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Most affordable community colleges in Massachusetts

15 community colleges in Massachusetts report net price data, ranging from $2,985 at the lowest to higher costs at more selective schools. The median net price across these is $7,510. Massachusetts's community colleges run a bit higher than the national average for the kind. The list below shows the most affordable options, ranked by net price.

Median net price in Massachusetts

$7,510

National median for community colleges

$6,359

community colleges reporting in Massachusetts

15

The most affordable community colleges in Massachusetts, ranked by net price

1

Middlesex Community College

MA

Net price

$2,985

Receive grant aid

99%

2

Northern Essex Community College

MA

Net price

$5,573

Receive grant aid

76%

3

Net price

$5,738

Receive grant aid

67%

4

Holyoke Community College

MA

Net price

$6,899

Receive grant aid

68%

5

North Shore Community College

MA

Net price

$6,987

Receive grant aid

60%

6

Quinsigamond Community College

MA

Net price

$7,392

Receive grant aid

66%

7

Massachusetts Bay Community College

MA

Net price

$7,462

Receive grant aid

56%

8

Massasoit Community College

MA

Net price

$7,510

Receive grant aid

64%

9

Net price

$7,669

Receive grant aid

70%

10

Greenfield Community College

MA

Net price

$7,674

Receive grant aid

58%

11

Springfield Technical Community College

MA

Net price

$8,042

Receive grant aid

77%

12

Mount Wachusett Community College

MA

Net price

$8,168

Receive grant aid

70%

13

Net price

$8,264

Receive grant aid

73%

14

Net price

$9,220

Receive grant aid

60%

15

Roxbury Community College

MA

Net price

$12,070

Receive grant aid

83%

What makes a school affordable here

In Massachusetts, the most affordable community colleges share two things in common. First, low published net prices reflect both reasonable sticker prices and meaningful institutional or state aid. Second, a high share of students receive grant aid. At Middlesex Community College, the most affordable on this list, 99% of students receive grant aid. Net price reflects what a typical family actually pays, not the sticker price you see at first glance. A school with a $50,000 sticker price and a $10,000 net price is more affordable for most families than a school with a $20,000 sticker and a $19,000 net price.

Affordable colleges in Massachusetts, other types

Affordable community colleges in other states

Find your personalized cost

National rankings use publicly available federal cost data. Plug in your actual aid offer and family situation for a Worth-It Score that reflects your specific picture.

Affordability rankings use publicly available federal higher-ed cost data. Net price reflects the average cost a family pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from total cost of attendance, for the 2022-23 reporting year. See full methodology →