Cost of college in Massachusetts
In-state tuition at a public 4-year college in Massachusetts averages $15,054 a year, or $18,719 as a real net price after aid. Graduates earn a median $64,120 and owe about $22,999. The net price pays back in about 3.4 years.
How Massachusetts compares to the US
Massachusetts ranks #8 of 51 for public in-state tuition (#1 is the most expensive), and #7 of 51 for graduate earnings. It ranks #13 of 51 for payback, where #1 is the fastest.
| Metric | Massachusetts | US average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition | $15,054 | $9,518 | +$5,536 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $31,111 | $23,652 | +$7,459 |
| Net price after aid | $18,719 | $13,788 | +$4,931 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs out | $64,120 | $56,427 | +$7,693 |
| Median debt at graduation | $22,999 | $17,856 | +$5,143 |
Source: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education, 2026 release. Public 4-year institutions, aggregated to the state level and enrollment-weighted.
Does a degree in Massachusetts pay for itself?
Payback is the ROI figure this index adds: the years the college earnings premium takes to recoup the net price. A public 4-year degree in Massachusetts costs about $74,876 over four years at net price, and recoups in about 3.4 years from the roughly $22,320-a-year premium graduates earn over a high-school graduate (a $41,800 baseline). That ranks #13 of 51 states and DC for payback. See the methodology for how it is built.
Private nonprofit 4-year colleges in Massachusetts list about $58,623 in tuition and net out to about $32,294 after aid.
Frequently asked questions
How much does college cost in Massachusetts?
At a public 4-year college in Massachusetts, in-state tuition and fees average about $15,054 a year and out-of-state runs about $31,111. The net price after grants and scholarships, which also covers living costs, averages about $18,719. The national figures are $9,518 in-state and $13,788 net price.
What do college graduates in Massachusetts earn and owe?
Ten years after starting, students from Massachusetts's public 4-year colleges earn a median of about $64,120 a year and carry a median federal debt of about $22,999 at graduation, against a national median of $56,427 earnings and $17,856 debt.
Is college worth it in Massachusetts?
A public 4-year degree in Massachusetts costs about $74,876 over four years at net price and recoups in about 3.4 years from the roughly $22,320-a-year premium graduates earn over a high-school graduate (a $41,800 baseline). Nationally the payback is about 3.8 years.