- Avg net price
- $2,624
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $943
- Median debt
- $7,291
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $40,318
- Enrollment
- 9,374
State cost ranking · DOE College Scorecard
Cheapest Colleges in Massachusetts
Massachusetts's median net price sits 43% above the national Scorecard median; even so, Middlesex Community College is the lowest reporter here at $2,624 among 117 schools.
- $2,624
- Cheapest net price
- $24,402
- Massachusetts median
- 117
- Schools ranked
Middlesex Community College has the lowest average net price in Massachusetts among Scorecard reporters
According to the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, Middlesex Community College posts the lowest average net price in Massachusetts at $2,624 among 117 ranked schools, with the state median 43% above the $17,124 national median. Net price is what students paid after grant aid, not sticker tuition, and can reflect a narrow enrollment mix at specialty schools.
Data source U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Cheapest net price
- $2,624
- Massachusetts median
- $24,402
- Schools ranked
- 117
- National median
- $17,124
Data updated August 2026 · IPEDS 2022–23 vintage
The list in one line
Middlesex Community College has the lowest average net price in Massachusetts at $2,624/year, and the state's median net price is 43% above the $17,124 national median across 4,965 schools.
- $2,624
- cheapest ranked net price
- $24,402
- Massachusetts median net price
- 38 public / 79 private
- schools in this ranking
- $17,527
- avg net price, <$30K income families
Average net price blends every income bracket; families under $30k average $17,527 here. Loans are excluded, open a school profile for the bracket table before treating one average as a personal cost.
Sticker tuition and real net price diverge most at Williams College, where in-state published tuition of $68,560 falls to an average net price of $17,716 after aid, a $50,844 gap, the widest sticker-to-net gap among ranked Massachusetts schools.
Private campuses outnumber public ones here (79 vs 38). A low figure at a small religious or specialty school can reflect a narrow enrollment mix, check sector and enrollment beside the price.
The bar to make this top-25 list is $15,216. Here is where that cutoff sits among all 117 Scorecard-reporting Massachusetts schools:
The bar to make Massachusetts's top-25 cheapest list
Average net price after aid · 117 Scorecard-reporting schools
$15,216 Among the most affordable more affordable than 79% of 117 Massachusetts colleges
Show national distribution
Each bar is a $5K-wide band; taller bars hold more Massachusetts colleges. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard · 2022–23
Massachusetts's 25 cheapest colleges by real net price
- Avg net price
- $5,547
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $4,550
- Median debt
- $8,243
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $35,555
- Enrollment
- 6,950
- Avg net price
- $5,662
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $4,250
- Median debt
- $6,570
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $35,824
- Enrollment
- 5,447
- Avg net price
- $6,046
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $5,256
- Median debt
- $9,000
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $36,235
- Enrollment
- 4,721
- Avg net price
- $6,957
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $6,957
- Median debt
- -
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $33,241
- Enrollment
- 868
- Avg net price
- $7,060
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $8,009
- Median debt
- $8,846
- Median earnings, 6yr
- -
- Enrollment
- 260
- Avg net price
- $7,169
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $6,206
- Median debt
- $6,500
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $37,504
- Enrollment
- 4,578
- Avg net price
- $7,679
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $7,311
- Median debt
- $8,307
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $27,778
- Enrollment
- 1,689
- Avg net price
- $7,818
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $7,120
- Median debt
- $10,500
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $39,847
- Enrollment
- 9,876
- Avg net price
- $7,931
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $5,899
- Median debt
- $10,252
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $37,314
- Enrollment
- 3,694
- Avg net price
- $8,068
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $6,522
- Median debt
- $8,250
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $32,437
- Enrollment
- 4,200
- Avg net price
- $8,296
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $8,253
- Median debt
- $12,000
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $39,296
- Enrollment
- 3,260
- Avg net price
- $8,373
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $9,425
- Median debt
- $9,500
- Median earnings, 6yr
- -
- Enrollment
- 70
- Avg net price
- $8,460
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $7,194
- Median debt
- $10,000
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $38,606
- Enrollment
- 5,574
- Avg net price
- $9,000
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $8,622
- Median debt
- $9,000
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $40,373
- Enrollment
- 5,743
- Avg net price
- $9,090
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $8,148
- Median debt
- $16,575
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $38,351
- Enrollment
- 7,811
- Avg net price
- $9,921
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $7,797
- Median debt
- $12,053
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $36,584
- Enrollment
- 1,694
- Avg net price
- $11,682
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $11,682
- Median debt
- -
- Median earnings, 6yr
- -
- Enrollment
- 72
- Avg net price
- $12,244
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $12,222
- Median debt
- -
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $40,823
- Enrollment
- 2,044
- Avg net price
- $13,381
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $8,793
- Median debt
- $19,500
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $50,233
- Enrollment
- 5,745
- Avg net price
- $14,262
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $10,204
- Median debt
- $24,239
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $41,999
- Enrollment
- 5,892
- Avg net price
- $14,271
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $11,948
- Median debt
- $24,901
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $51,548
- Enrollment
- 2,605
- Avg net price
- $14,839
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $14,839
- Median debt
- $7,994
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $44,170
- Enrollment
- 66
- Avg net price
- $14,998
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $14,998
- Median debt
- -
- Median earnings, 6yr
- -
- Enrollment
- 41
- Avg net price
- $15,216
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $15,216
- Median debt
- $8,294
- Median earnings, 6yr
- -
- Enrollment
- 44
| # | College | Avg net price | Net price (<$30K income) | Median debt | Median earnings, 6yr | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middlesex Community CollegeBedford, MA · Public | $2,62495% of the leader · rank #1 | $943 | $7,291 | $40,318 | 9,374 |
| 2 | Bristol Community CollegeFall River, MA · Public | $5,54789% of the leader · rank #2 | $4,550 | $8,243 | $35,555 | 6,950 |
| 3 | Springfield Technical Community CollegeSpringfield, MA · Public | $5,66289% of the leader · rank #3 | $4,250 | $6,570 | $35,824 | 5,447 |
| 4 | Northern Essex Community CollegeHaverhill, MA · Public | $6,04688% of the leader · rank #4 | $5,256 | $9,000 | $36,235 | 4,721 |
| 5 | Urban College of BostonBoston, MA · Private nonprofit | $6,95786% of the leader · rank #5 | $6,957 | - | $33,241 | 868 |
| 6 | Southeastern Technical InstituteSouth Easton, MA · Public | $7,06086% of the leader · rank #6 | $8,009 | $8,846 | - | 260 |
| 7 | Massachusetts Bay Community CollegeWellesley Hills, MA · Public | $7,16986% of the leader · rank #7 | $6,206 | $6,500 | $37,504 | 4,578 |
| 8 | Greenfield Community CollegeGreenfield, MA · Public | $7,67984% of the leader · rank #8 | $7,311 | $8,307 | $27,778 | 1,689 |
| 9 | Bunker Hill Community CollegeBoston, MA · Public | $7,81884% of the leader · rank #9 | $7,120 | $10,500 | $39,847 | 9,876 |
| 10 | Mount Wachusett Community CollegeGardner, MA · Public | $7,93184% of the leader · rank #10 | $5,899 | $10,252 | $37,314 | 3,694 |
| 11 | Holyoke Community CollegeHolyoke, MA · Public | $8,06884% of the leader · rank #11 | $6,522 | $8,250 | $32,437 | 4,200 |
| 12 | Cape Cod Community CollegeWest Barnstable, MA · Public | $8,29683% of the leader · rank #12 | $8,253 | $12,000 | $39,296 | 3,260 |
| 13 | Upper Cape Cod Regional Technical SchoolBourne, MA · Public | $8,37383% of the leader · rank #13 | $9,425 | $9,500 | - | 70 |
| 14 | Massasoit Community CollegeBrockton, MA · Public | $8,46083% of the leader · rank #14 | $7,194 | $10,000 | $38,606 | 5,574 |
| 15 | North Shore Community CollegeDanvers, MA · Public | $9,00082% of the leader · rank #15 | $8,622 | $9,000 | $40,373 | 5,743 |
| 16 | Quinsigamond Community CollegeWorcester, MA · Public | $9,09082% of the leader · rank #16 | $8,148 | $16,575 | $38,351 | 7,811 |
| 17 | Berkshire Community CollegePittsfield, MA · Public | $9,92180% of the leader · rank #17 | $7,797 | $12,053 | $36,584 | 1,694 |
| 18 | Tri County Regional Vocational Technical High SchoolFranklin, MA · Public | $11,68276% of the leader · rank #18 | $11,682 | - | - | 72 |
| 19 | Roxbury Community CollegeRoxbury Crossing, MA · Public | $12,24475% of the leader · rank #19 | $12,222 | - | $40,823 | 2,044 |
| 20 | Worcester State UniversityWorcester, MA · Public | $13,38173% of the leader · rank #20 | $8,793 | $19,500 | $50,233 | 5,745 |
| 21 | Fitchburg State UniversityFitchburg, MA · Public | $14,26271% of the leader · rank #21 | $10,204 | $24,239 | $41,999 | 5,892 |
| 22 | Bay Path UniversityLongmeadow, MA · Private nonprofit | $14,27171% of the leader · rank #22 | $11,948 | $24,901 | $51,548 | 2,605 |
| 23 | Lowell Academy Hairstyling InstituteLowell, MA · Private for-profit | $14,83970% of the leader · rank #23 | $14,839 | $7,994 | $44,170 | 66 |
| 24 | Charles H McCann Technical SchoolNorth Adams, MA · Public | $14,99870% of the leader · rank #24 | $14,998 | - | - | 41 |
| 25 | Massachusetts School of BarberingQuincy, MA · Private for-profit | $15,21669% of the leader · rank #25 | $15,216 | $8,294 | - | 44 |
Showing the 25 cheapest of 117 Scorecard-reporting Massachusetts schools. The remaining 92 are ranked in the same net-price order but omitted from this HTML table so the page stays crawlable.
Look up any institution's exact rank via My School Profile, or open its school page for income-bracket net price, debt, and earnings.
What this means for you
Use Massachusetts's ranking as a starting point, real net price depends on your specific financial-aid package.
- Middlesex Community College reports the lowest average net price in Massachusetts, but "average" blends every income bracket, check your bracket's figure before assuming it applies to you. View Middlesex Community College
- See your specific school's in-state cost rank and nearest-price peers. My School Profile
- Compare campus safety alongside cost before deciding. Massachusetts safety
Figures reflect the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard IPEDS 2022–23 release.
Average net price = the institution-reported average amount students actually paid after all grant and scholarship aid, excluding loans. Only schools with a reported average net price in the DOE College Scorecard dataset are ranked. This page lists the 25 cheapest; the title count is the full Scorecard-reporting cohort for Massachusetts. Schools with fewer than 10 net-price-reporting institutions in a state or territory are not given a dedicated ranking page.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard IPEDS 2022–23
Every figure on PlainCampus is rendered directly from federal Clery Act source data, no number is typed in by an editor. Every ranked figure on this page is queried directly from the DOE College Scorecard dataset at request time; no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.
PlainCampus is for informational purposes only and does not constitute safety, security, legal, or enrollment advice; the data describes reported on-campus activity, it is not a complete picture of safety at any campus and cannot predict any individual student's experience. See our appropriate use guidance.