rate is 8%.
A rank of #4 makes Worcester State University one of the best values for psychology. Located in the city of Worcester, Worcester State University is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,786, compared with $17,866 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,394 to complete the psychology program here. Psychology graduates of Worcester State University earn a median of $38,169 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,394 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Massasoit Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in psychology, landing the #5 spot this year. Massasoit Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Brockton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,376, compared with $10,320 for out-of-state students. Psychology graduates carry a median of $10,833 in student loans. Psychology graduates of Massasoit Community College earn a median of $42,938 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
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Bay Path College earned the #6 position for value in psychology this year. Bay Path College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Longmeadow. Students from in state pay about $38,302 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for psychology graduates is $29,399. Soon after graduation, psychology degree recipients from Bay Path College generally make around $61,775. Set against $29,399 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Bay Path College admits about 85% of applicants.
Quinsigamond Community College placed #7 among the best values for psychology. Set in the city of Worcester, Quinsigamond Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,262, compared with $11,206 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,596 to complete the psychology program here. Psychology graduates of Quinsigamond Community College earn a median of $46,631 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,596 median debt.
Amherst College placed #8 among the best values for psychology. 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 psychology graduates is $10,800. Early-career psychology graduates make about $45,786. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Amherst College admits about 9% of applicants.
Holyoke Community College came in at #9 for value in psychology this year. Holyoke Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Holyoke. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,988, with out-of-state students paying around $10,932. Students borrow a median of $9,763 to complete the psychology program here. Early-career psychology graduates make about $43,423. That is a strong return on a $9,763 median debt.
Framingham State University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value psychology schools. Located in the city of Framingham, Framingham State University is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,920, compared with $18,000 for out-of-state students. Psychology graduates carry a median of $26,810 in student loans. Psychology graduates of Framingham State University earn a median of $55,732 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Fitchburg State University came in at #11 for value in psychology this year. Fitchburg State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Fitchburg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,346, while out-of-state students pay about $17,426. Typical student debt for psychology graduates is $26,125. Psychology graduates of Fitchburg State University earn a median of $37,545 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Fitchburg State University admits about 87% of applicants.
Bridgewater State University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value psychology 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, with out-of-state students paying around $17,874. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the psychology program here. Soon after graduation, psychology degree recipients from Bridgewater State University generally make around $35,718. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Bridgewater State University admits about 88% of applicants.
University Of Massachusetts Boston came in at #13 for value in psychology this year. Located in the city of Boston, University Of Massachusetts Boston is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $15,898 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $38,115. Psychology graduates carry a median of $26,004 in student loans. Psychology graduates of University Of Massachusetts Boston earn a median of $57,956 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,004 median debt. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Salem State University earned the #14 position for value in psychology this year. Set in the suburb of Salem, Salem State University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,338, while out-of-state students pay about $19,531. Typical student debt for psychology graduates is $26,435. Psychology graduates of Salem State University earn a median of $56,550 early in their careers. Set against $26,435 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Salem State University admits about 96% of applicants.
Cape Cod Community College came in at #15 for value in psychology this year. Located in the city of West Barnstable, Cape Cod Community College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $6,000 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,944. Students borrow a median of $14,669 to complete the psychology program here. Early-career psychology graduates make about $47,939. Set against $14,669 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Massachusetts Lowell ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value psychology schools. Set in the suburb of Lowell, University Of Massachusetts Lowell is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,966, compared with $36,264 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for psychology graduates is $25,925. Soon after graduation, psychology degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Lowell generally make around $52,068. That is a strong return on a $25,925 median debt. The acceptance rate is 83%.
Westfield State University earned the #17 position for value in psychology this year. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $18,259. Psychology graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, psychology degree recipients from Westfield State University generally make around $54,361. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Westfield State University admits about 81% of applicants.
University Of Massachusetts Amherst came in at #18 for value in psychology this year. 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, compared with $40,449 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the psychology program here. Early-career psychology graduates make about $32,223. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 60%.
University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth earned the #19 position for value in psychology this year. University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of North Dartmouth. In-state tuition and fees average $15,612, with out-of-state students paying around $32,567. Typical student debt for psychology graduates is $27,000. Psychology graduates of University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth earn a median of $49,747 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Massachusetts College Of Liberal Arts placed #20 among the best values for psychology. Massachusetts College Of Liberal Arts is a small public school located in the town of North Adams. Students from in state pay about $12,436 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $21,381. Typical student debt for psychology graduates is $25,824. Soon after graduation, psychology degree recipients from Massachusetts College Of Liberal Arts generally make around $32,855. Set against $25,824 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Wellesley College earned the #21 position for value in psychology this year. Located in the suburb of Wellesley, Wellesley College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,176. Psychology graduates carry a median of $12,500 in student loans. Early-career psychology graduates make about $36,283. Set against $12,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 14% of applicants are accepted.
Gordon College came in at #22 for value in psychology this year. Located in the rural area of Wenham, Gordon College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $30,700 in tuition and fees. Psychology graduates carry a median of $25,623 in student loans. Early-career psychology graduates make about $37,097. That is a strong return on a $25,623 median debt. The acceptance rate is 69%.
Boston University landed the #23 spot for psychology value this year. Located in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,102. Typical student debt for psychology graduates is $26,997. Soon after graduation, psychology degree recipients from Boston University generally make around $51,816. Set against $26,997 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 11%.
Lasell College came in at #24 for value in psychology this year. Lasell College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Newton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $27,040. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the psychology program here. Soon after graduation, psychology degree recipients from Lasell College generally make around $33,105. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Simmons College ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best value psychology schools. Located in the city of Boston, Simmons College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $46,874. Students borrow a median of $26,678 to complete the psychology program here. Soon after graduation, psychology degree recipients from Simmons College generally make around $68,173. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Simmons College admits about 70% of applicants.
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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 · 60 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 38 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
